Most families who bring in hospice say the same thing afterward: they wish they had called sooner. In this episode of Dementia Lifeboat: Port of Call, Laura Wayman, The Dementia Whisperer, and certified life coach for caregivers, Jocelyn Ives, talk with the team from Elevate Hospice and Palliative Care. Co-owner Donna Cohen, psychiatric nurse practitioner and co-owner Anneli Kumpula, and executive director Bethany Odenbrett explain when hospice makes sense for someone living with dementia symptoms and what it does for the whole family. Bethany started at 17 as a caregiver in a memory care unit, with almost no training. The lesson that stuck with her was simple: when someone can't tell you what they need, start with the basics. Are they hungry, thirsty, in pain, or needing the bathroom? That same detective work shapes how hospice anticipates the needs of someone who can no longer communicate them. Anneli explains why denial shows up so often at this stage. Dementia symptoms progress in small ways that families adjust to day by day, and most families are never given a clear picture of what later stages look like. She walks through the changes in daily function that can signal it's time to rethink the goal of care. Laura and Jocelyn bring the emotional side. A promise like "I'll never put you in a home" was the right promise when you made it, and Laura offers a way to keep it without carrying everything alone. Jocelyn describes your relationship with your loved one as a treasure that keeps getting heavier. Hospice helps you protect that treasure instead of dropping it. Together, the group argues that hospice isn't giving up. It's a level of care everyone deserves, and it brings the same dignity to the end of life that we give to the beginning. In this episode: Why "I wish we'd called sooner" is what hospice teams hear mostHow hospice anticipates needs when a person can no longer say what's wrongStarting with the basics: hunger, thirst, pain, and comfortWhy denial comes back near the end of the dementia care journeyThe changes in eating, swallowing, weight, and falls that may signal it's time to askWhat to do when family members don't agree on a higher level of careHow to keep the promise "I won't put you in a home" by expanding what it meansWhy your own emotions are part of the care your loved one receivesWhy hospice belongs inside the healthcare system, not outside itQuestions this episode answers: When should you call hospice for someone with dementia symptoms? Sooner than most families think. Hospice has specific eligibility criteria, but reaching out early lets you build a relationship with the team and understand where your loved one is in the progression. It also lets you plan ahead instead of making big decisions in a crisis. A good hospice team won't recommend services before they're clinically appropriate. What signs suggest it may be time to consider hospice? Anneli compares function over time. What could they do on their own six months ago, and what can they do now? Changes in appetite, trouble using utensils or swallowing, weight loss, and more frequent falls become common in later stages. How does hospice help when a person with dementia symptoms can't communicate? By anticipating needs. The team looks at what has worked before, what hasn't, and how weight, appetite, and sleep are trending. They rule out physical causes like pain or infection before deciding what a behavior means. What if my family doesn't agree that it's time for hospice? Before you try to convince anyone, ask why they see it differently. They have a reason. Understanding that reason first usually makes it easier to educate them or find common ground. Hospice social workers support every family member, not just the primary caregiver. Does choosing hospice mean breaking a promise to care for them? No. Laura suggests adding to the promise rather than abandoning it: "Whatever care you need, I promise I'll find someone who can help me give it to you." Is hospice the same as giving up? No. Hospice is a level of care everyone deserves. It brings comfort, support, and dignity to the end of life, so families can spend real time together instead of living in crisis. Connect with us Learn more about Elevate Hospice and Palliative Care: elevatehospiceaz.com Take the free dementia awareness self-assessment: assessment.laurawayman.comBook Laura to speak: laurawayman.com/speaker-kitBook a consultation with Jocelyn: justjocelyncoaching.com/coachingJoin our Facebook community, A Loving Approach to Dementia Care: facebook.com/groups/2138455819816838Laura's book, A Loving Approach to Dementia Care, is published by Johns Hopkins University Press.laurawayman.com/podcast