My DH has Parkinson’s that has been getting progressively worse for months. In early December we had him assessed for hospice and he was admitted. Since then, he’s improved dramatically. Has anyone else experienced dramatic improvement AFTER hospice enrollment? The hospice staff simply shrugs and says this sometimes happens and that we need to be prepared for him to revert back to his previous state. A family friend who is an RN told us it’s possible the change in his carvidopa-levidopa medication may be temporarily restimulating his nerves’ receptors and also said he will revert. His improved condition has lasted nearly a month. Has anyone else experienced this and if so, was the return of the severe Parkinson’s symptoms you witnessed gradual or immediate?
More attention, less stress about appointments, and sometimes discontinuing some medications. (many people are over medicated and the Hospice Nurse and doctor review what is necessary and what isn't
Now...You see him more often then the Hospice Team does.
YOU may notice little declines that they miss.
Since a person that has not continued to decline can be discharged from Hospice when the re-certification time comes you want to document EVERY little decline you notice.
You had to tighten his belt.
You had to help him a bit more with eating
You had to help him get to the bathroom more than before.
He used to nap 4 hours he is now napping 7 hours a day.
ANYTHING that will help keep him on Hospice. Cuz I gotta tell you that that extra help. The Nurse, the CNA, getting all the supplies provided and delivered, delivered, All that goes away if he is discharged. It will return when he declines and qualifies once again. But that is all a disruption to your life as well as his. So document the little things you notice.
If he is discharged you could ask about Palliative Care. Most Hospice also offer Palliative and the Palliative Team will be well aware of the point when he would qualify for Hospice once again.
Hospice Nurses are better at dealing with symptoms than anyone. (Pain, diarrhea, shortness of breath, balance problems, taste distortion, visual changes, smelling things that are not there!
Actually in our case, we let the doctor take care of the Disease and the Nurses took Care of the Patient. They know comfort measures better than anyone. Doctors know disease process and treatments better than anybody.
we got him out and with care he returned to his former alert. With enough care a lot of people would improve
We also found the pain tablets caused mental confusion for a word so only take when needed and stick to over the counter paracetamol - after of course speaking to his doctor
and got him to drink more water sips throughout the day
The doctors can’t believe it one minute palatine care next signed him off better!
it’s mostly down to the level of care
they receive
sad but often true
My Uncles wife had Parkinson’s. My cousin was giving her CBD oil. She also started talking after many months of not saying a word. She continued to talk until one of her falls seemed to cause her to stop. A few months. My cousin believed the CBD really helped both her parents. They are both gone now.