Gentle Support for Families Navigating Advanced Memory Loss
When dementia or Alzheimer’s disease progresses, everyday activities can become increasingly difficult, and families may find themselves facing changes they never expected. Hospice can provide comfort-focused care and support when the goal of care shifts away from curative treatment and toward quality of life. Angel Palliative Care & Hospice, Inc. helps patients and families navigate this stage with compassionate, individualized support. Our interdisciplinary hospice team works with patients, families, caregivers, and residential care providers to coordinate care based on the patient’s needs and plan of care.
When Memory Loss Becomes a Much Bigger Care Need
When Memory Loss Becomes a Much Bigger Care Need
Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease can gradually affect much more than memory. As the disease progresses, a person may experience increasing difficulty communicating, eating, moving, recognizing loved ones, or managing everyday activities.
Hospice may become an appropriate option when a person has advanced dementia or Alzheimer’s disease and their overall condition indicates that they may be approaching the end of life.
There is no single symptom that determines whether someone is eligible for hospice. A hospice evaluation considers the person’s overall condition, disease progression, prognosis, functional changes, and other relevant factors.
If you are noticing significant changes in a loved one’s condition, speaking with a healthcare professional or hospice team can help you understand whether an evaluation may be appropriate.
Signs Your Loved One May Need More Support
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Increasing difficulty communicating or expressing needs
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Greater dependence on others for bathing, dressing, eating, or other daily activities
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Significant changes in mobility or increased difficulty walking
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Spending more time in bed or a chair
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Increasing weakness or fatigue
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Difficulty swallowing or eating
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Reduced food or fluid intake
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Noticeable weight loss or overall decline
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More frequent infections or illnesses
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Increasing episodes of confusion or changes in awareness
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Greater difficulty recognizing familiar people or surroundings
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Repeated hospital or emergency room visits
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Increasing need for assistance and supervision
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Changes in the person’s ability to participate in activities they previously enjoyed
A Team That Cares for More Than the Diagnosis
Hospice care for a person with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease is not limited to managing the diagnosis. The goal is to support the whole person while also helping the people who care for them.
Depending on the patient’s needs and plan of care, hospice support may include:
A Familiar Nurse to Help Coordinate Care
RN case management provides ongoing clinical support and helps coordinate the patient’s hospice plan of care. Nurses can monitor changes in condition, communicate with the care team, and help families understand what to expect as needs change.Physician and Medical Director Oversight
Hospice physician and medical director oversight helps guide the hospice plan of care in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team.Personal Care Support
Hospice aides may provide assistance with personal care and activities of daily living according to the patient’s individual needs and plan of care.A Listening Ear for Families
Medical social workers can help families navigate emotional, social, and practical concerns that may arise as dementia progresses.Respect for Personal Beliefs and Traditions
Spiritual care can provide support according to the patient’s and family’s beliefs, values, traditions, and preferences.Support Through Grief and Loss
Hospice bereavement support can help family members and caregivers navigate grief following the loss of a loved one, according to the hospice’s bereavement program.When Questions Cannot Wait Until Morning
Changes in a person’s condition can be concerning, especially for families caring for someone with advanced dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Angel Palliative Care & Hospice, Inc. provides 24/7 on-call hospice support for patients and caregivers, including nights, weekends, and holidays. The hospice team can help address questions, changes in condition, and concerns that arise between scheduled visits. Talk With Our Hospice TeamComfort, Care, and Familiar Surroundings
Hospice does not necessarily mean that a patient must move into a hospice facility.
Hospice care may be provided wherever the patient calls home, depending on their needs, circumstances, and care plan.
This may include:
• A private residence
• An assisted living community
• An RCFE or board-and-care home
• A skilled nursing facility
• Another appropriate residential setting
Our team works with patients, families, caregivers, and facility staff as appropriate to coordinate hospice services in the patient’s chosen setting.
For someone living with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, remaining in a familiar environment may be especially meaningful. Hospice can help families coordinate supportive care while keeping the patient’s individual needs and wishes at the center of the plan.
Understanding Medicare Hospice Coverage
For people who qualify for the Medicare hospice benefit, Medicare Part A generally covers hospice care related to the terminal illness and related conditions when the Medicare hospice requirements are met and the patient chooses hospice care.
Covered hospice services may include services such as:
✓ Physician and nursing services
✓ Hospice aide and homemaker services
✓ Medical social services
✓ Spiritual or pastoral care
✓ Bereavement support
✓ Certain medications related to the terminal illness and related conditions
✓ Medical equipment
✓ Medical supplies
✓ Other hospice services covered under the Medicare hospice benefit
Medicare hospice coverage has specific eligibility and coverage requirements. Coverage can also depend on whether a service or item is related to the terminal illness and the patient’s hospice plan of care.
A dementia or Alzheimer’s diagnosis alone does not automatically establish hospice eligibility. A hospice evaluation considers the person’s overall condition and whether they meet applicable hospice requirements.
Our team can help families understand the evaluation and referral process and discuss questions about hospice coverage.
You Do Not Have to Figure It All Out Alone
Families often hesitate to call hospice because they are unsure whether the time is right. You do not need to know in advance whether your loved one qualifies. A conversation with the hospice team can help you understand the evaluation process and what support may be available. A family member, caregiver, or healthcare professional can contact Angel Palliative Care & Hospice, Inc. to discuss the patient’s condition and request an evaluation. There is no need to wait until a family is in crisis to ask questions.For Physicians and Care Professionals: Starting a Referral
Physicians and other healthcare professionals can contact Angel Palliative Care & Hospice, Inc. when they believe a patient with advanced dementia or Alzheimer’s disease may benefit from a hospice evaluation. Our team can discuss the patient’s current condition, care needs, and referral process and coordinate next steps as appropriate.A Compassionate Conversation Can Be the First Step
Caring for someone with advanced dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can be overwhelming, especially when their needs are changing quickly. If you are wondering whether hospice may be appropriate, our team is available to answer your questions and explain what an evaluation involves. Angel Palliative Care & Hospice, Inc. provides hospice support throughout San Mateo County, San Francisco, Santa Clara County, Alameda County, Contra Costa County, and Marin County. Address: 90 South Spruce Ave, Ste O, South San Francisco, CA 94066 Phone: 650-590-2530 | Email: info@apchbayarea.comRelated Hospice Resources
Learn more about hospice care for other conditions:
