Assisted Living vs. Hospice Dilemma

When hospice services are brought into assisted living facilities for older residents with terminal illnesses, problems can arise. Good communication between families, hospice staff, assisted living staff and paid caregivers (if they’re part of the picture) can make all the difference and minimize the potential for conflict. How can you make sure this happens?

Educate yourself. Ask the people who run your assisted living center if they have worked with hospice providers before, said Dr. David Koets, chief medical officer of The Denver Hospice. Are there one or more hospice organizations that they prefer? If so, why? How many residents have used the providers, and how have things worked out?

You may want to ask how often residents die at your assisted living center, suggested Judi Lund Person, vice president of compliance for the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. Are staff members comfortable with helping out when a resident is nearing the end of life? Does the center offer any special services for residents in this situation? What about other residents; is the center comfortable letting a hospice organization provide them with bereavement services?

Be clear about expectations. Exactly how much care and what kind of care is the assisted living facility able to provide you or your relative? Do residents have the ability to purchase extra services? If so, what is the cost? What tasks will the assisted living center not do, and in what circumstances will leadership at the center require other caregivers to help out?

Ask similar questions of the hospice organization you are considering signing up with.

Click Here to Read the Rest of Judith Graham's New York Times' Blog.

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