Hi,
I need to look up my grandma’s exact plan, but she is bedridden, dependent on oxygen, has COPD, and was previously diagnosed with cancer. Her social worker at Hospice, I believe, called Humana, and they said they could assist her in finding a career for seven hours a day, five days a week. Online, I am coming across mixed information.
Hospice care is not long-term care; rather, it is covered. It is intended for patients whose lives are not anticipated to last more than six months.
There is the option of skilled nursing care for seniors who are homebound. She ought to check to see if Humana matches.
Custodial care, or assistance with eating, washing, and other dialysis-related tasks, is not covered by Medicare in any other way.
She is on Hospice at the moment. She also had end-stage COPD when she left the hospital. Her insurance pays for hospice care. Does that imply that the physician thought she would only live for six months or less? Hospice simply despatches a nurse and patients for bathing once a week. Since October, she has received hospice care at home. She is not getting worse, but she is also not getting worse. If anything, she needs physical rehabilitation.
Medicare hospice benefits are contingent upon meeting certain requirements, such as the patient’s diagnosis as terminal and the fact that palliative care is being provided as opposed to curative treatment. (Since Jimmy Carter has been in hospice care for almost a year, it is unknown how long your grandmother will survive.)
If prescribed by a physician, it may also involve physical therapy and home health assistants.
I have never dealt with any of this personally before, so I am currently researching Medicare and hospice while responding to comments. It is thought that she is terminal. She chose not to get better and to return home. Her DNR is in effect. She is to stay at home for any medical crises, and we will contact hospice to assist with her passing. We are unsure of her stay with us at this time, though. On certain days, it appears like she might live for another several months or even a year, so who knows.
Talk to your hospice provider and request a meeting to answer your questions. They should clarify your benefits, services available, and how these might change over time. For example, what happens if you need more care or assistance at night? If your ability to bathe her changes, can you get more help? Hospice can be complex, so a face-to-face meeting will help address your concerns.