Hospice Offers Care Near End Of Life

nytimes.com:

Hospice workers never know what they may find when they enter the homes of people whose doctors expect them to die within six months. But they are prepared to handle almost anything.

Read the whole story: nytimes.com

Comments

[CR46]

02:27 AM on 12/05/2009

Hospice care made it possible for my Mom to be home the last 5 months of her life (where she wanted to be). I will never forget their support in so many ways including emotional.
I was glad that my Moms Dr was very supportive and co-operative about her planned home death, but the hospice nurses somehow helped guide us all through the process with knowledge and caring.
My Moms projected live expectancy ( on leaving the hospital that last time) was 6 weeks. My mom lived(and was able to enjoy that period of time visiting, writing, and talking) 5 months. My mom got to see two more great grandbabies and hold them and kiss on them...and that was all due to our wonderful care hospice provided.

[KIVPossum]

03:12 PM on 12/04/2009

Hospice workers are the most devoted and caring health care workers. It takes a special person to give dying people the love and care they give. I spend 25 years in health care and never ceased to admire their dedication, and their ability to both care and comfort.

[BlueZoo]

05:24 PM on 12/03/2009

Hospice workers are angels on earth! Our family has had experience with them twice and they were a true blessing to us all. Dying at home, free of all the tubes and in no pain should be how we all should go out!

[pokemon]

05:02 PM on 12/03/2009

that's if the doctors do not drag out care instead of letting hospice take over. they do a wonderful job with end of life care.

[CR46]

02:29 AM on 12/05/2009

My moms Dr was wonderful and supportive, but you are right, not all are. But you can be proactive with your Dr ahead of time. My father has asked his Dr about it and is satisfied he will work with my Dad when the time comes.

[babyboomerorig]

10:10 AM on 12/03/2009

My brother and mother both had Hospice care and I can't say enough about it. My sister-in-law is now a Hospice Nurse...with lots of experience. She lost her husband, father and mother-in-law within a year.

The nurse, also a neighbor of our family, finally told my sister-in-law, that my brother should have his visitors limited because it kept him stressed. There were over 100 people every day who stopped by to see us, more food than you can imagine and the time to relive memories of over 50 years.

It's an amazing experience to be with someone during this time. The private time to let go of the things you're not proud of, the private time to say I Love You.

The peace that overcomes a room as a person passes takes the fear of dying away completely. The animals even respect the final breath. They disappear, then come back about 10 minutes after the death.