Topic: My mom's experience

I am sorry for your loss.  I am glad that hospice was able to ease the situation for you and for your mom.

Dear Member,

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your mother.  I  lost my own mother  to bladder cancer this year and I agree that people who  are drawn to hospice work are uniqely caring and compassionate.  I felt it was a gift to be at home to care for my mother and they helped make that possible.

I'm so sorry to hear of your Mother's passing Member.  It is nice to know that you (and she) were comforted by such caring people.  My deepest sympathy to you and your family.  Gentle hugs.

(((Member_of_the_Club)))  I'm so very sorry to hear about your Mother.  It's wonderful that hospice made it possible for you to be there for her and take care of her at the end. 

Thinking of you, and wishing you peace in the days ahead  ~  Deanna   

(((((MOC)))))))So sorry for your loss.......I am glad the hospice people were able to help put you at ease.......Now your mom is no longer suffering and is at peace........I know how it feels to watch your mom go......I saw my mom pass when I was 8 and it was so peaceful.....She had such a wonderful smile on her face......

My deepest condolensces MOTC, it is terribly sad to lose a mother at any age.  I am glad both your mother and you received compassionate and professional assistance in those last hours. My thoughts are with you.

soft hugs

Helena

Sorry to hear of your loss and happy that your mother's hospice experience was good.   My mother also died of brain cancer - in a span of three weeks from diagnosis -- her hospice experience was not good at all, so I am glad to hear that others did not fare as we did.

My mother's hospice never even returned calls, only visited once a week, there was no doctor involved at all and there was no one there when she died -- it was a very scary event.

Just wondering why there is such discrepancy in care -- I would not wish my experience on anyone -- it made my mother's passing all the more difficult to deal with.

Again, I am very sorry for your loss, but glad you found the support you needed.

I am sorry for your loss and glad the hospice made the experience gentle and loving.

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Watching her go in Peace with Dignity had to be a blessing. Thank God for people who truly care and are there to help, whether it's their job or not. May your Mom sail across the heavens with a smile upon her face, finally at home.

God Bless!

I'm very sorry about the loss of your Mom.  It was very kind of you to share your and your Mom's experience with Hospice.  Thank-you.  It does bring me peace, as Fitz said too.

Elizabeth

xox

Thank you everyone.  I think like everything else, hospice organizations vary and while most are great, some are more great than others.  It may be worth it to ask around about the reputation of hospices in your area.  Some other things I learned:

Its best to talk to the hospice folks earlier rather than later.  My mother had deteriorated so much by the time we brought in hospice that they were able to serve her physical needs but never were able to communicate with her about her emotional needs.  There is so much more they can do if they are brought in earlier and they can get to know the patient's personality and preferences directly.

Also, I think you need to be direct with your needs.  There were two times the hospice nurse visited and said she would return in a few days, but I found my mother was deteriorating so quickly that I called the next day to have a nurse come back. They were very responsive, but if they're not there, they don't know how things are going so its important to speak up.  If you are checking out several hospices, I would ask how they respond to such situations.

Finally, I wanted everyone who was caring for my mother to know who she was, especially when she was beyond the point of being able to communicate herself.  When she was hospitalized I brought pictures of her, healthy, with my father (who died 10 years ago) to her room so the doctors and nurses would see someone other than the very sick woman in the bed.  I told the hospice workers about her and her life.  I have no idea if these things affected her care but i felt it was something I could do to maintain her dignity and humanity when she couldn't speak for herself.   

Good advice MOTC -- It's better to interview hospices in your area than have to make a too fast choice and not get what you need/feel comfortable with.  Thank-you again.  You really made me feel a lot better about what's "down the road".  Hugs,

Elizabeth