I worked in a nursing home and was introduced to Hospice.?

How do you feel about Hospice and would you ever consider it for someone you love who was terminally ill? What would your reasons be for or against?

My Mom was placed on Hospice in late May of 2005. She had kidney cancer and Alzheimer's. God sent me an angel in the form of a very compassionate woman who was my Mom's "sitter" during the day while I worked (I'd moved in with my Mom in 1990 because of her health problems); this made it possible for her to stay in her Home. The sitter arrived at 8am and left at 5pm when I got home from work. The Hospice team was comprised of a Nurse that visited twice a week...a CNA that came at least twice a week to bathe her....a massage therapist that visited every week to soothe her body with gentle massage, and a music therapist who brought a portable keyboard and encouraged my Mom to play all her favorite songs of days gone by. The Chaplain visited every 3 weeks in the beginning and towards the end more frequently. I took over from 5pm to 8am and all weekend. Just knowing that my Mom was Home made her so happy and the wonderful and oh so kind members of the Hospice team provided a realm of comfort and serenity that could never have occured in an "institution". Mom had meds for any pain she experienced and I had 24/7 access to an advisor in my times of need who listened to me when I was afraid and encouraged me to be strong for my Mom. Although it was sad and emotionally painful for me, knowing that Mom was so well cared for made the last 6 months of her life as comfortable as humanly possible. I shared so much with her in those last months....laughter, tears, memories and watching her transition from the living world to the Hereafter taught me things no human can learn in school. Enlightenment made the journey bearable and Faith made me a better Christian. In her infinate wisdom and love, my Mom allowed us to trade roles...she became my 82 year old child and I am ever gratefull for having been with her when she passed peacefully in her sleep in the early morning hours on a cold, bright sunny November day. The Hospice people have approached me to consider doing some volunteer work so that I can share my experience with those who are at the beginning of their journey towards the light and I will gladly participate. I thank God every night for having given me the grace to embrace my Mom, her illness and ultimate death with the same dignity that nurtured her in her final months. On the morning she passed....the Hospice Nurse and Chaplain arrived within 30 minutes after I called and we three ladies who had tended to my Mom's medical, spiritual and emotional needs for all those days, sat at my Mom's bedside and prayed, cried and embraced each other all knowing that we had witnessed the passing of a soul into God's waiting arms.
It was a life altering experience!

Hospice made my Aunt's last months so much better. There was a nurse that came to the house and helped the family take care of her, gave her meds to ease her pain, and generally made her more comfortable. I sent them a big check when she passed away -- they HAVE to be good if their sole source of income is donations. People appreciate them so much that they gift them with money.

Yes I have also been to a Hospice before b/c I worked in healthcare
I would reccomend it for someone who is terminally ill, they give people comfort, medically, and spiritually while they are dying. They also offer counseling for families after a loved one has passed

I think hospice is a wonderful idea for patients who are terminal and their families. i spent some time in nursing school on a hospice unit and although it can be sad, it was so great to see patients comforted physically and mentally from their pain and suffering. Famililes don't always have the capability to take care of their loved ones physically at the end of their life, and hospices provide care physically and spiritually for these patients and their families

i have a friend who did hospice care. she actually really cared about her patients. i met one of her patients, a real nice old lady. i think hospice care can be a very good thing if you get the right person. people who go by the golden rule and who are genuine.

Hospice provides great services, advice and information to those dying and the family members.
We used it when my Mother had cancer, I would recommend it to anyone facing something like that.

They are a great organization. They were called in when my mom was dying of cancer and they were wonderful with her. They helped her with her meds and she really liked talking to the chaplain. I wouldn't hesitate to use them if someone else was dying of a terminal illness.

My Mom was in Hospice the last 6 months of her life. The nurses came to her home and helped her with her morphine pump and general care. They were extremely kind and patient with her.

