My husband has ALS, has a trache and is on a ventilator. We live in Texas. Should we be looking into Palliative Care or Hospice? If he were to develop pneumonia, would he still be treated with antibiotics and would he still be able to continue blood pressure and GERD medications on either one of these programs?
Her diagnosis was more than ten years ago. She cannot move anything. She cannot talk or swallow foods. Other than the NH for similar people she has no special care.
She has had some infections and all were treated in house.
If you have seen the news recently, you may have heard and seen that Stephen Hawkings just passed away from ALS. He had it for over fifty years. Although the average life expectancy is just five years after diagnosis.
Talk to his doctor. Palliative and hospice care is meant to keep people comfortable and pain free towards the end of life. Some meds may be continued. There are lots of variables. Contact a hospice organization for more details.