Caregivers Benefit from Hospice Education Ahead of Need

Dear Carol: My dad is in a good assisted living facility. He’s 96, and other than congestive heart failure, he’s in fair health for his age and has a good attitude for the most part. He was having physical therapy for hip and knee problems but now refuses it. I feel that at his age he can do what he wants so I haven’t pushed it. He uses a wheelchair to get around for the most part, but he can transfer himself. The nurse at the ALF said that he’d probably qualify for hospice care, though a doctor would have to make the determination. She did say that it’s a good idea for us to check into hospice because they can offer a lot of assistance that the assisted living facility can’t provide. Read the full question and answer on Inforum about the process for deciding when it's time to inquire about hospice care: MedicareFAQ – Medicare Resource Center Support a caregiver or jump-start discussion in support groups with real stories - for bulk orders of Minding Our Elders e-mail Carol                  Related StoriesShould You Use Pet Names for Older Adults? Let Them DecideDriving and Memory Loss Are a Bad Combination: Some TipsGroup Activities Can Reduce Depression In Older Adults 
Source: Minding Our Elders - Category: Geriatrics Authors: Source Type: blogs