Dementia and Hospice Care: Understanding When and How It Helps

To this day, dementia isn't entirely understood. It functions as an umbrella term to describe a set of symptoms that can be associated with several different diseases, making it difficult to pinpoint causes and treatments.

According to the National Institute on Aging, it is possible that up to one-third of seniors aged 85 and up have some form of dementia. Millions of families across the nation are looking for solutions and dementia care support.

Today, we're here to talk about dementia and hospice care. We'll address the benefits of different senior care services for dementia patients and when to seek end-of-life care options. Read on for more.

How Long Can Seniors Live With Dementia?

According to Medical News Today, seniors with dementia typically have a life expectancy of between five and ten years. There are several factors that can influence an individual's lifespan, and receiving care is one of them.

Types of Dementia

As we mentioned earlier, dementia does not describe one disease or follow one progression. Different types of dementia can impact a patient's lifespan as follows:

Alzheimer's: eight to ten years
Vascular dementia: five years
Lewy body dementia: six years
Frontotemporal dementia: six to eight years

These variations reflect the different causes and risks associated with different types of dementia. For example, patients with vascular dementia are at an increased risk of stroke and heart attack.

Overall Wellness

Overall, wellness seems to play a role in the progression of dementia, as well. For example, a senior's mental health may impact their cognitive functioning, with conditions like depression and anxiety having a negative effect.

Taking a holistic approach to wellness may help with symptom management. Things like proper nutrition and increased exercise may support better mental and physical health outcomes.

Available Dementia Care

As dementia advances, seniors will benefit from increasing levels of care. In the early stages, assisted living can help seniors with dementia to:

Complete activities of daily living
Stick to a beneficial routine that involves socializing
Maintain a healthy, balanced diet
Take medications on time
Attend doctor's appointments

As dementia progresses, they may need higher tiers of care, such as skilled nursing. Finding the right senior living community can put your loved one on the path to better health management.

Dementia and Hospice Care: How Hospice Care Can Help

Hospice care is a unique form of patient care designed specifically for the end of a patient's life. Hospice care workers provide unique services that can benefit both dementia patients and their caregivers.

Personalized Patient Care

Hospice care allows individuals with dementia to live their final weeks or months in comfort and dignity. Hospice care workers develop a personalized care plan that covers:

Pain management
Nutrition
Hydration
Emotional management
General care

In hospice care, the focus is no longer on slowing the progression of dementia but on creating as much comfort for the patient as possible. Hospice care workers have the skills and training to work with the unique needs of late-stage dementia patients in this process.

Emotional and Spiritual Care

Reaching the end of one's life can bring on complicated feelings ranging from peace to fear. Hospice care workers can organize emotional and spiritual care for their patients, arranging conversations with:

Volunteers
Religious and spiritual leaders
Licensed therapists

Even if your loved one struggles with language at this stage, they may benefit from the presence of comforting figures. Your hospice care workers will take into consideration any preferences or religious beliefs your loved one may have had.

Family and Caregiver Support

Hospice care workers don't just support their patients. They also play a crucial role in the overall caregiving team.

You may have to make tough decisions about your loved one's care in the final days of their life. Hospice care workers can provide both emotional and practical guidance regarding appropriate steps to take and not take.

When to Seek Hospice Care for Dementia

How do you know when it's time to look into end-of-life care options for a loved one with dementia? There are a few things to understand about this specific type of comfort care for dementia patients.

Hospice vs. Skilled Nursing

It's very important to understand the difference between hospice and skilled nursing. Skilled nursing is a senior care living option for seniors in need of round-the-clock medical support. This includes seniors who require IV-based symptom management, ventilators, and so on.

While hospice patients may also need round-the-clock supervision, the emphasis is not the same. You will not arrange hospice care until it is clear that your loved one is in the final stages of life and comfort is the primary concern.

Understanding the FAST Scale

Healthcare providers will often rely on something called the FAST scale to assess the stages of dementia, which Healthline explains in greater detail. Stage 7 is the final stage on the FAST scale and is marked by the significant reduction of:

Speech (one to five words spoken per day)
Movement (inability to walk or sit up without assistance)
Consciousness (challenges using intelligible vocabulary)

Hospice care is typically not recommended for dementia patients until they reach this stage.

Dementia and Hospice Insurance Coverage

How does insurance impact dementia and hospice care? Typically, insurance providers (including Medicare) will cover hospice when a doctor diagnoses a patient with six months or less to live.

If a patient receiving hospice care lives longer than six months, they may retain their benefits. To do so, their doctor will need to recertify that their illness is terminal and that their life expectancy is six months or less.