Hospice:
2001
By: Sandra Price
Around the last week in January, I announced on one of my discussion forums that I had signed up for Hospice Training Classes in my new home base in Arizona. Immediately many friends began asking me questions and describing what they felt was the movement behind Hospice.
I had done some Hospice fund raising when I lived in California and saw for myself the programs that their team members were offering. In our small county, hundreds of terminal patients were allowed to die peacefully in their own beds surrounded by their family members and most important they were kept pain free during their last days.
Hos-pice. noun hospitality, inn, lodging, host, guest. 1. A place of shelter for travelers. 2. a home for the sick or poor. 3. a homelike facility to provide supportive care for terminally ill patients.
Now, what may you ask is this crusty old political writer doing around the terminally ill? Why not! I am at the age where many of my friends are dying of all kinds of sicknesses and some are just wearing out with age. After the election of 2000, I looked around for another project and this one just fell into my lap. Well, out of my newspaper actually.
Some of the questions that were asked about Hospice dealt with the myth that Hospice helps patients to die. The sentence would be more accurate if it had said that Hospice helps patients die with dignity and without pain. No folks, Hospice does not hasten death. Here's how it was explained to me. When a patient is declared terminal by his/her doctor the final plans are offered to the patient. One can die in the hospital, at a care facility or at home. Hospice will go anywhere the patient desires. As most folks would rather be in their homes, Hospice has a team of players just for this patient. The patient's doctor, nurses, care volunteers are all set up to make the patient's life comfortable. That's it! Simple straightforward tender loving care at home with the family and old dog too. No care is spared for the patient's comfort.
The Hospice team is also prepared to assist the family with their final plans. The funeral, the final resting place, the mortuary, and music, all are discussed with the family and plans are made in advance. This is a tremendous relief for the entire family to know a knowledgeable team member is there for them.
Our professionals work with the patient through all the phases of grief and the many levels of working through the loss of a loved one felt by the survivors. For example:
The common first reaction is usually denial. "Can't be me! I feel too good."
From there it progresses to anger. "No, I won't accept this diagnosis. There is nothing wrong with me. That damn doctor must be wrong!"
Then making a bargain with his God. "Let me see my granddaughter get married first, then I will die peacefully!"
Then the depression sets in and the crying starts. Well it should! Our patient is going to die! Everyone who has ever loved this person must feel the depression of living without him. The Hospice team is there helping the family and patient through the depression and when the calm suddenly appears, the final phase of acceptance is seen.
These phases are not always in the same order and many are returned to by the patient and the family again and again. Just recognizing them is half of the battle for acceptance.
The pain is under control, the patient is surrounded by his/her loved ones and everyone is in the loving hands of the Hospice team. That sounds awfully good to me.
At this point the patient calls all the shots. He suddenly realizes that this is exactly the way he wants to die. If he wants to listen to rock and roll, so be it. If he wants opera, we will furnish it. If he wants to sit outside or drive to the park, this will be arranged. If he wants simply to talk about his life, this is exactly what he will be allowed to do.
If anyone can tell me a better way to die, I will certainly listen to you. I have witnessed the beautiful passing of many friends. Some have died, very frightened of where they will end up. Some already plan to join their loved ones in heaven. I have met and talked to the chaplains that are available for the patient as well as the family.
The difference with the Hospice team is the guarantee that every one under their care will be listened to, hugged, kissed, and loved to the end.
The Hospice team stays until the end and then will work with the families until they are no longer needed. Is there a time limit on this? Yes, as long as they are needed.
How on earth is all this possible? I'm glad you asked. No I'm not going to ask any of you, dear readers, to send a check to your local Hospice. I am going to suggest that you contact your Hospice Office in your town and ask about more this wonderful group who has set up a team for what may be the most important scene you will ever play. My old boss Will Geer used to talk about everyone starring in his or her own production. Even the finale should be grand, comfortable and full of as much love and care as possible.
I can think of no better team than the Hospice group. Sure they need money. The Medicare payments take care of only the base essentials and the Hospice team makes up the rest.
My team here in Arizona has some wonderful fundraisers that help pay for all the extras that every patient deserves. So think about your own end, or that of a loved one and lend a hand. I have little money left after 8 years of higher than necessary taxes, but I have time and the desire to join my Hospice team and do what I can for their organization.
This has and will continue to add much joy to my life. Come on and join me! It feels good!!!