Good luck. I think I may have said this before, but I'm such a huge proponent of it, I'll say it again: Go Talk To Your Local Hospice. NOW. Not later
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Thank you! I keep forgetting about hospice, and this is exactly the kind of reminder that I need. Between you and friendly_drelb I've been getting lots of nice reminders of what the next step should be, and it's incredibly helpful.
Tomorrow is my hunt-for-a-new-home-for-dad day, and I'll talk to a hospice in Denver, as well.
Dad's lookin' bad - I don't think he'll last another six months.
I am glad friendly_drelb is there for you, with her absolute practicality and her heart.
After my mom died, I recall reading an article with a quote from one of the hospice centers, that it made them crazy (though the speaker didn't phrase it that way) that people weren't being referred to hospice soon enough -- that the situation was always as it came down with my mom. Hospice usually won't get involved unless a doctor says the patient has six months or less -- but, as in my case, the doctor refused to see or admit that that was the case. "They just go into hospice and die!" said the doctor... well, yeah. Kinda on the agenda no matter what.
So: fight for it. And don't close down to your friends and anyone you can talk with (IRL or here)... a parent's dying is 'way harder than you *can* imagine, and if there's any help you can get, don't hesitate to ask -- me or anyone else. Sometimes you don't know WHAT to ask. But Drelb and me, and doubtless others you know, have had to walk this shadow before now, and will lend a hand, a shoulder, or an ear.
sorry to hear thismalibrarianApril 18 2006, 01:11:05 UTC
I'm so sorry to hear that the end is near for your dad. Hospice is a great thing, my family's in the nursing home business, if you need any support there just let me know.
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Tomorrow is my hunt-for-a-new-home-for-dad day, and I'll talk to a hospice in Denver, as well.
Dad's lookin' bad - I don't think he'll last another six months.
Reply
After my mom died, I recall reading an article with a quote from one of the hospice centers, that it made them crazy (though the speaker didn't phrase it that way) that people weren't being referred to hospice soon enough -- that the situation was always as it came down with my mom. Hospice usually won't get involved unless a doctor says the patient has six months or less -- but, as in my case, the doctor refused to see or admit that that was the case. "They just go into hospice and die!" said the doctor... well, yeah. Kinda on the agenda no matter what.
So: fight for it. And don't close down to your friends and anyone you can talk with (IRL or here)... a parent's dying is 'way harder than you *can* imagine, and if there's any help you can get, don't hesitate to ask -- me or anyone else. Sometimes you don't know WHAT to ask. But Drelb and me, and doubtless others you know, have had to walk this shadow before now, and will lend a hand, a shoulder, or an ear.
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