I just started my Dad on home Hospice. He got an attentive nurse who seems to be trying to provide comfort care with wound care and meds, etc. She also got him a wheelchair. She comes in 2/week. Aides are also coming 2/week to help with bathing. What other hospice services can I request?? Anything that can help ease the burden on my mom as 24/7 caregiver.
I have also been trying to get them Meals on Wheels delivery, but I’ve been told the “routes are full”...
They will intervene, and get him signed up for his meals. There are different plans that the counties have for Meals on Wheels. They'll be able to get him on one of them - especially since he has demonstrated need by being on home Hospice. One simple phone call to an AEA Case Manager is all it will take.
In home Hospice is basically the same, the family does most of the care. The admitting Nurse should have explained what they can do and where you can ask questions. Even if the RN is not there, you should be able to contact her 24/7.
Medicare covers Hospice so there is basic criteria. The problem is, the area you live in. In mine, you get an aide 3x a week for an hr unless you request more time. There was a member who had one 4 hrs a day. It depends on how many aides an agency hires and how many clients they have. We just had one hospice that stopped taking clients because they didn't have enough staff. We have an aide shortage where I live. If Mom needs more help, she may need to pay for it. Call your County Office of aging and see what resources they offer. Meals on wheels...only Dad would qualify. Mom would need to show need. Again, in my area, not enough drivers.
I saw these people delivering in my daughters complex.
https://www.momsmeals.com/
They provide all medical equipment.. Supplies. They will bring ensure if needed.
As Polar mentioned, they are not all the same.
My cousin couldn’t get MOW for her parents as it wasn’t offered in their rural area. Cousin became a volunteer and would take her mom who had Parkinson’s with her on the deliveries. Instead of daily hot meals, it was frozen meals for a week. She then took both parents to a senior center for lunch each day. During covid, she was able to pick up meals for them. When her family had covid, she was still able to get meals. It really helped her out.
Check with your parents senior center and see what options they have. Like the hospice, they are not all the same. Also check with their local Area Agency on Aging to see what services might be available.
A regular housekeeper can be a real blessing even if it’s just once a month. Also make sure you understand the hospice respite service.
You can also check around for other hospice providers and compare. If you want to change provider, you can.