I tried to get cough assist machine and found because my husband is on hospice, medicare would not cover it. I asked hospice if they could get it for my hd. They did extensive research into the matter. It costs over 5,000 and they are not able to do it. I did not know it is that expensive. To get it, my hd would have to go off hospice. He is so used to it, and has become such a man of habit, comfortable with what is familiar only, I am loathe to take him off hospice. He will miss the nurses and their visits. He does not need it now. I thought I will wait and move with the flow.
Hospice and medicare
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Lavender Lady
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- Jul 6, 2010
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- 445
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- PALS
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- 08/2010
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- WA
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- Lake Stevens
Sadly, yes that is correct. He would have to go off hospice in order to get any equipment. I have heeded that warning from many people on here. Get whatever you need before going on Hospice.
I hope he may never need one or be able to go off hospice for a time then back on. Best wishes to you.
I hope he may never need one or be able to go off hospice for a time then back on. Best wishes to you.
Alas, they do not have one.
My hd is still able to cough and hospice does provide us with suction machine. He is able to get off hospice and get back on again. If it comes to that, I would have to do it, just to get the cough assist machine.
My hd is still able to cough and hospice does provide us with suction machine. He is able to get off hospice and get back on again. If it comes to that, I would have to do it, just to get the cough assist machine.
LornaDoone
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We are being discouraged from a CoughAssist machine. My local ALS people are saying that it's not really all that beneficial. They are quite challenging to get stuff from for sure. Hope you have better luck over there.
Mandolyn, thanks. It helps me feel better not being able so far to get it for my PALS. We do have the suction machine which is a real lifesaver. He is still able to cough which helps. The moment he coughs, I use the suction machine.
Mandolyn, I can tell you that my husband feels so much better when he uses the cough assist. It moves the sticky gunk around in your lungs and does not allow it to sit and therefore cause pneumonia. It pops all those sacks of gunk when the lungs expand. This was explained to us yesterday at the ALS Clinic. My husband is to use the cough assist twice daily.
The RT said we all have the gunk in our lungs, but we can move it about when we cough and pals cannot. That's where the cough assist machine comes in.
The RT said we all have the gunk in our lungs, but we can move it about when we cough and pals cannot. That's where the cough assist machine comes in.
CJ, my husband is still able to cough. I help him by using light chopping motion with my hands on his back and when he coughs it up, suction it with the suction machine. I hope he will continue to do so, meanwhile I will keep at it with the MDA and ALS loan closet. Right now we manage with the suction machine and I am so grateful to have it.
LizT
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- Aug 8, 2010
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I think I posted this somewhere once, but you can do a manual cough assist on your PALS. Ask your RT to show you how to do it.
you push down and up on their sternum right after an inhale- please do not try this without being shown how to do it. you can hurt your PALS if you do it wrong.
you push down and up on their sternum right after an inhale- please do not try this without being shown how to do it. you can hurt your PALS if you do it wrong.
CJ, thank you so so much for suggesting MDA loan closet. I phoned their office and did not believe they could get any to loan us. A young woman took the call. She called just now. They have it and will be delivering it to us. I am so so grateful and relieved. I cannot believe it, that they actually have it and we could loan that from them. The help with Als is overwhelming, the help and support and reach out here at this forum. It makes me cry. The other alternative was taking my hd off hospice care just to get the cough assist machine. He likes routine and any changes would be very hard for him. Hence I was going to wait till he really needs it to do that. Now I don't have to.
I had asked her about the speech machine and hope she will be able to get us that also.
I had asked her about the speech machine and hope she will be able to get us that also.
I read and learn a lot here and then tell the hospice nurse what my husband could use or would need. I started with the suction machine. I told her I read about it and I can tell my hd can use one. She helped me get it then the bipap machine. It is a good learning experience for her and for me. For instance, she has no idea what the cough assist machine is. On doing some research, she told me it is not something hospice is able to provide. She will be happy to learn we will be getting it from MDA loan closet.
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