Hospice care?

I am doing a research paper on how hospice care is actually effective in comparison to end of life arrangements with nursing homes and or hospital care.... can anyone help me out??

Let me just say, my mom was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago. By the time the doctors made the diagnosis the cancer had spread throughout her body. They said she had about 1 week to live. Before then she had been doing well and living a normal, active life. All of the family members were in shock, of course. My father wanted to keep my mom comfortable at home; whereupon she received relatively kind, professional " in home care" for a few days. Then my dad, along with the family, decided to take her to Hospice (in San Diego, California) for her last few days, to optimize her peace and comfort. May I just say, this was one of the wisest decisions we ever made: Mom was comfortable in a supportive, tranquil environment where her physical and mental needs were of the utmost importance. The underlying principle was to promote the optimum comfort, while at the time, maintain the dignity of the terminally ill patient. Everything from acupuncture, massages, and counseling were provided to not solely the patient, but family members if they so desired. True, death is never easy, and one is never truly prepared for "the inevitable"; notwithstanding; San Diego Hospice was a loving, tranquil environment for my mother to pass on. Our family was blessed to have our Mom spend her last days with us at such a fine and caring organization. .

when my dad was dying, the hospice nurse was wonderful. it was much more comforting that he was in his own home under the care of this wonderful woman

I worked in a nursing home for a few years. Hospice people have wonderful hearts, and they can care for people in their homes which makes it more comfortable and peaceful.The family can be there the whole time.Hospice also have access to stronger medical drugs so the patient doesnt have to feel any pain or suffering.I would want that kind of peace for my family. Nursing homes may help with medication but they cant guarantee real privacy, and the patient isnt given that personal care.

My mother is having hospice check in on her in her home. She wants to die there. They have been great at helping with her pain and nausea. I have two RNs (my sisters) helping and another sister is there 24/7 but the hospice nurses have this down. They see it all the time and know what to do, who to call, etc. Two weeks ago, my mother's pain and nausea was out of control and the hospice nurse knew exactly what to do. Great. I highly recommend hospice to anyone who is planning on dying. Its like much medicine today, there is so much available that you need to find an expert in what you need, not just a nursing home or hospital - they are focused on "maintaining" or "curing" not on "easing". See? Find the people who can do what you need. Its just like the studies done on heart by-pass surgery. They found that the more a hospital did it, the better the outcome. Practice makes perfect. No substitute for experience, etc. Neither hospital nor nursing home is focused on the end-of-life needs like a hospice is. As a matter of fact they are both in some sense motivated to perserve or fix rather than to ease and help. So there is a definite conflict of interest possible.

I have visited a hospice. It was... nothing I could ever expect. You know how hospitals can be, a little depressing and there are those beds all lined up and everyone working just to get a job done. Well, the hospice was quite the opposite. It was beautiful and friendly. The rooms were amazing. The people were friendly; the staff AND the admitted patients. There were flowers and plants everywhere. Nothing even close to being gloomy. And you are supposed to see dying patients there? I simply could not believe the services the doctors, nurses, management and other staff was giving to make that place so special and full of life.