Alzheimer's Disease Support Group
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and characterized by progressive cognitive deterioration with declining activities of daily living and neuropsychiatric symptoms or behavioral changes. An early symptom is memory loss (amnesia), usually manifesting as minor forgetfulness that becomes pronounced with illness progression, with relative...
Rollie has been kicked out of hospice. Hospice called the VA to see if VA would pay for it, VA said, no way he has to be a Stage 7c. So Hospice said, 'sorry, but you are on your own again'
Basically he has to be on death's door, completely bedridden.
"In patients who remain alive, stage 7c lasts approximately 1 year, after which patients lose the ability not only to ambulate independently, but also to sit up independently (stage 7d), At this point in the evolution of AD, patients will fall over when seated unless there are arm rests to hold the patient up in the chair"
Notice how it says, 'in patients who remain alive...'
Hospice Admission Guidelines for Dementia --- Patient shows ALL of the following: (Patient is at or beyond stage 7C of the Functional Assessment Staging Scale {point 1 and 2 below}.) 1. Unable to ambulate without the assistance of another person. 2. Speech is limited to approximately six or fewer intelligible words (some hospices use the next requirement) 3. Unable to communicate meaningfully - speech is limited to a single understandable word on an average day - (or during the evaluation) (The single word may be repeated.) There is some variation on this point. Some hospices use 6 words as a limit. Some use a requirement similar to this -- No consistent meaningful/reality based verbal communication; stereotypical phrases or the ability to speak is limited to a few intelligible words. 4. Unable to dress or bathe without assistance 5. Urinary and fecal incontinence (intermittent or constant)
AND - Patient has had one of the following within the past year: (Demonstrates a declining condition and likely future medical urgencies.) Aspiration pneumonia Upper urinary tract infection (kidney involvement) Septicemia (blood infection) Recurrent fevers after treatment with antibiotics Multiple decubitus ulcers (bed sores) of stage 3 or 4 Poor nutrition demonstrated by 10% weight loss in six months or low blood levels of nutrients ( Serum Albumin less than 2.5 gm/dl) or difficulty swallowing food or food refusal Other significant medical event or condition that supports a limited prognosis (This additional point has been added by some hospices.)
Basically he has to be on death's door, completely bedridden.
"In patients who remain alive, stage 7c lasts approximately 1 year, after which patients lose the ability not only to ambulate independently, but also to sit up independently (stage 7d), At this point in the evolution of AD, patients will fall over when seated unless there are arm rests to hold the patient up in the chair"
Notice how it says, 'in patients who remain alive...'
Hospice Admission Guidelines for Dementia --- Patient shows ALL of the following: (Patient is at or beyond stage 7C of the Functional Assessment Staging Scale {point 1 and 2 below}.) 1. Unable to ambulate without the assistance of another person. 2. Speech is limited to approximately six or fewer intelligible words (some hospices use the next requirement) 3. Unable to communicate meaningfully - speech is limited to a single understandable word on an average day - (or during the evaluation) (The single word may be repeated.) There is some variation on this point. Some hospices use 6 words as a limit. Some use a requirement similar to this -- No consistent meaningful/reality based verbal communication; stereotypical phrases or the ability to speak is limited to a few intelligible words. 4. Unable to dress or bathe without assistance 5. Urinary and fecal incontinence (intermittent or constant)
AND - Patient has had one of the following within the past year: (Demonstrates a declining condition and likely future medical urgencies.) Aspiration pneumonia Upper urinary tract infection (kidney involvement) Septicemia (blood infection) Recurrent fevers after treatment with antibiotics Multiple decubitus ulcers (bed sores) of stage 3 or 4 Poor nutrition demonstrated by 10% weight loss in six months or low blood levels of nutrients ( Serum Albumin less than 2.5 gm/dl) or difficulty swallowing food or food refusal Other significant medical event or condition that supports a limited prognosis (This additional point has been added by some hospices.)
There has to be help somewhere and you have a great team ready to help you find it.
I am supposed to go to an Open Forum about this Alzheimers Dementia crisis on August 23rd. I am going to speak to the crisis all over not just in NJ and will use some of the inhumane treatment our members here have gotten in their attempt to get some relief.
Meanwhile our President will soon be vacationing in Martha's Vineyard or wherever and his group going to Hawaii for a conference with all their staffers (and are leaving a week before the conference begins). I just read Caring1's journal so I am really fired up when I see the amount of money wasted on running for re-election.....democrats or republicans. Meanwhile we are begging for 4 hours of respite a week or for assistance from Hospice.......and because our loved one is not physically lying in bed dying they think we don't need or deserve help.