Getting a Relative Admitted to a Hospice

ThemeOne · 29 December 2015 at 2:55PM

Could anyone advise me on the easiest way to get my father admitted to a hospice please?

He is currently in hospital with a serious condition which, reading between the lines, is likely to be an end of life scenario.

The hospital has not so far mentioned the hospice idea in his care plan and it could be they will take the initiative. However, I'm not banking on it, and I'd like to know how to proceed when the time comes as I've heard wonderful things about hospices.

PasturesNew · 29 December 2015 at 2:59PM

Every area is different. My experience was that it has to be a referral.

They aren't all the same. Some aren't end of life at all, but simply assessment centres before being sent out to a regular care home with palliative services.

We got the Marie Curie nurse round and she said she'd try in a couple of weeks. Later that day the District Nurse came and said she might be able to get him in that day .... and managed it. Next slot wouldn't be for ages. Hospice were then keen to get him moved out to a care home... but, in the end, he deteriorated too quickly and died 10 days after admission.

milliemonster · 29 December 2015 at 3:02PM

Does he want to go into a hospice? The hospital will facilitate allowing him to end his life in a place of his choosing if you discuss this with them

Ms_Chocaholic · 29 December 2015 at 3:06PM

When a close relative was in a similar situation, unfortunately the hospital weren't proactive in making the referral to the hospice and therefore he did not move there in the end but passed away in hospital.

This clearly isn't very helpful in itself but I wanted to share my experience with you so you are aware and can help avoid a similar situation. I'm still unsure how we could have done things differently though in our situation.

milliemonster · 29 December 2015 at 3:21PM

Sometimes individual circumstances take precedent, hospitals should have a fast track discharge process to enable someone to be discharged to a place of their choosing to end their life, but in some areas it doesn't work as well as it should. With a hospice as well it will depend on if they have places available at the appropriate time.

When my mum was dying, she wanted to be at home but was in the hospice when we were told how long she had left, unfortunately we couldn't get her home as there wasn't 24hr round the clock nursing care available in the community (she would have needed pain relief) so we couldn't get her home. Things aren't perfect by a long shot.

thorsoak · 29 December 2015 at 3:37PM

I think we were lucky: we realised that my oh had only weeks to live, that he was not receiving any treatment, I phoned my doctor and told her that I intended to bring him home whether the hospital or the surgery were happy with it _ it was where he wanted to be and that was what mattered. She contacted hospice at home - and within 24 hours he was home compete with hospital bed etc etc and carers arranged plus district nurse every day. He died at home 4 weeks later. Hard work but I do not regret it.

Hermia · 29 December 2015 at 4:05PM

I would have a chat with your father's consultant. I know there was such a demand for hospice beds where my mum lived that they would not admit anyone until medical staff were sure they only had days to live. There was such demand for beds they just couldn't risk taking someone who could rally and live for weeks. We therefore just had to wait until the consultant decided it was time and then it took another couple of days for a bed to become available.

missbiggles1 · 29 December 2015 at 4:16PM

ThemeOne wrote: »

Could anyone advise me on the easiest way to get my father admitted to a hospice please?

He is currently in hospital with a serious condition which, reading between the lines, is likely to be an end of life scenario.

The hospital has not so far mentioned the hospice idea in his care plan and it could be they will take the initiative. However, I'm not banking on it, and I'd like to know how to proceed when the time comes as I've heard wonderful things about hospices.

Unless the "serious condition" is some form of cancer, in many areas you have no chance of a place in a hospice.

ThemeOne · 29 December 2015 at 4:31PM

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful replies.

The condition is cancer, so hopefully there will be a chance of a hospice place at a future time. However, it does look as though there's no one route to hospice admission, which is what I feared.

hippychick1 · 29 December 2015 at 4:31PM

I know in our area our hospice would not take anyone with a general end of life diagnosis. There would need to be a specific reason for admission and then usually for only 2 weeks max. They specialise in symptom management.

It may be that being at home with carers and district nurses providing support would be another option. Our Macmillan nurses can request a hospice bed and so can the hospital. You need to ask the hospital if they think a hospice bed is appropriate. There can be quite a wait for a bed. Also does your father want to go into a hospice?

Ms_Chocaholic · 29 December 2015 at 4:54PM

ThemeOne wrote: »

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful replies.

The condition is cancer, so hopefully there will be a chance of a hospice place at a future time. However, it does look as though there's no one route to hospice admission, which is what I feared.

Can you ring your local hospice(s) and ask them the process. You're GP may be able to make the referral.

Getting a Relative Admitted to a Hospice

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