My husband was kicked out of hospice. Here's what I learned.
Summary
Mike Salmon, a 73-year-old man, was placed in hospice care after serious health problems, including aortic aneurysms and sepsis, left doctors predicting he had weeks to live. He improved significantly while in hospice care and was removed when doctors said he was no longer expected to die within six months. His family experienced challenges with choosing a hospice agency and learned important lessons about hospice care options and quality.Key Facts
- Hospice care is for patients expected to live six months or less and focuses on comfort, not cure.
- Over 1.9 million Americans used hospice last year, and most stayed until they died, usually within four weeks.
- About 6% of hospice patients are removed because their health stabilizes or improves.
- Families usually provide daily care, with hospice supplying medical support like drugs, equipment, and visits by nurses and aides.
- Choosing a hospice agency carefully is important, as quality and services vary widely.
- Medicare has basic standards for hospice agencies and offers online tools to check agency ratings and services.
- Switching hospice agencies is allowed and can improve patient experience if the first agency is not reliable.
- A patient's improvement on hospice can lead to removal from care, which may provide relief but also presents new challenges.
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