Expert: Paula Damgaard - 7/25/2008

Question
At what stage in the Alzheimer disease process would you think antibotics for Pneumonia should not be given?  Our hospice nurse has said if my father gets pneumonia they would treat it.  We thought Hospice was about not treatment but comfort.
He is in stage 7 of the disease, cannot talk, can do nothing without help. still ambulatory but has to be led around cannot get from point A to point B without help. fully incontinent etc.
We feel pneumonia should not be treated and were surprised when hospice told us they do treat it.  He has not yet gotten pneumonia but we are wondering.

Answer
Hi Sally, you have the right to say NO.  I would not treat it.  Pneumonia used to be called the "old people's friend" because there weren't all these high powered antibiotics and the elderly would get the disease and they would die very peacefully.  I am not sure why Hospice is telling you they would treat it either.  Makes no sense to me.  Again you can tell them no.  

I think it would be the best thing you do for your dad.  Making him healthy again for what?  It would be a much nicer thing for him to go peacefully with pneumonia then to be cured and live a little longer for what??

I hope it goes quickly for him and you.  Please know that my thoughts are with you.  Paula