Gerri,

Your moms oncologist should be able to start hospice for her. There is often a hospice service affiliated with the hospital he or she is associated with. When my mom's oncologist called in the order for hospice they called us the very same day.

Your father will most definitely need help caring for her. Hospice will not be there 24 hours a day so that may help him to feel like he is doing the lion share of the caregiving. Do you have any other family that are nearby your parents that could help out?

Amy CG to mom Janet - diag w/ early SCC 8/11-surg w/ rad neck dissect & graft from arm/thigh 9/11-evid in nodes tx 6 wks rads (5/wk) w/cistplatin (1/wk for 6 wks) began 11/11-wk or 2 break 12/11 due to severe side effects-done 1/12- 3/23/12 mets to liver lung bone-hospice 4/7/12-lost fight 4/22/12