Charlene Collins

The Dying Patient: Why Choose Hospice



Posted: Thursday, January 24, 2008

by
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/46896/charlene.html

This article is dedicated to Thomas J. Snow, also known as TJ. He was born September 18, 1971 and passed away on September 29, 2003. He was lovingly cared for by his family and United Hospice of Athens Georgia.

The word "hospice" comes from the word "hospitality" and hospice workers have been providing palliative care for dying patients since 1967. Hospice care differs from other forms of medical care in that when the patient is dying, hospice works hard to relieve needless suffering. Normally, a patient is approved for hospice care if his/her life expectancy is 6 months or less. Hospice workers treat the person, rather than the disease. They aren't trying to cure a disease, but rather, they are trying to make the patient as comfortable as possible.

Family and friends encouraged to gather round and engage with the hospice patient. Many people have the misconception that the dying want to be left alone, but why would they want to be abandoned? Hospice is good for families, because they educate them on the dying process. My friend, TJ appreciated that his family and friends supported him through his journey to the end of his life. He was never left to die alone, and he was able to enjoy the laughs and hugs, as well as receive the support he needed.

Hospice care can be rendered in the family home, a nursing home, or in a hospital. Normally the majority of care is given by the family in the family home, or by nursing staff in a nursing home or hospital; however there are also private in-house hospice facilities-for those that may not have the family support. In the home, nursing home and hospitals the hospice workers come at specified times to work with the dying patient. They spend take vital signs, offer palliative care, and also offer support for family members.

If you were to be admitted to hospice care you would find a great team of doctors, nurses, social workers, counselors, home healthcare assistants, therapists, ministers of the clergy, and a wealth of volunteers to help support you and your family. Everyone in hospice works according to a plan of care to relieve pain and provide spiritual and emotional comfort and support.

The goal of hospice care is to provide the greatest degree of comfort while still allowing you to be in charge of your own life. So many times a dying patient feels out of control, but, in hospice care the patient is always in control. My friend, TJ Snow was able to enjoy his family, friends and clergy up until the day he passed. Rather than it being a totally sad day, it was also a celebration because according to his belief-and ours-he was going home to live in the mansion that was prepared just for him.

It's often difficult to think about the subject of death and dying, but when a loved one is dying, he/she may want to talk about it. Your being there to listen to him/her can mean so much, and give immeasurable comfort in those last days. Imagine what a gift it would be to listen to his/her final thoughts and desires for the coming days toward the end of life. TJ told his family when they saw an eagle flying in the sky to think of him. To this day when I see an eagle soaring overhead I smile and think of him.

To find a hospice organization near you, look in the yellow pages of your phone book, check with your local American Cancer Society, or go to this website:

http://iweb.nhpco.org/iweb/Membership/MemberDirectorySearch.aspx?pageid=3257 & showTitle=1 and just enter the state you live in and you will get a directory of a hospice organizations in your locality.



(c) 2007-2008 Charlene Collins


Charlene Collins is a retired nurse, and lives in Georgia with her daughter and son-in-law. She is a retired nurse and has worked 20 years doing almost everything, including labor and delivery, the emergency department, medical and surgical, orthopedics, pediatrics and the long term facility. She can no longer work as a nurse due to being disabled; however she has written many articles about mental illness, diseases and conditions, and cooking. Charlene is a content producer on Associated Content. This is the link to her content producer page.

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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)
» left by April Lorier
 4 years 17 days ago.
Welcome to SearchWarp, Charlene! We're glad to have you among us. Your article got me thinking about hospice and that's a good thing. Very Good! (I joined your Fan Club)
» left by Charlene Collins
 4 years 17 days ago.
2 fans.
Thanks April! Yes, Hospice is a very good thing. Helps the whole family, and not just the person with the illness.
» left by Teresa Ortiz
 4 years 17 days ago.
Hi Charlene, wlecome to search warp. It is a great place to meet wonderful people and share your heart and writing with others. Thank you for this wonderful article. It reminded me of my grandfather who went to be with the Lord 5 months ago. It was a wonderful time, it was my first experience with hospice care and I was amazed at how much freedom we had to come and go and laugh. No sticky rules. I am sure your article will enlighted those who are not family of the term hospice. I know I wasn't until recently. God bless you, I look foward to reading more from you! Teresa
» left by Charlene Collins
 4 years 17 days ago.
2 fans.
Thank you Teresa. I really love what hospice does. I'm glad that your experience was good too. Hospice really helped my friend and it helped his family adjust to what was going to happen. The day that TJ died, it was like having church. I can't explain it. When he closed his eyes to be with the Lord, it was like everyone felt the angels in heaven rejoicing.
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