Why Caregivers Shouldn’t Feel Guilty About Calling Hospice

Accepting that our own or a loved one’s life is limited to a few months, weeks or days is gut-wrenching. However, when we do get to the stage where we accept that nothing more can be done to extend their lives, or at least extend their lives without any quality of life, we are finally in a position to help.

Calling Hospice Means Taking Action

We can stop wringing our hands and feeling helpless and we can decide that we will do whatever we can to help our loved one have some quality of life for whatever time he or she has left.

We can rally the troops and call hospice. My mother had to cope with a great deal of pain during her last years. Sometimes she would look at me and say, “Can’t you just give me a little black pill?” I’d smile tearfully and say, “No, Mom. I can’t. But I’ll do everything I can to make sure you are as comfortable as possible.”

Mom was in an excellent nursing home at the time. However, they could only do so much with pain control without overstepping their boundaries. After the doctor in charge decided that Mom had only weeks to live, he finally gave permission for us to call in the local hospice.

How Hospice Works with Nursing Homes

I’d had this same hospice organization with my dad’s care, and they were superb. Hospice and the nursing home worked seamlessly together to give my dad the best care possible.

He had his familiar nurses and aides, because he remained in the home where he’d lived since his brain surgery left him with severe dementia. However, he also acquired expert…

Continue reading on Agingcare for thoughts on hospice and how valuable this support can be:

Helpful Tools:

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Discover the Difference. EGOSAN: The premium incontinence brand caregivers love: They save work!   Now Available on Amazon.  

Stay connected with Memoryboard: Designed by caregivers. Memoryboard helps families share reminders, messages, updates, and photos on an easy-to-use screen designed for people with dementia. Peace of mind for families, independence for loved ones.

Leslie Kernisan, MD, MPH, has opened up support! View two free caregiving webinars that can help you help your older parents (and yourself).

Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories: “…This book is for all of us; let it help you cope! Thank you to the author and everyone she spoke with!” …Dolores