Why Now

  • It is likely that your loved one has been living with the effects of dementia for a number ofyears

  • Admission to hospice with dementia usually means that another illness has significantlyimpacted health. Additional illnesses such as recent hospitalization for infection (sepsis)often accelerate the pace of decline in patients with dementia

Entering into hospice care means that there has been a progression to the last stages of dementia which include:

Being largely bed bound

Increasing loss of ability to sit up, hold head up

Increasing inability to speak more than a few words

  • While it may seem that the dementia has not significantly worsened, it is important tounderstand that patients with dementia are in a weakened state and are less able tohandle additional illnesses, even seemingly minor ones

  • Each additional illness, hospitalization, can significantly worsen overall health andincrease the possibility of dying

Entering into hospice care means that there has been a progression to the last stages of dementia which include:

Incontinent of stool and urine

Loss of ability to smile

Some degree of weight loss