End-of-life care can be seen in different settings including hospitals, nursing homes or the patient’s own home. (NIH, 2019) This is dependent on the client or family’s choice, financial abilities and kind of care being provided by the facility of hospice group. (NIH, 2019) I work in a rehab facility and we would occasionally receive hospice patients from home or hospital. Families consider us because we can provide 24-hr nursing care and monitoring for their loved-ones instead of sending the client at home. I recently had a 70-year old patient who was diagnosed with Colon CA, mets to lungs and liver. Hospice RN came everyday and did her daily assessment. She would also update the families on the patient status and any new orders provided by the physician. Hospice aide also came in everyday and provided hygiene care and sat with the patient for a few hours. A lot of family members and friends visited. All said how wonderful and kind person she was. Each visitor only stayed for a few minutes. Her siblings and son came to visit but mostly stayed in the hallway. The sister came to see her and requested for a chair out in the hall. She stated crying: “I want to be here, but I cannot see her like this.” She also left after a few minutes. Each guest was very grateful and appreciative of the services we gave their family member. Her pain and air hunger was managed by Morphine and Ativan. She was only at our facility for 3 days and I believe she had a peaceful death. She seemed comfortable in the days she was with us, did not show much signs of pain or any discomfort. I also feel that the presence and prayers of all her loved ones everyday are appreciated by her even though she was not awake or conscious. As for her family, I believe they have already accepted her condition and were somewhat ready for her death. They only needed to experience the grief that is part of every end. Hospice agency has done a great job in involving the family with the patient’s plan of care and providing them with daily updates on the client, which has helped them accept her condition easier. Our staff members have also been present to listen to their stories and memories of her which I think has also helped with their grief process. With the assistance of each health care team member, from the services given by the hospice nurses, chaplain, social worker, aides to our own nurses and CNAs, I believe that we have all supported in giving her a peaceful death.
Reference
NIH. (2019) Where Can I Get End-of-Life Care?. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/where-can-i-get-end-life-care (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
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