If she gets discharged from hospice, she will still need a hospital bed.
Does Medicare cover this? Does hospice take their items back? I hope we can use the service as long as we can and she is approved. She can't walk-we sit up on side bed and we clean her-
She is bed ridden from a fall (shoulder break) but had many set backs now won't walk- healthy before this. She just had a decline in health so hospital referred us to hospice care- Aide comes 3 times a week, RN comes twice- RN stated they will probably drop visits to once a week. Vitals good. Just bed ridden. Failure to Thrive is the DX- A fear from a fall will damage an eldery person very fast. We hope to keep her home as long as we can- we Tried a NH for rehab and the service or lack of service there almost killed her. So we made a complaint on them with the State. Once it gets too much does the social worker with hospice help her get placed in NH- how long did your loved ones stay on hospice. She does feed herself, we just can't move her or take her out to doctors appt. we only give vitamins daily disconntued BP meds etc -
I do think she will live past 6 months but we do need the help from hospice
If you had the bed prior to hospice it would be yours to do with as you wish.
As long as there is a documented decline she can remain on Hospice. (My Husband was on Hospice for almost 3 years)
Most Hospice do have a Hospice Unit for In Patient stays for symptom or pain management. Or for respite. If they have a room. While on Hospice Medicare will pay for about 1 week of respite per year.
If it gets to the point where you can not care for her the Hospice Social Worker will do what they can to find a bed in an appropriate facility. It is generally easier for Hospice to place someone as the facility that accepts the patient is probably under the assumption that the person will not be a resident for an extended time
Begin NOW documenting ALL the things that could indicate a decline.
Increased sleeping.
Not being able to do or do as well any of the ADL's or things she did previously.
Increased agitation
Not having the same level of interest she did previously
Increased incidents of choking
Having to thicken liquids more
Having to puree foods
Eating fewer meals or less at each meal.
Could walk 20 steps 2 weeks ago can only walk 10 now. (this would be for others not your mom, the suggestion to document is for anyone)
Any little thing no matter how insignificant it seems can help keep her on Hospice.
Dropping visits does not necessarily mean they will discharge her from Hospice.
If you wish the Social Worker can try to get her placed in a facility. You could also ask, if this happens that she be transferred to Palliative Care. Often the same staff is assigned and they will let you know when they think she would be eligible again for Hospice.
thanks so much
If she is taken off hospice care, though, yes, the bed would go. I changed hospice companies when my dad was sick because the first one was so awful, and the bed and equipment for Hospice #1 was picked up and replaced by Hospice #2 in the span of about 45 minutes. The two companies coordinated the timing to keep my dad as comfortable as possible. (He just went to his old room for an hour and rested on that bed.)
If you do have to rent another bed for Grandma, I'm sure you'd be able to get the two companies to similarly coordinate the timing to keep her from being disturbed too much.
I spoke with the social worker
But again insurance dictakes what care is to be given also how long care is given. Insurance plays god but God has the last word.
Good luck Remember all is in God's hands. He has full control.
Prayers going up for you.
ypu have a lot of questions- talk with your nurse and SW. they can give you answers that relate specifically to your loved one.
there are some really good answers here, some not so much.
Basically- talk to your team about your needs.
Failure to thrive has very defined criteria for continuing hospice care.
we celebrate those who get better and come off Hospice care, but do not leave them without a good plan for continuing care at their improved level of need.
Bless you for your caring heart. And talk to your team. 😉
Everything is returned and reused for the next hospice patient. My mum was on hospice for 2 years up until she died. Recertification is done every 6 month. When mom died, the hospital equipment people took everything--the oxygen, bed, table, wheelchair, feeding pump, bed..it all went back.
IF you mum does not meet criteria and gets discharged from hospice, your doctor can write an order for medical equipment including hospital bed and Medicare will pay for it, but that too gets returned once she dies. That however takes time, and has a LOT of paperwork. Very FEW things Medicare will pay for which you can keep; namely, a walker and bedside commode and sometimes with a co-payment. If there was evidence of skin breakdown Medicare will pay for a specialty cushion--but the doctor will have to document it.
However, Medicare 2will pay rental on hospital beds. If after 13 months of full Medicare rental, you should own the bed. However if the patient is on a Medicare Advantage plan, some companies negotiate a lower rental than what full Medicare pays and it will be returned to the supplier no matter how long the bed is rented.
My wife came off of hospice over 2 years ago, by my choice, but is still qualified to be on hospice, in fact after her last hospitalization 2 weeks ago, they recommended hospice again. , I just choose not to use them.
ie They will treat a UTI but will not culture it. My wife has chronic EBSI UTIs (EBSI; Escherichia coli bloodstream infection) which must be cultured or you're just pumping antibiotics into her for nothing.
we did have her cultured while in hospital but like you said im sure they dont with hospice