Hospice @ LTC ??

Has anyone talked to the Hospice nurse that is in charge of his care?? If he is nearing the end stages of the dying process I would image that the fluids could be d/c. Most of our hospice patients are on Q hour roxinal along with ativan. It is aweful to know that someone is suffering. I think the most important thing is to keep him comfortable (i'm sure you knew that though). Does he have any family that has any kind of input about the situtation?? We just had a lady that suffered a CVA and she was put on hospice. The family knew there was no hope for recovery and opted for "comfort measures only". She was unresponsive so therefore had no nutritional intake or fluids. We gave her routine Roxinal and tylenol supp for her spiked temp. Everyone's dying process is different. She lasted about 2 and a half days but I have seen others last up to 3 weeks. I think in your situation the family and/or the hospice nurse needs to be notified and have specific instructions as to what orders are to be carried out.

Should have called the hospice nurse in charge of his case. They usually were very good about getting new meds started,changing things around to make pt more comfortable. We used to have hospice come in one of the LTCs I worked out and they were really great, did most everything other than hands on care (and sometimes that too if a need arose) for the pt.

Right, call the hospice nurse. Also, there should be written hospice protocols for you to follow in the patient's chart so that you are not guessing what to do. I have to say, though, I don't see hospice patients being on IV fluids.

When hospice is in LTC they are making the majority of the money for the resident........it is their responsibility, that is what they are getting paid for. Call the hospice nurse and document, document, docment.

at the end of life, ivf does nothing in terms of comfort.

rather, it adds to ones' discomfort as circulation and perfusion shut down.

that needs to be dc'd asap.

DO call the hospice nurse/agcy immediately.

there should be hospice notes in the chart: read the plan of care.

prn apap/ibuprofen and cool cloths to head, axilla, groins.

ativan is often not tolerated in the elderly population; just a consideration.

most important and bears repeating, call hospice w/a detailed, brief report on pt.

and yes, document everything.

leslie