I was reading through some comments on the various topics here (so many very helpful questions) and wanted to ask: is hospice supposed to provide a daily helper to the family? We have not had the best experience with hospice for my FIL and they told us he needed extra help but never offered it through their organization.
A nurse came out once a week (missed one week because she said she had patients in more need) and they sent a volunteer a couple of times a week to give him a bath.
We were told that medicare would not pay for visiting nurses AND hospice and then essentially told that hospice is brought in so the patient can get painkillers. We have never been offered any kind of additional help and was told we needed to find help ourselves.
The program was explained to me, and I was not expecting daily help from the hospice program.
As geewiz says, understand the benefits offered by the program you are considering.