Should we consider hospice?

[shleynic]

Hello! I'm a first semester nursing student, but I don't know much about hospice. I have some questions I hope you might be able to help me with. My Grandfather was recently diagnosed with alzheimers. He was diagnoses only a few months ago and his condition seems like it is rapidly declining. Two weeks after he was diagnosed he became incontinent and had to be placed in a nursing home. He no longer recognizes family and he has been combative with the nursing staff. According to his doc he is at the end of the middle stage of his illness. My questions are should we consider hospice? If so, at what point in his illness would he be eligable? If we decide that we should utilize hospice what things should we look for before picking one? Any info you could give me would be greatly appreciated. My family is looking to me information, but this is not something I know a lot about. Thank YOU!

[Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN]

Without a doubt, a Non-Profit Organization is the way to go for outstanding service and care.

This is not always true. There are many fine hospice organizations here that are for profit. The hospice I work for is for profit and our nurses (RN's and LPN's) give as much time as needed to our pts. and families. When someone needs to spend extra time with a pt or fly, another nurse pitches in to help out. It's called team work.

[aimeee, BSN, RN]

This is not always true. There are many fine hospice organizations here that are for profit. The hospice I work for is for profit and our nurses (RN's and LPN's) give as much time as needed to our pts. and families. When someone needs to spend extra time with a pt or fly, another nurse pitches in to help out. It's called team work.

I must agree with Hospice Nurse LPN. Hospices should be compared on the basis of the quality of service which their patients receive. Although it pains me to say it, some for-profits provide better service than some non-profits.

[rgroyer1RNBSN, BSN, RN]

You know m grandfather was on hospice the last few days of his life and I was taking care of him as well the whole year he was sick with heart failure after his heart attack, I really respect the nurses who do this and keep our gravely ill pts. comfortble thier last days on this good ole earth and Ive been thinking about switching from er to hospice I really have alot of respect for the nurses that do this and being may right now this is a hard month for me seeing as all three of my grandparents that have died all died in may.

[rgroyer1RNBSN, BSN, RN]

Well a21 you said Rn's, now I dont want to make this about Rn's and Lpn's, but my grandfathers hospice nurse was an Lpn, one of the best nurses I know she helped me take care f him the last days of his life but when he died she not only comforted him she comforted me and my family, she sat with me for an hour and we just set there and cried we were both attatched to him, but shes still one of my best friends and shes one of the best nurses I know and she worked for non-profit org. Shes better then some Rns.

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