My mom wishes to have some P/T and O/T because she can't walk and get around anymore. She wants something to feel like she's moving her body. Her primary physician ordered it for her but, the therapist told me she was no longer eligible since she is under hospice care.
Hospice services are covered by Medicare in most states. The PT will be limited to maintenance of comfort and not toward rehabilitation.
Problem. Now he thinks he can walk so has had an increase in falls and injuries. Wife thinks he can walk and is fighting for more PT. There are situations where PT becomes a danger, I.e. my pt who fell trying to walk to bathroom at 3 am, broke his hip, and died a week later.
For family members who choose this option please listen to your hospice team. There is a reason dementia pts stop walking and you can't reverse the damage already done to the brain. I tell all of my dementia families that it is to be expected at some point, and while range of motion is promoted, all out PT is not after a certain point...it can be deadly and painful.
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