Man struggling with Dementia
Caring for patients with dementia can be challenging.

Hospice services specifically designed to assist families and caretakers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia can help with the challenges faced in taking care of their loved ones, both physically and emotionally.

At Three Oaks Hospice, the focus is on care, dignity, and comfort. We offer services tailored to the individual patient’s needs. For patients with end-stage dementia, hospice care can include symptom management, pain relief, and a focus on maintaining quality of life during those final weeks or months.

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When To Call Hospice Care for Patients With Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia

Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia tend to develop gradually over a long period of time. Knowing when to contact a hospice provider about starting care helps patients, families, and health care providers plan ahead.

A neurologist or personal physician may recommend hospice care for a dementia patient, or the family can ask the patient’s doctor for a referral.

The 7 Stages of Dementia infographic

Hospice Eligibility Criteria for Dementia Patients

While the typical requirement for hospice care is a life expectancy of six months or less, this is sometimes difficult to ascertain when it comes to dementia patients. Cognitive decline can occur unexpectedly, so a person with dementia symptoms that impact their quality of life may become eligible for palliative or hospice care even if the life expectancy remains uncertain. Patients with dementia may be eligible for hospice care if they can no longer do any of the following:

  • Control bodily functions, including bladder and bowel functions
  • Walk or move around without assistance
  • Bathe themselves
  • Get dressed without assistance
  • Speak or communicate effectively, which in the case of dementia means being unable to use more than six intelligible words a day

Dementia patients with specific comorbid conditions may also be eligible for end-of-life care. Some conditions that may contribute to a life expectancy of 6 months or less for a dementia patient include:

  • Congestive heart disease
  • Strokes
  • Renal insufficiency
  • Liver disease
  • Cancer

Dementia patients who’ve had one of these related secondary conditions within the past 12 months are also eligible for hospice:

  • Septicemia
  • Recurrent infections, including upper respiratory infections, pyelonephritis, and pneumonia
  • Multiple stage 3 to 4 decubitus ulcers
  • Recurrent fever after taking antibiotics
  • Impaired nutritional status, defined as weight loss of 10% or more, a BMI of less than 22, or a serum albumin level under 3.1

How Hospice Helps Family Members Care for a Dementia Patient

End-of-life care can be stressful for caregivers, and hospice helps relieve this stress by taking care of necessary tasks so family members can spend time with their loved one. Hospice can also help families better understand dementia symptoms, so they know what to expect as dementia progresses through various stages.

Some specific benefits for family caregivers provided by hospice include:

How the Three Oaks Hospice Team Can Help Patients and their Families With Dementia

Hospice patients with dementia require individualized care since disease progression can vary from person to person. The hospice team works in conjunction with the patient’s regular health care provider to develop a flexible care plan to account for day-to-day changes in the patient’s condition.

Late-stage dementia patients can often not make their needs known, so they rely on hospice staff and caregivers to remain aware of potential issues and ongoing needs. Some things covered by a comprehensive hospice dementia care plan include:

  • Pain and symptom control
  • Infection prevention, wound care, and skincare
  • Emotional support
  • Spiritual assistance

Our hospice team is made up of a variety of professionals and volunteers. A team manager coordinates care. Some members of a hospice team include:

  • Nurses
  • Social workers
  • Volunteers
  • Clergy members

For patients with specific medical care needs, hospice coordinates the acquisition and maintenance of medical equipment, medication, and medical supplies.

three oaks hospice care for dementia patients

Three Oaks Hospice Locations

Three Oaks Hospice has locations across the U.S., ensuring that caring, compassionate hospice and palliative care are available to patients where they live. Three Oak Hospice provides on-site care in the home or where the patient calls home, whether that’s in their residence, a family member’s, or in a medical facility.

Where Hospice for Dementia Takes Place

We can provide hospice care where the patient lives, such as in the patient’s own home, a family member’s home, a long-term care facility, or an assisted living community. Additionally, we can provide care at a hospital during temporary inpatient stays.

Hospice providers visit the patient regularly, in coordination with the family. Patients who need specialized services may require more frequent visits, while those with fewer immediate medical needs might receive a visit from a hospice professional every few days.

three oaks team hospice for dementia

Talking to Family Members About Hospice for Advanced Dementia

Deciding when to begin hospice care can be challenging for many families. As a patient approaches the end of life, dementia symptoms often get worse, so addressing the need for hospice care in advance can make things easier when the time comes. Some things to consider when discussing the possibility of hospice include:

hospice for dementia

What Hospice Involves

Patients and family members may be confused about exactly what hospice entails. Hospice isn’t a specific place, and it doesn’t mean the person is giving up on life. Instead, hospice is a way to navigate the end-of-life process and ensure a high quality of life.

The Patient’s Specific Wishes

When someone is in the early stages of dementia, they may still be able to express their wishes for end-of-life care. Having a conversation about what a parent or loved one wants out of hospice care can help families make tough decisions later. For some patients, remaining in the home as long as possible may be the goal, while others might be worried about becoming a burden on caregivers.

Hospice for end-stage Dementia
Hospice Care for Patients Dementia

What Timeline Might Work Best for Considering Hospice

Discussing hospice eligibility criteria and the typical progression of Alzheimer’s and related dementias makes it easier to create a timeline for when the patient should enter hospice.

The Benefits of Hospice for Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias

Hospice offers benefits for both patients and their loved ones beyond just the immediate support of symptom management and pain relief. Some reasons patients and their families choose hospice include:

  • Receiving hospice or palliative care in a familiar setting helps patients remain comfortable
  • Hospice teams can help with activities of daily living, including personal care and household tasks, freeing up loved ones to spend quality time with the patient
  • Hospice patients tend to have reduced rates of hospitalization because they’re being monitored for potential medical issues
  • Patients and their families feel more secure because services are available 24/7
  • Emotional and spiritual assistance helps patients and families prepare for the end of life
  • Often allows the patient to remain in a familiar environment