Seeking more input re: hospice providers in MoCo (JSSA, Seasons Hospice, Montgomery Hospice, others?

[Anonymous]

Thanks to everyone for your input on this question I posted earlier this month about hospice. It was really helpful insight that you all provided. My elderly relative has now made the decision, which is supported by his medical team and our family, to go with palliative care / hospice. I don't think it is a matter of weeks, but instead a matter of months that he has left with us. We are now in the position of determining a good hospice provider for him. The names / agencies that were given to us are:

Jewish Social Services Agency (https://www.jssa.org/get-help/hospice/)
Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care (https://www.seasons.org/)
Montgomery Hospice (https://www.montgomeryhospice.org/)

Do people have any feedback or thoughts about these or other hospice providers in Montgomery County? Any other suggestions or things to keep in mind?

[Anonymous]

OP here - Corrected email for Seasons Hospice - https://www.seasons.org/about/locations/maryland/

[Anonymous]

Montgomery and JSSA are the bigger recommended ones. We used Montgomery hospice. Did my own referral online and it was easy. Montgomery hospice has their own hospice home if there is a possibility you need that.

[Anonymous]

Review Medicare's findings on medicare.gov

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Review Medicare's findings on medicare.gov

That's not always helpful as not everything gets reported.

[Anonymous]

We used montgomery hospice for my mom several years ago. She was transferred from the hospital to Casey House. The staff there were so supportive. They helped guide me and my sister through the whole process which was incredibly emotionally draining but we really appreciated their guidance. Even though it’s been years since my mom died I still donate money every year to them in my moms name.

[Anonymous]

Hebrew Home was excellent.

[Anonymous]

I don't know anything about those providers, but I will share that I was glad that my grandmother could be in an in-patient hospice facility. I think that made it easier for everyone. So if one of those providers has a connection to an in-patient facility that may be appropriate in a few months, that would be something to consider.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hebrew Home was excellent.

They are not hospice and a nursing home. I tried to get my MIL multiple times and they kept lying saying there were no beds because she had medicaid/approved and gave me a horrible run around. Ombudsman also said they had lots of issues.

[Anonymous]

we have used Seasons in Southern California and they have been fine.

[Anonymous]

My grandma is using Montgomery Hospice. My mom likes the caregiver and gets frequent updates on how my grandma is doing.

[Anonymous]

A friend used Montgomery Hospice and Casey House and they were so wonderful to her and to her family and friends.

[Anonymous]

We used Montgomery. I had heard great things but my own experience was not good.

One very helpful thing was drug delivery, which stopped endless runs to the pharmacy.

But otherwise, the care they provided was minimal. I thought they would surely send someone when my loved one was actually dying, but they were too busy. The end was terrifying, and I had to face it alone.

The nurse, Helen, did finally show up a couple of hours later to deal with the business of their getting the bed back and disposing of the morphine. She was rude and crabby, repeatedly mentioned my loved one's "burial" and when I said "cremation" said "whatever." Like, we were in the room with the body at the time and it was beyond upsetting to have this nurse snapping at me. The hospital bed they had provided was old and rusty...goodness knows how many people had died on it.

The bereavement counselors who phoned afterward were as uncaring as Helen; it was like they were all going through the motions and checking people off their list. They promised to send literature and forgot; said they'd call again and didn't bother.

My impression is that this hospice is run as business, and that it is short staffed. Probably the employees are burned out.

[Anonymous]

Op here - My family ended up using Montgomery Hospice and they were amazing. The care team was supportive and really helped to guide us through the process. My relative was kept comfortable and pain was really controlled. We were so appreciative of their support.

[Anonymous]

Sorry for your loss, OP. I'm glad your family was able to receive compassionate care when you needed it.