Caregiving for someone living with dementia can be a complex challenge, yet knowing when it is necessary can be daunting. While no one knows exactly when hospice should be called should it become necessary is difficult, certain symptoms and signs suggest hospice is warranted.
Hospice care involves a team of professionals dedicated to your loved one’s physical, emotional and spiritual comfort. A nurse or certified home health aide will visit regularly to address their health needs – bathing them, changing bed linens and alleviating any disease-related pain or discomfort. A social worker will assist with medical decision making while explaining available care options and supporting caregivers; finally a spiritual support counselor will explore spiritual concerns to help make sense of life changes, reconcile feelings of guilt or regret and discover sources of hope.
Dementia patients must meet specific criteria in order to qualify for hospice. They must be unable to:
- walk independently
- dress themselves without help
- bathe on their own;
- have limited communicationabilities – usually only being able to speak short sentences or phrases
- as well as having terminal illness with an anticipated life span of six months or less
If your loved one is showing symptoms of advanced dementia, it’s essential that they speak with their physician about end-of-life care options. Families may feel reluctant to discuss hospice services due to fears it will mean abandoning them; however, hospice is designed to provide comfort and dignity for terminal illness patients, including dementia. Furthermore, hospice can reduce hospitalizations costs as well as frequent doctor visits nearer death.
No matter the severity or moderateness of dementia in your loved one, they will require hospice care as their condition worsens. The first step should be finding a reputable hospice provider with nurses and aides trained specifically to work with individuals living with dementia – these staff members will likely spend most of their time with your loved one, helping your family through tough times together.
Consideration should also be given to whether there are additional health conditions – called comorbidities – such as pneumonia, sepsis, severe weight loss and pressure ulcers (bedsores). Being subject to such illnesses makes your loved one more likely to qualify for hospice care.