A friend told me that her stepfather, aged 89 and in rapidly declining health, has now qualified for hospice care according to the local hospice agency. However, it's in-home care only, meaning my friend's 89 year old mother has to do the day-to-day care. Since he's already practically bedridden and frequently incontinent, she's exhausted.
Apparently, per Medicare guidelines, you are not eligible for a bed at a hospice unless you are within 2 weeks of death. (there are other criteria like, a minimal level of consciousness). My friend's stepparent has been given an expected range of 3 weeks to 6 months, so he is not close enough to dying to meet their criteria.
I had always thought that if a medical doctor deemed you as being likely to die within 6 months then you were eligible to be transferred to a hospice; however, seems like Medicare will only pay for 2 weeks.
Once again our medical system seems to fail those in need.
(I should note my friend works full-time and they are in a city 120 miles away, so she's not available to help.)