Beyond Reality discussion

I also want to comment on Hospice services. Both my parents were in hospice before they died, but in both cases, we didn’t get a lot of benefit because they died very soon after they enrolled in hospice.

My younger sister, who has Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease, has been in hospice for just over a year. It has been an enormous help to her, our family, and the caregivers at the group home where she lives. I cannot speak highly enough of how helpful it has been. They have provided a hospital bed, incontinence supplies, and a Broda wheelchair so my sister can be positioned in multiple ways. They worked to get an electric Hoyer lift for transfers in/out of bed. The nurse visits weekly, more often when she is in crisis, and a home health aide comes weekly to assist the staff with bathing and other hygiene. They have provided information for the family and the group home staff about the dying process.

If anyone else want to share, feel free.

My late wife went into hospice on a Friday from ICU at the hospital and passed on Monday (2013 she was 62). She was made comfortable. The caregivers kept me informed on what was going on. In the end there was no cost to me for the care. Billed insurance and accepted full payment on whatever they received. Endowments by generous people in the community covered the rest. Comforting when there was nothing left that could be done.

Hospice is amazing.

It does sound wonderful. I understand that it can be done at home or in a facility (I'd choose a facility for myself if I could). I also understand that if your loved one is under hospice care, when they pass, you call hospice instead of 911. That would be so much less stress (and expense).

I don't know how well it's all managed in each state, and whether decent care is available everywhere. But anything's got to be better than ICU or a nursing home, I would think. The author of *Being Mortal* is a fan.

I have a vague memory of posting something about this, but I can't remember if it was here or somewhere else.

The people who work in hospice are saints. They deal with difficult emotions of patients and their families on an almost constant basis and they are so kind and so caring. I can't imagine the emotional toll is has to take on them.

My father chose home hospice and he was in it for a few months. Its been long enough now that I can't remember for sure.

A nurse would come out to the house daily and we could call for assistance at any time. They did everything to keep him as comfortable as possible.

The nurse who was caring for him literally showed up one day less than 15 minutes after he died. While we were grieving, she made the necessary phone calls and arrangements. She then sat and talked to us and listened to us while we waited for the people from the funeral home to come and take him away.