patient's family doesn't know about his condition, has no food, and doesn't think that he needs money.
2006-07-17 08:52:43 · 5 answers · asked by Chela V 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
No one can be forced to accept hospice care. Whether or not he enters a hospice progran is no reflection on how good his care will be when he is at home. If he does
not have anyone to step up to the plate and offer to care for him in his own home 24/7 for hospice, then usually other plans must be put into place for care.
Hospice just simply manages a pts symptoms without treating the disease any further whether it be an AIDs related disease or cancer of some disease where the life excpectancy is less than 6 months.
Usually when a pt is no longer able to care for his own needs, they end up in the hospital, then the hospital starts making a plan for discharge. Sometimes that means getting the courts involved for things such as competency hearings or tracking down family members to see if they have any intention of helping out. When worse comes to worse a judge appoints a guardian to take care of the pt if the family are not ready and willing and the pt is found incompetent to make decisions.
I would have to know more about the man to say more.
Unfortunately this happens. I have been a cancer nurse for about 11 years and have seen this issue pop up more than once.
2006-07-17 11:26:04 · answer #1 · answered by happydawg 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like the patient needs to communicate with his family about his condition and physical needs of food, money, shelter and care. But if the man does not want to stay at the hospice - isn't there any way he could be referred to another place where he may like it better? If not, maybe the hospice can provide a caretaker for him. If I remember right, hospice usually has a great program - unfortunately, it has been a place where someone goes to live life and die. If there are money issues, he needs to contact someone that he feels comfortable with the issue of money. Health issues costs a lot of money to cure - what about health insurance? What about a church nearby that could help with food donations and money? What about a long lost relative that could come to the rescue? Is there some kind of a community service that could help out? I am suggest ideas that may or may not help. Look at all your options before making a final decisions, because this is not easy one at all. I don't know the man's age or why his family has been left in the dark about his condition, but it would be good to get neighbors/church and family involved. Hope everything works out for you.
2006-07-17 09:06:05 · answer #2 · answered by wonderwoman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He doesn't have to stay at hospice if he doesn't want. If he's of sound mind and his own responsible person no one can make him stay. If he does decide to leave and the hospice home feels he is leaving for an unsafe environment they can call adult protective services to alert them of the situation.
2006-07-17 08:58:32 · answer #3 · answered by Courtne 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They need to be notified. Social services will end up placing him in the cheapest crap-hole they can find, otherwise. Been there with my Mom already.
2006-07-17 08:57:20 · answer #4 · answered by Quietman40 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call a social worker
2006-07-17 08:59:15 · answer #5 · answered by April 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