My father has hospice care. Mother had gotten attatched to the home care people. It was hard to change. Really, there is a lot more to write in the saga of my father’s stroke, but I became very distracted and disillusioned with it all. There are many, many issues I want to write about. Right now, I will just say that hospice is the best choice we’ve made so far. He has settled into a routine of listening to books on tape. The volunteer who sits with him for respite turned out to be an ex-boyfriend’s uncle; an ex-boyfriend my father loved. The yo-yo between hospitalizations and home got to be too much for all of us. Hospice has changed that.
At work, I have had a few situations where I was able to refer other families to hospice. I made some waves, but I am glad I did it. There is a point where you have to stop trying to save people; and need to let them die with grace, and most acute care nurses don’t know when that point is. I’ve taken a little heat for pushing the issue, but I actually feel very good; very empowered about it all.
