General Discussion

Erich Bloodaxe BSN

(14,733 posts)

6. A LOT of people misjudge exactly when to start hospice.

Mon Dec 29, 2014, 02:48 PM

Dec 2014

I did a hospice rotation as part of my BSN, and most of the people I helped care for fell into two categories - either folks who had been recertified for several periods of six months, or people who died within a week or two of being entered into hospice care. It was less usual for someone to be in hospice for 2-6 months. Guessing when somebody is going to die is a tough thing to do, and most folks are simply more hopeful that their loved ones are going to live far longer than they do, and only look for hospice when things have seriously deteriorated.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

25 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

My 93 year uncle died a painful death two plus years ago [View all] malaise Dec 2014 OP

Ugh. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Dec 2014 #1

For real malaise Dec 2014 #4

I'm sorry that your uncle had pain. panader0 Dec 2014 #2

And he had an absolutely fabulous life malaise Dec 2014 #3

Why wasn't he in hospice care 840high Dec 2014 #5

A LOT of people misjudge exactly when to start hospice. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Dec 2014 #6

Also people don't realize that hospice care can be for a long time csziggy Dec 2014 #16

He wanted to die at home n/t malaise Dec 2014 #8

Thank you for 840high Dec 2014 #23

my father died a while ago, he was just entering the paralyzed state hollysmom Dec 2014 #7

Good children let their parents malaise Dec 2014 #9

good of you to say, still have guilt hollysmom Dec 2014 #10

Our mom had a living will malaise Dec 2014 #11

My mom had one too but hollysmom Dec 2014 #15

My 91 yo father was confined to a wheel chair, mnhtnbb Dec 2014 #12

My dad had dementia too. panader0 Dec 2014 #14

Why do you feel guilt? malaise Dec 2014 #20

If I had left immediately, I might have seen him still alive. panader0 Dec 2014 #21

Think about what you did for them that was right and get over the guilt malaise Dec 2014 #22

Let the guilt go . .. hugs 840high Dec 2014 #25

I'm sure you've heard this, but just in case... renate Dec 2014 #18

I've long believed it wasn't a coincidence when he chose to stop eating. mnhtnbb Dec 2014 #19

Yes. We knew Dad's time 840high Dec 2014 #24

They need us PasadenaTrudy Dec 2014 #13

yes hollysmom Dec 2014 #17