Hair by Rita
Jun 2022
When your elderly parent moves in, s/he may just have mild dementia and need help with meds, have healthy meals prepared for s/he instead of just relying on take-out (the studio units do have a kitchenette with mini fridge/microwave/kitchen sink), or mobility issues and there are always more than one care aid + residents are issued an alert button if frail and need mobility devices (walkers, etc.). However, it is important for family or someone close to the resident to be aware of what symptoms make one eligible for hospice. I thought hospice was only for someone whom had a terminal illness and a predicted range of time left to live. Neosho Memorial Hospice has a guide that explains the symptoms that go along with a prediction of approximate time left for the different stages of decline. You should get that info when your elderly parent enters assisted living, because every elder will decline at some point. Hospice and assisted living are not for someone who will need assistance to the restroom or whom is bedridden. Dementia and issues with refusing to eat while on insulin as a diabetic can be a problem. At this point, there is much turnover in the health care industry and a 16-18 year old trained for a day vs two weeks in skilled nursing will not have the knowledge nor experience for what can occur during evenings and weekends. Communication between staff members is important regarding eating and meds and with high turnover and lack of attention to detail, the results can be fatal. Familiarize yourself with the eligibility symptoms of a hospice candidate, especially if you notice dementia, confusion, or hallucination becoming worse.
