Hospice...

[dryan]

My mother has acute leukemia and has finally agreed to go into a Hospice program. We all feel it is for the best but I don't know much about it. Any thoughts??

[Christa]

1. My sympathy

to you and your family. It will be for the best - you cannot cope alone.

[Horse with no Name]

2. Hospice is wonderful

I have been on both sides of it--as a nurse and as a family member.
I'm sorry for what you are going through, however, hospice will ease some burdens you didn't realize that might exist.
I will hold your family in my prayers during these difficult times.

[Greeby]

3. My grandad was in there during his last days

I hated the place, reeked of death.

Hence why during the Terri Schiavo shitstorm, I hit the roof when I read that people couldn't get to say goodbye to their dying relatives, thanks to those mouth-breathers :argh:

[Patiod]

4. Hospice services are often provided in the patient's home

You don't necessarily have to go "in there".

In fact, that's one of the best benefits to hospice -- the chance to stay in your own home during your last days.

Hospice can be a real blessing - providing nursing care, home health aides, and volunteers to give family members some respite. They help with all the paperwork and red tape, and even help the family make arrangements after the end has come, including grief support.

For work, I've interviewed regular MDs and hospice MDs on the topic of pain management, and regular MDs are still in the Stone Age compared to hospice MDs. Hospice MDs not are afraid of the FDA, and will Rx what the patient needs, and not worry that they might get "in trouble".

Friends are often resistant when the subject is broached - no one wants to "give up the fight", but more than one has come back and said something like "I'm really sorry we didn't turn to hospice earlier - they've been a big help not just with Dad, but a real support for Mom. I had no idea of all the services they offer."

It's taken a while, but payers are finally starting to see that they can do good AND save money by letting the patient receive care at home rather than in a hospital setting.

[Sgent]

5. In defense of many MD's

they won't perscribe the pain meds outside of a monitored situation -- the hospital, hospice or nursing home. Its not so much what they don't know (although that's it sometimes too), its more that the DEA is unlikely to be suspicious of a huge amount of morphine or other drug in a hospice situation.

I've known many MD's that do know how to treat pain, but won't do it on a completely outpatinet basis due to control issues. They have no problem if its being filled by an institutional pharmacy.

[Duer 157099]

6. I can't even adequately articulate what hospice meant to me

My brother recently spent his last days in one, and it was a wonderful one -- although the only one I've ever been to, maybe they are all that way. The people there were so compassionate and caring. I know that after witnessing what my bro went through and how those last months were, I would opt also for hospice care if I were in that situation.

I can't say enough good things about it.

[dryan]

7. Hospice of the Comforter....

My brother, husband, and I met with staff members from Hospice of the Comforter on October 29th. They were very compassionate and caring. My mother made me promise that she would not die in the hospital so we made plans for her to be moved home on Monday, the 31st. They took care of all the details. I was able to grant my mother's final wish, she passed at 5:40 PM - just 2 hours aftershe came home. She was a great lady and a great Democrat. One of the last lucid conversations I had with her was about the CIA case.

My mother was a Naval veteran - she enlisted in the WAVES when she was just 19 years old and served at the tail end of WWII through the Korean War so I'm pleased to report that she can be buried with full military honors at the National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. I think that that would please her very much.

Thanks for everyone's concerns. My religous faith has really held me up during this whole ordeal.