I, too, am wondering if this is the time to get hospice services for my dear husband. Tom has been in memory care for 6 months, not able to talk or communicate. Last week he was evaluated at hospital ER for unknown pain. Tom was found to have a UTI, mild case of pneumonia & kidney infection. He is no longer able to stand or walk without assistance & even on pain meds appears to be in pain.
Is it time for hospice?

Hospice might be the only solution towards the end. Twenty-four hour help is often required, as it was in my late wife's case. Assisted-living facilities are not staffed not equipped to minimize the pain and maximize the comfort that is much needed in final-state dementia. As a long caregiver for my wife, I was certainly not capable nor equipped. Even then, final days while at hospice are rough.

Hi Wanda. From my caring of Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, blindness, patients
My answer to your: question
Goes like this : they seem to dislike more and more foods that they used to love. It seems this creeps up on you as the caregiver. So I always had them drink water, protein drinks as often as they would. I often had to try different foods
Like baby foods, ice cream the favorite choice. Water by syringe
If he can’t drink from a straw. Every patient always wanted sweets. Puddings, jello,,popsicles.
Try anything different , add some pudding with what food you’d like him to eat. I’m sure you’ve done all this. When they loose a lot of weight, refuses You over and over, they grow weaker, crawl up in a ball and give up.
That would b time to call hospice.
As soon as you’ve noticed the change Get help. Without nutrients and food the body can’t survive. It’s a very hard decision on you. Just know Hospice
Can make sure of his vials, check glucose. Keep him calm ,
And also work with you and suggest. New ideas . Many of my patients had a
Feeding tube inserted..
I understand your fears but
Hospice can guide you all the way . And you will get the help you and husband need.
Take Care 💜JDT