For a patient to be admitted to hospice on the basis of dementia, it must be quite advanced (stage 7 on the FAST scale). But many patients with dementia are admitted to hospice because they have a different terminal diagnosis and an estimated six months to live. Regardless of the stage of dementia, patients with this condition can benefit from hospice care increasing their safety and comfort.

1. At-home medical care. Hospice care is provided mostly in the patient’s home, and can include palliative care, wound care, medication administration, and other services. The nurse can make sure that the patient does not forget to take medications, check for the development of infections or skin conditions, and provide other medical care as needed.
2. Personal care. Patients with dementia may develop difficulties with daily personal tasks, including simple things like bathing, grooming and dressing. If your loved one isn’t yet in hospice, you may even be helping them with these yourself. After they enter hospice, the hospice workers can assist them with these daily personal care tasks, helping them maintain more health and dignity.
3. The patient can stay where they are most at ease. During dementia, it becomes more challenging for patients to access memories, executive function, and other brain functions. It is common for patients to experience anxiety and confusion as a result. While this can happen anywhere, home is a familiar setting. Patients are more likely to feel safe and at ease in their own homes than they are in hospitals and clinics. So, the more time they can spend at home, the less they are likely to panic or try to wander. This may be especially true if their home is one where they have lived since they were young.
4. Hospice can increase comfort and safety at home. Hospice workers can make changes around the home to make it safer, like installing nightlights or grab bars, placing non-slip mats in the bathroom, etc. They also can suggest improvements to make the space more comfortable. If they notice your loved one seems to be missing out on sleep, for example, they can suggest white noise generators or blackout curtains to make the environment more conducive to rest.
5. The primary caregiver can receive respite care and counseling. As the primary caregiver, it may feel like you are juggling multiple jobs. You may have a day job, on top of which you are taking care of your loved one. Even if you very much want to do that work, it involves a lot of logistical and emotional stress, which can lead to caregiver burnout. Hospice offers respite care as one of the levels of care. Respite care lets you take a few days off to recharge. During your respite, your loved one will receive care at an inpatient facility. You can use this time however you wish. Catch up on other things, or just rest.

You can also use hospice care for grief counseling services, as can other members of your family.

Get the Care Your Loved One Needs in Texas

Please give us a call at (737) 240-3003 to schedule your consultation. We are based in Austin, and serve customers in Bastrop, Caldwell, Harris, Hays, Travis and Williamson Counties.