About who needs care: Margo is an 83-year-old woman on hospice with pancreatic cancer. She has rapidly become weaker in the last 1-2 weeks, losing ability to do transfers or reposition herself. One week ago she was still ambulatory with a walker. She is severely weakened and fatigued to a point that she is in bed 100% of the time as of the last few days (since Nov 14). Hospice has now delivered a hospital bed for her. She has occasional visits from a hospice RN and a bath aide through hospice. She now needs 24/7 availability of assistance for almost all ADLs, including toileting and obtaining food. Her diet is very limited because her cancer makes her nauseous in response to most foods. My little brother and I are available most of the week. There is a period from about 12-7 p.m. on Monday through Wednesday where we have gaps in our availability due to work, and so we need access to caregiving during that time. She is going to a hospice house for a 5-day respite from 11/18-11/22 to give us time to arrange additional caregiving help. Her condition is worsening quickly and it is possible she will die in the next 1-2 weeks. About the care needs: Having experience and comfort with hospice patients who may die during your shift is very important. You should be comfortable calling her hospice agency if needed. She is still able to take her own medications and so I do not believe skilled nursing is needed at this time. Margo enjoys classical music and seems to like telling stories from her past though she is becoming too fatigued to do this. Services needed include: feeding, bathing / dressing, and mobility assistance.
Mobility Assistance
Bathing / Dressing
Feeding