Welcome to the MDS Patient Message Board Post New Thread

Welcome to the MDS Patient Message Board. We hope that you will find this to be a very valuable resource in your journey. We have recently revised the format of our forum to be much more user friendly and pleasing on the eyes. Let us know if you have any problems, or if you have additional suggestions on how we might further improve our site.

Blood Transfusions at home

This topic has 2 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 5 years, 4 months ago by Eric.

Viewing 3 posts - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

Author

Posts
November 18, 2018 at 10:46 pm #44471

Melinda Johnson
Participant

My father, who has MDS and is 88, is still able to walk, but the prognosis is a month or so. He is transfusion dependent.
I’ve spoken with his doctor and hospice and I’m told that transfusions at home aren’t an option because hospice considers it “life prolonging” treatment.

Does anybody have any suggestions for patients who are not yet ready to forgo transfusions, but are very weak and not ready to be in hospice care?

Melinda

November 21, 2018 at 5:37 pm #44503

Shelley Frady
Participant

I am a home health nurse and I have never known of blood being given at home. There is a service called palliative care. You can check and see if there is one local to you. If you can’t find anything some hospices provide palliative care.

November 28, 2018 at 11:12 am #44541

Eric
Participant

Melinda,
I am faced with the same dilemma with my 89 YO father. He needs round the clock care because his
low blood counts make him very weak.. The doc. want to “send him home”. There is no one there that can
look after him and make sure he gets to the hospital for his transfusions. Medicare is no longer paying for skilled nursing care. In this condition bankruptcy, and losing his home is in the near future. I don’t know how long this will go on but the nursing home, and doctors have given up on him. Hospice states they will not do blood transfusions regularly… This system or lack there of, sickens me.

Can anyone help?
Author

Posts