She has heart problems and PD. Is now in AL. Has fallen often, but only gets x-ray if she hits her head. The RN reviews her meds, and reports changes, but she doesn't get to Dr's office or dentist??No pain, but I feel no one cares because "she is a hospice patient, so do nothing. Am I wrong? She is 87 and somewhat confused to time and day.
I am not trying to start anything here, but you have a few "facts" wrong.
Hospice lasts as long as needed. And you can "recover" from hospice to palliative care, which is simply keeping someone comfortable --through medications for pain/ massage/ physical therapy. Many options.
Hospice DOES NOT hasten death. It makes this natural process easier to cope with. And for some people, "fighting death" isn't rewarding, not pleasant to be a part of and inevitably, they still die, sometimes leaving a LOT of anger and pain behind them for family members who had a different "plan". Each person should make clear (when they are able) to decide how much they plan to "endure" before needing hospice.
Palliative care is ongoing TX. Hospice is usually considered end of life, but end of life can take a long time.
I am sure that by placing my dad in hospice he may have died a day or two earlier than if we'd had IV fluids, tube feeding, ventilators breathing for him--but it's not what he chose. Hospice didn't hasten his death. It allowed it to go calmly, painlessly, and with dignity. Palliative care for the year prior kept him calm, as pain free as possible and moving as much as he chose.
It's good that you learned, "They tell me they send mobile x-ray units if needed after, say, a fall rather than send the patient to the hospital." After my husband fell in the nursing home and broke a femur, I was given a choice of sending him to a hospital for surgery or keeping him in the nursing home "to let it heal." I knew he might not survive general anesthesia, and elected to have him remain in the nursing home. Although he had Alzheimer's, I believe he understood the choice I had made, and agreed with it. He died peacefully four months later. I feel that the choice I was given was a blessing.
Misconception Reality
Hospice makes death come sooner.
Hospice neither hastens nor postpones dying. The aim is to improve the quality of remaining life so patients can enjoy time with family and friends and experience a natural, pain-free death. In some cases, hospice care can extend life.
Hospice is giving up hope; it’s better to fight for life.
Most terminally ill patients experience less anxiety by refocusing hope on what might be realistically achieved in the time remaining. If continuing uncomfortable and painful curative treatment for an illness is fruitless, hospice patients benefit more from having their symptoms treated instead.
A hospice patient who shows signs of recovery can’t return to regular medical treatment.
If a patient’s condition improves, they can be discharged from hospice and return to curative treatment, or resume their daily lives. If need be, they can later return to hospice care.
A hospice patient can’t change his or her mind and return to curative treatment even if their prognosis hasn’t changed.
A patient can go on and off hospice care as needed—or if they change their mind and decide to return to curative treatment. They may also enter hospital for certain types of treatment if it involves improving their quality of life.
Hospice care is limited to a maximum of six months.
In the U.S., many insurance companies, as well as the Medicare Hospice Benefit, require that a terminally ill patient has a prognosis of six months or less to start hospice, but a terminally-ill patient can receive hospice care for as long as necessary.
By the way, a person can be in Hospice care for as long as they qualify, which on rare occasions can be years. I am a retired Hospice Chaplain and I had one patient for over three years. It was clear that she qualified because she had breast cancer and was gradually declining. It just took her longer than most people. Ask your questions and you will get your answers from Hospice.
Since they are keeping her on hospice care, she will receive only comfort care, however. That means no treatment for her health issues unless the issues are causing pain. They are likely giving her pain meds for any discomfort.
However, pain is the only thing that is treated by hospice. The idea is to let nature take its course. If you want it done differently, talk to the doctor. You can take her off of hospice.
Take care,
Carol