When she was "ready to " we had her taken to Hospice via ambulance. Her room was beautiful. I am one of 6 kids. All of us were there when she died. The Hospice people found beds for us and even had a room (suite) set aside so we could sleep and shower.

I recommend/suggest this for anyone with a loved one who is terminally ill. Hospice took care of the meds, the supplies, everything.

My mom didn't go to the facility until a day or so before her death. That's what she wanted. And, this was the policy of the Hospice we worked through. I wish we had her in the facility sooner, but there are not enough beds and that wasn't her wish.

Hopsice nurses were wonderful! What a Godsend!

Hospice can improve the quality of a persons life. The staff are very helpful and do help families maintain piece of mind. It is a fabulous way to keep their terminally ill, elderly seniors, loved ones in the comfort of their own homes being surrounded by their personal belongings and family. It is also a wonder relief system for live in and family caregivers. Yes, I recommend Hospice and will use the service when ever needed.

when my late husband was in the final stages of cancer, he was provided hospice care in our home, and died peacefully. if a terminal situation were to occur again within our family, hospice will definitely be involved if at all possible. it was such a blessing.

thank god i get a chance to speak my peace. my father was diagnosed with cancer on march 2005. I took him to the veterans hospital untill they told him there was nothing else they could do. hospice took over and my dad was happy to not have to drive the 120 miles everytime he needed to go to the DR. i called hospice to see if they would come out to give him a iv so he could get some liquids and food so he would not starve to death and dehydrate. I could see he needed water and they would not give it. I took a sponge and he sucked on it the best he could. my father died of starvation and dehydration that very next morning. this happen this month and i am so lonely without my dad. when you are put on hospice that means you are on your own even if you cant eat or drink. please dont put anyone on hospice. my father suffered because of hospice

Yes, it is a wonderful place and they go above and beyond to see that the patient AND their family is as comfortable as possible. Also, it is very much a "home" environment.

i have to say hospice is a wonderful thing , my son is currently recieving hospice care for brainstem cancer . they are very helpful with respecting our wishes , keeping him pain free , have chaplains available and i can call them 24 /7 , just to talk if i want to. we no longer have to travel to see a doctor , my son gets to live his final days at home , surrounded by his things and his loved ones .

It's great to get all the great testimonies on Hospice care - they are right-on. The one answer that said "don't", is really not correct, although that person's experience is very fresh, and obviously he missed something.

Hospice is the most wonderful option of end-of-life care. It's not necessarily a place. It's a program, and a philosophy of allowing an individual the natural process of dying, while alleviating suffering. And it focuses not only on physical, but psychosocial and spiritual as well.

For the person who felt his dad died of dehydration - it's very sad that the hospice nurse didn't explain to you, that when a person is at the very end, providing artificial hydration and nutrition actually can increase suffering, and does not prolong life necessarily. The body gradually shuts down, and to add extra fluid actually can cause overload, which causes breathing problems and more.

Hospice is a wonderful choice for care, and for work.

I am a social worker and worked as Director of Social Services for many years. During this time I watched patients with palliative care performed by the nursing home and by hospice. There isn't much difference in the types of services offered in this respect by the two. Hospice will even supplement palliative care provided by the nursing home which is an incredible service addition to both the nursing home AND the family.

Every hospice agency has differences, and most of the time these are minor. Some agencies provide better service than others. However, the underlying principles and care are generally the same. Most every person I have worked with from hospice has been incredible. Most of them enjoy their job, love their job, and work there because they want to and not because of a paycheck.

I would recommend hospice to anyone who needs their service. It can make the difference in someone ending their life in discomfort and misery, or ending it as comfortable as they can. With hospice supporting the family as well as the patient, the family is able to center on their loved one and not just the illness.

Hospice doesn't just provide care for a dying person, they provide services that extend beyond the last days of someones life. Hospice sponsors camps, workshops, educational seminars, etc... all in an effort to help family, community, and other professionals deal with end of life care.