what can you do in a hospice?

Question

is alcohol, drug use allowed

Answer 1

No. You are permitted to die, as long as you pay them :)

Answer 2

Some hospices allow a small amount of alcohol but i cant imagine you been able to take drugs that are not prescribed .
, Its a place when people spend their final days so i think drugs are the last thing on their minds

Answer 3

Hospice is about the care of someone dying. To help the family and friends deal with the passing of a loved one. So no, alcohol is not allowed and the only drugs allowed are perscription only.

Answer 4

Wow, some of you ppl really crack me up. Hospice--elderly and senile and ppl who cannot afford care. You have no clue do you? I just had my dad pass away on Dec. 22. He came home on hospice. It is an act, not neccesarily a place, but can be too. He came home to die because there was nothing left that the doctors could do to cure him. He wanted to die in his own home and not be stuck in a hospital. I cared for him and nurses from hospice came to check vitals and offer wonderful support. Hospice is a gift. Not all that come home on hospice are incompacitated at first either. If they want a drink, give them a damn drink unless it will hurt them significantly. In the end they give you morphine and ativan to calm them and help with pain and breathing problems. They are there to call when you are scared and need advice. The time of death if from you. There is no 911 call. It is a wonderful gift to ppl if done at home and also the hardest thing to do in the world for the survivors. Answering drug use--in some states, medical marijuana is used too for nausea and what not. My mom also died last year in Fl from breast cancer and it was prescribed. Hope this helps. If not, I have vented due to the ignorance in the answers preceding me.
Thank you.

Answer 5

I am a hospice nurse. Although it is unusual, I have had several patients who use both alcohol and illicit drugs. The thing about hospice is that the doctors and nurses are not in charge. The patient is.

Answer 6

hospice is pretty much a last resort for dying people whose family can't provide the care that they need...so most of them are incapacitated and wouldn't drink. And of course you can use drugs, but only the ones that are prescribed to you (which can sometimes be funner than the illegal ones)

Answer 7

hospice is a place for elderly and senile people. of course, they are not allowed to take drugs or alcohols. well, except for the drugs that are prescribed. the major purpose or goal for hospices is to make the lives of their patients meaningful and active while they're still there. they make them perform daily calisthenics and some activities like arts and crafts.

Answer 8

a hospice is aplace where people go to die...perscribed drugs are obviously ok - but not illegal...and alcohol would depend on each individual hospice...

Answer 9

Drugs to make life easier for the terminally ill patients, an occasional drink to brighten up their day.

Answer 10

Only legal drugs, not C1's like mary jane. The idea is to make the person as comfortable as possible so they can die peacefully. And no, alcohol is not something they treat you with.

Answer 11

I do not understand what you mean by alcohol and drug use? Do you mean do they use it to drug the patient? The doctor will prescribe pain medication to help keep the patient comfortable. They do not treat with alcohol. Read the following to learn more:

To provide support, comfort and encouragement for them and for their families as they face the final months of their lives.

...To educate people about Hospice--and its function. To show them that, though we cannot cure, we can care. We can help with pain control, with care at home--and with living more fully the final days.

...To inform people that there is a caring option for the terminally ill and their families.

Hospice provides many benefits that are not possible in a traditional health care setting.

...Hospice focuses on the unique needs of patients and families:

physical/medical needs.
Hospice nurses visit patients in their home at least twice weekly and home health aides are available to assist with personal care as needed. Help is always available-24 hours a day; 7 days a week. Family or friends providing care in the home can call for help anytime.

social needs.
Sometimes caring and giving can make all the difference. With dedicated volunteers, Hospice can help provide many extras, such as a friendly person with whom to talk, a favorite food, or a flower to brighten a room.

emotional needs.
Hospice has professional staff to help patients and their families cope with loneliness, isolation, and the fear of being abandoned. Hospice continues to help family and friends through their grief after their loved one has died.

spiritual needs.
Hospice recognizes the importance of spiritual matters. Patients and families can, if they choose, share their feelings with a minister who is a part of the Hospice team.

Our Purpose...

When a person is seriously ill, there may come a time when continued medical treatment aimed solely at cure no longer serves a useful purpose. It then becomes important to focus attention daily on the physical, spiritual, social, emotional and financial needs of that person and family - the philosophy of the hospice concept.

The hospice concept of care for the terminally ill originated in England in 1964. It is now broadly accepted in the U.S. as the preferred way of taking care of the dying. Hospice programs concentrate on delivering care in the home instead of in an institutional setting.

The purpose of hospice is to provide support and care for persons in the last phases of their disease so that they can live as fully and comfortably as possible. Comfort means to be free from pain without loss of mental faculties. Hospice affirms life and regards dying as a normal process. Hospice neither hastens nor postpones death. Hospice believes that through personalized services and a caring community, patients and families can attain the necessary preparation for death.

The Hospice Care Team.

Our team is made up of volunteers and professionals who support the Hospice concept and also have a strong sensitivity to the feelings and needs of others. Among them are licensed physicians, nurses, social workers, members of the clergy and representatives of other professions as they are needed. Volunteers play an important role, since our Hospice represents the entire community coming together to enhance life for terminally ill people. Many volunteers are needed in this effort, for visiting, office work, and special one-time tasks. Training is offered twice a year for those who desire to become patient volunteers.

Admission Criteria.

Patient families will be admitted to Hospice based on the following criteria, within the capability of Hospice to serve them.

1. The patient has a medical prognosis of approximately 6 months or less to live if the disease follows its normal progression.

2. Efforts at cure have ceased, and the focus is on providing physical, emotional, and spiritual comfort.

3. There is at least one person responsible to provide supportive care in the home.

4. Residency in Hospice Service is required. (Hemphill County and the surrounding areas.)

5. The patient's physician consents to and authorizes Hospice care.

6. The patient and family are fully informed and give their consent to participate in Hospice.