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| pic from crosswalk.com |
I picked up the phone and called. The conversation was a short one as I was soon in route to the hospital to meet with the family, talk to the physicians and the case manager to see what the plan of action needed to be. The patient had been in the ICU for about a week and had been moved to a regular room as a "comfort measures" only patient. I met with the family and the first thing I always ask is..."Can we pray before we start this conversation?" We prayed and I asked as I always do; "If Mr/Mrs. ______ were able to talk to us for themselves-- what would their wishes be? One family member said-- "they would have never wanted to be on a ventilator", another said-- "they would want to be home", another said "he said he was tired two weeks ago". We talked more and the family remembered me coming to the house about a month ago to offer hospice services, but no one was ready to hear "hospice". They were beating themselves up because they kept saying they didn't want to come back to the hospital, they wanted dad to simply be comfortable in his own bed at home. I reminded everyone this was not the time to worry about "what could have, would have or should have happened...let's concentrate on the NOW!"-- we did just that.
The Physician said-- let's get him home and we did just that. Within two hours we were able to get a hospital bed, oxygen and other equipment into the home and the patient transported to the home-- the bed was an option-- if his bed was an option we wanted that, but if a hospital bed in his own home was what he wanted-- that is what we wanted!
Hospice is about living, family, moments, wishes, thoughts, care, comfort, options!! Hospice is what you make it-- when you hear it don't run and don't wait until they call the family in....talk about your wishes now and put them on paper-- If you have someone you need to have evaluated for services-- give me a call today 803 329 4544
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