Anyone have experiences with Hospice?

Question

Just had my first visit from them this morning. Meds were delivered this afternoon. No more reason to travel 130 miles to the VA concerning the current condition. SEEMS great, but I'm a natural skeptic. Any negative info?

Thanks for the input everyone.What the VA and the hospice nurse told me was the same, and more, as you have said. Just seemed a bit to good to be true in this impersonal and sometimes uncaring world.

Answer 1

Hi dwa,

I've worked with hospice, providing care to people, for 20 years. Their job is to provide comfort, education and assist in meeting any needs that may arise. Feel free to email me if there is anything I can do or if you just want someone to talk to.

Blessings

Answer 2

My boys lost a half brother about 3 years ago from complications of Downs Syndrome. Their dad wasn't happy with the service. The medical care was fine he said, but the support through out their lives that was promised wasn't there. They promised to provide grief support/counseling for the boys (7 and 9 at the time) and the rest of the family, and they didn't. There were times that they didn't have the supplies they needed, etc. Every Hospice facility, like every hospital or other medical service facility is going to be different though, so you can't judge one by the other. I hope all goes well for you in your current situation.

Answer 3

Yes, I have...twice. My Mother and my Grandmother. I can tell you that they are some of the best people I have ever dealt with. If something is needed, they get it there! In fact, in the middle of the night, they had Mother's medication delivered!!

They just seem to jump in and help you whatever the need is at the time. I loved her nurse! I mean, I really did love that woman as she was so good to my Mother and taught me how to care for her needs as well. I would have never been able to get through this time without them!

Wow! What a long drive you were making! I am so happy you do not have that drive now! I do understand this as I too, have to drive so far to get to any of my doctors! That can be the worse part, at times!

I don't know you but, if you ever want to talk....I will chat your ear off! lol Best of luck and relax, you are in great hands!!

Answer 4

When I found out last Sept that my mother was not going to live for more than 30 days after a massive heart attack I told her doctor to call off any artificial means of keeping her alive after she told me that was what she wanted. I told them I would take her home.It was quite an experience but only with hospice could we have done that. She had 2 weeks of unlimited time left with her children and she was ready when the time came. Hospice was wonderful to us. I still have grief counseling services if I need that and so does all my brothers and my sister.

Hospice is a one of a kind orginization and not ever to be mistaken for home health, that is another matter entirely.

Sending peace and love to you at this time.

Answer 5

25 years ago, when I was the assistant administrator of Naval Hospital Oakland, California I had the opportunity to witness operations of one of the first hospices ever in the U.S. That was the Hospice of Marin.
I'm all for the hospice movement. Bringing needed care and compassionate services to people in their homes is much better for all concerned than the sterile atmosphere of a hospital. Using a hospice facility for one's last days is a lot better than ending life in that hospital bed with those glaring lights beating down on you.
Our Constitution infers that we are the sovereigns in this country. Well, like the sovereigns of Europe, we should be able to pass away in our own beds with our family and loved ones around that bed at the time of our passing. I know of only segment of the health care delivery system which does that: Hospice.

Answer 6

Hospice was wonderful with my mother. When she passed in the middle of the night someone came immediately in the middle of the night to take care of everything so our grieving family didn't have to call anyone else, not doctor, ambulance or anybody. It was taken care of in the best way it could be. Hospice is a wonderful organization that is truly there in a time of need.

Answer 7

Yes, my Dad was terminally ill had hospice help. It was wonderful, he didn't have to go to the doctors anymore,got his meds,suggested other things to alleviate his pain,ask if wanted to be visited by their Chaplain as well as his own Preacher. (He did) The first day they came, I saw a relieved look on my Dads' face that I hadn't seen in a while. He passed away a year ago in January, and hospice was very helpful to us at that time. I don't know why you are on hospice care,but you are in good hands. I wish you the best.

Answer 8

My mom went to Heaven this past June. She lived in a nursing home and my youngest brother got her hospice care the last few weeks of her life. They were wonderful. When we couldn't get the nurses at the home to do what we wanted, hospice jumped right in the on her behalf. They understood that we just wanted her comfortable her last days and we wanted her kept at pain free as possible. If it weren't for them, we'd all have lost our minds from frustration.

Answer 9

My only contact with hospice was very brief. My mother had pancreatic cancer and it advanced quite rapidly. One day my brother and I were at my mother's and a hospice nurse came by to talk to her.

I thought it was all arranged that she'd have in-home care for a while, when next thing I knew, she was in hospice care at the hospital.

Those folks were aces. I could stop by when I got off work at 1 a.m., I could bring her her favorite Long John Silver's (but she couldn't keep it down). We could spend as much time as we wanted with her, and as many of us as she could put up with could be there.

She only lasted two weeks there, but it was a very positive experience for the rest of us.

Answer 10

Although probably not exactly the same, the home nursing service I've had personal experience with (for my mother whom I live with) was horrible. Granted they we not certified nurses but 'home makers'.
Their main tasks included pretty light house work and care of my mother - helping her shower, getting in and out of bed, and preparing meals for her. The entire purpose for this was so that i could go to work - that was not the result. What did result however was me cleaning up after and entertaining them one after the other. Many could not do the work that was stated in her file that they were required to do, others couldn't even tend to her. Others still stole from us, and stated that we had destroyed their property (which we was a ridiculous claim when she came in one day and stated her son had done the damage the night before).

There may be a different case with hospice care, but this was one step down from that and was more of a problem then it was any help to my mother who is bedridden much of the time, or me whom instead of being able to go to class and work ended up with even more of a mess to clean up after.

Hopefully, your experience will remain positive, or they won't be assigned such tasks in your case and you only have to see them for the brief moment that they bring your meds.

Answer 11

My mother had hospice care (Not sure how much this is the same thing you are talking about) It was a good experience all the way around. They were especially helpful when it came to finding other sources of help, even for problems unrelated to her health condition. I would reccommend it to anyone with a chronic (terminal) health problem..