Do I call Hospice for a friend diagnosed with CHF?

A friend of mine who is a disabled Vietnam veteran (brain injury) was recently taken to a hospital (out of our town) via ambulance. After 11 days they finally called me (they told me they didn't know who he was) and gave him Vikodin, which he is allergic to, Haldol, which put him in a state where he couldn't think clearly to tell them to call me. When I arrived to pick him up, a social worker pulled me aside and told me that my friend had very bad CHF (15% of the heart was working?) something like that, and she said to call Hospice when I got home because he was probably going to die. So now what? I can't get myself to call as he seems to be ok. I want to get a second opinion but lately I can't find a doctor that really knows their stuff and have heard several different things. Is it because he is a Veteran with a lot of problems I don't know about? I feel their is more to the story than they say. He had a fallout with his family and lives with my husband and I.

My mother is currently under hospice care, and we asked her physician to order it for us, once she reached a certain stage of decline where she no longer responded to medications and was completely bedfast. I believe only a physician can make that call, since hospice is paid for through Medicare or Medicaid.

You can call them and get general information, but it sounds like your friend needs to be evaluated by a physician first. (We learned the hard way that social workers have a way of operating independently and not always within the confines of the medical system......)

Sounds complicated. You probably won't get the advice you need here. You need to find another doctor and get a second opinion. Hospice is only for terminal illnesses -- it is family support.

People with CHF can continue to live long if they do everything their doctor's tell them to - monitoring their weight, watching their diet, frequent periods of rest and taking their medication as directed. If you are helping provide care for him, I would see if he will sign a durable power for medical care form so that you can talk with his doctors and they can give you information on how best to care for him. If he should become dramatically worse, is on a ventilator - who is going to be able to speak his wishes without this? He needs to get an advanced directive filled out and signed, designate someone to make decisions for him should he not be able to and get his will and finances in order.

Now, consider getting a copy of his records and having another cardiologist review his heart function tests and any echo, angioplasty or any other test he has had done on his heart for a second opinion. If they are in agreement with the diagnosis, then contact Hospice. They can help him through this difficult time as his condition becomes worse and intervene on his behalf with his doctors. They are also excellent in helping family/friends through the dying process also. He also needs to make peace with his family so there are no regrets. There is a lot of things going on and things that can be done before you accept this diagnosis.

What an amazing story!
You mentioned at the end that you "feel there is more to the story than they say."
I am having a few problems with what you have told us here.
I am not being rude, just asking you to clarify a few things for us.
Why would they, after 11 days of not knowing who he was, suddenly call you?
Was your phone number in his clothing and they only found it on day 11?
Usually when you check in to a Medical Facility you must name the person to be called in case of emergency.
If they gave him Haldol which confused him to the point of him not being able to tell them to call you, then how did they know to call you?
If he had CHF (15% of his heart working), I am 99% sure that the Medical staff would have had him transfered to a Hospital or Hospice, and not released to "a friend".
How can he now "seem O.K."?
Not sure what you mean by not being able to find a Doctor "that really knows their stuff."
Doctors know their stuff.
If you are not a relative, the Doctors don't need to explain the "a lot of problems that I don't know about."
Not sure how much of what you've said here is true.

I read your other question as well.
How is your Mom?
Does she still have to use the ventilator, and do you still feel that her life is in your hands?
I doubt very much that the Nurses feel that she is "a pile of problems "as you put it or that they are encouraging you to" let her go".
Nurses aren't the ones who discuss these things with the family, it's the Doctor who does so in a case conference.

First of all thank you for being his friend. As his friend, you can approach his doctor and ask his opinion. There are certain criteria for hospice such as six months life expectancy (not hard and fast). You can also call a local hospice, preferably a non-profit, and ask them. They may evaluate your friend to see if he is appropriate for hospice.

Bless you.