When Is Hospice Best for Dementia Patients?

The progression of dementia is not predictable. Because of this, it might not be easy to detect if it’s already time to provide a loved one with Hospice and Palliative Care. Yet, they will need care providers to give them comfort and quality life at their end of life.

Are you taking care of your loved one who suffers from dementia? Don’t you want to know when is the best time to give them hospice care? To help you decide better, consult with your loved one’s physician and learn about their actual health status. You can also meet with providers of Hospice Care in Burbank, California to help understand your loved one’s condition.

For reference, Medicare has the following guidelines to qualify a dementia patient under hospice care. You can also refer to and use these guidelines. Only two criteria are applicable and they are…

1. FAST Scale Stage 7
   

   FAST stands for Reisberg’s Functional Assessment STaging. It is a scale used to rank a person’s progression for their dementia symptoms. This scale is composed of 16 items to identify the seven stages of dementia.

   At stage 7, dementia shows the following signs:

   • Frequent incontinence
   • Inability to take care of their personal hygiene (such as bathing, dressing, or using the restroom)
   • Inability to talk in a meaningful way
2. Presence of Comorbidities
   

   These are additional illnesses or health conditions aside from the person’s dementia. The common examples of comorbidities include increased weight loss, sepsis, and pneumonia, to name a few. Yet, some physicians also look for other signs to know if a dementia patient is already at their end-of-life phase.

   These signs include the following:

   • Heightened stress and anxiety level
   • Increased dependence in their activities of daily living
   • Difficulty or inability to walk around

Would you like to know for sure if your loved one needs Palliative Services in California? Consult with us at Bonum Hospice Services. Let us help you evaluate their actual situation so that you can get the care that they need.

If you have other questions about our services, contact us!