Thanks for the offer Dancer. You are going through so much yourself. I'm sorry for all of you who are experiencing this kind of care for parents. I have learned that hospice policies vary by state and by agency. It used to be that hospice was only for those who had 6 months to live. Now that "rule" appears to be changing. With the availablity of more medications and technology, it has become more difficult to predict how long a patient may have. How many times have you heard someone given 6 months to live and he/she lasted 6 years? There is no clear prediction in my mother's case. What I am hoping for is that her fears and my dad's fears are addressed, and that they are both more comfortable while she is here. The Alzheimer's prevents her from understanding that she has cancer. She does not even understand that she has Alzheimer's. Gimster, your dad has presence of mind to do this for himself?