Alzheimer’s Disease - GUARDIAN ANGELS HOME HEALTH & HOSPICE

Alzheimer's Disease

Hospice admission guidelines for Alzheimer's disease, dementia & related diseases

Patients are classified as being in the advanced or terminal phase of dementia (life expectancy of six months or less) if they meet all of the following criteria:

All of the following must apply

Reached Stage 7 or higher on the Functional Assessment Staging (FAST) scale
Requires assistance for walking, or cannot walk independently
Needs help with dressing and cannot do so alone
Cannot bathe without support
Experiences urinary and bowel incontinence, occasional or continuous
No longer engages in meaningful verbal communication (repetitive phrases, or six words or fewer)

Plus at least one within the last 12 months

Aspiration pneumonia
Pyelonephritis or another upper urinary tract infection
Septicemia
Multiple pressure ulcers at stage 3 or 4
Persistent fever despite antibiotic treatment
Inability to maintain adequate fluid/calorie intake — 10% weight loss in 6 months, or serum albumin below 2.5 gm/dl

What clinical decline can look like

An illustrative comparison our clinical team may use when assessing disease progression over time.

FAST Score

Progressed from stage 7a to stage 7c.

PPS / ADL

PPS declined from 50% to 30%; now requires a Hoyer lift instead of a two-person transfer.

Intake Change

Meal intake dropped from 100% to 50%; diet shifted from regular to pureed, now needs assistance.

Weight Change

Lost 10 lbs in one month — a 10% body-weight loss over six months.

Alert / Oriented

Sleep increased from ~10 hours daily to over 15 hours a day.

Skin Issues

New redness observed on the coccyx with no prior skin concerns.

Comorbidities

Conditions often seen alongside advanced dementia

Always Ready to Help

Our caring team is here to support you and your loved ones, ready to discuss how our services can bring comfort and peace during this time.

Proudly serving families across Metro Phoenix

Call us at (480) 565-7558 for inquiries.

Proudly serving families across Metro Phoenix

Call us at (480) 565-7558 for inquiries.

Call us anytime