Stages of death hospice

Common Questions and Answers about Stages of death hospice

death

438514 tn?1305734140 I thought hospice care did not allow hospitalizations or active treatments for a disease. Only pain control and comfort measures.
Avatar f tn My father is in the final stages of dementia. He can no longer hold anything or walk. He quit speaking about 4 years ago. I just was recently told that he no longer chews. This has been for about 6 weeks. His food is thickened so he can swallow it. He has lost about 20 pounds in 5 months. His albumin level is 2.7, and 2.5 is sometimes the criteria for hospice care. My question is, how much longer before he loses his ability to swallow?
Avatar f tn My 90 yr old mother died last night in Hospice care. She was in a nursing home for 4 years, where I visited her daily. When we knew the end was near we called in Hospice. When it became evident that she was in the final stages and gasping for breath they administered morphine, orally, then a suppository, then orally again. It all happened so fast but when the last dose was given I was overwhelmed.
Avatar n tn My Dad is at the very end stages of liver cirrhosis. He has been being drained as a result of ascites for months now but has been too weak to go in this time. He is not eating and barely drinking and the fluid has built up over the last few weeks. He does not want to go into hospital and has told the doctor he wants nature to take its cause now. How could he die? Fall into a coma, or could he experience a painful death? He wants to be at home, but he is comfortable for now.
Avatar n tn All I can tell you is there is power in prayer. There is nothing that can prepare you for the death of a loved one. Just make sure you tell her everything you want to and that you love her. Let her know that is ok to let go and that you will be ok here as you wait to be with her again. I am sorry I have no other words.
Avatar f tn When the time comes, and you will know, hospice is a good answer, let her be free of pain and able to enjoy her time with her family and friends. It is not easy to give up, but if the quality of life is gone, then you need to think about what would give her some peace. From one that has been there, I am so sorry about your mother, but this is for you also, it is very hard to be the caregiver at the end of a loved ones life.
Avatar f tn I think that the final stages are different for everyone and not certain if anyone can answer this question. The doctors and nurses can help guide the person through the final stages and due what they can to ensure the patient is not in pain or fear.
Avatar n tn I am 72 years of age, a lifelong smoker, presently on two inhalers twice daily and believe that I am in the final stages of life. I have little fear of death but do not want to cause too much burden on my wife or daughter by "lingering". Suicide has crossed my mind but I'm not anxious to go that route until I am incapable of functioning on my own. That is, I don't want anyone bathing, dressing, or feeding me.
Avatar f tn Dobutamine is only used for symptom relief in end stages of heart failure, it does not prolong life or provide survival benefit, I guess your husband's symptoms must be well controlled by opiates or morphine and hospice sees no benefit continuing dobutaminw
Avatar f tn t bring myself to agree and then she started eating again - then in Dec she stopped eating again, looked skeletal and I then put her on Hospice - She died 5 days later after getting pneumonia - her death cert listed alz as cause of death. Now they are suggesting hospice for my Dad (92) who is in assisted living (in the same facility ). I did agree to it although it is eating me up.
Avatar f tn Hello.... what is the time line for the last stages of ovarian cancer.. My mother is 77 has had it for 18 months now... the cancer is in the lymph nodes, she is 36 kgs her stomach is huge and she is taking a high dose of drugs for the pain,,, but my brother and i are so confused .. the docs tell us nothing, i am at the stage where i read her chats to get any info i can. i am a hands on person i like to know what there pumping into my mother.... god its hard and heart breaking to watch .
1396990 tn?1280428984 My son died of brain cancer 2 years ago. My mother passed the year before. Hospice was involved in both cases and it was not a good experience with either of them. I wish I had never involved them and am very suspicious of their activities, although depending on where you live they can be great. My brother in law had brain cancer and died in Arizona. Hospice was great for my sister in that instance.
Avatar n tn I read that this was the beginning signs of death. we called the hospice nurse and she came and said that he was actively dying and she though that he was throwing up blood, not bile, but they do not have the stuff to test it and see if it was blood or bile. He also had a dark spot by his tear duct, which I think could have been blood also coming from his eye. We got his death certificate yesterday and it said that the cause of death was cerebral atherosclerosis.
Avatar n tn I read that this was the beginning signs of death. we called the hospice nurse and she came and said that he was actively dying and she though that he was throwing up blood, not bile, but they do not have the stuff to test it and see if it was blood or bile. He also had a dark spot by his tear duct, which I think could have been blood also coming from his eye. We got his death certificate yesterday and it said that the cause of death was cerebral atherosclerosis.
Avatar f tn I understand it takes about 40 seconds for a person to die of asphyxiation What I cannot find out is when you die of emphysema do you suffocate of die of asphyxiation? So, when you die of emphysema do you suffocate or die of asphyxiation and what do they each feel like. Does anyone have any feed back on this? My very best to all of you.
Avatar f tn I was reading on here and saw many mentioned they received care from Hospice. If I may ask, do you mind telling me which Hospice, When they told me that it was time , I said "NO" . I knew if allowed them to come into my home that death was around the corner. I actuall worked Wednesday and left for Smokies. We ended up In Helen, Ga. He was in awe. I pushed him in the wheelchair down to to picnic area for awhile, and neither of us said anything.Thursday, his G-Tude came out.
Avatar m tn I donĀ“t really understand the stages of copd and the hospice tell me that it is very difficult to judge how long a person will live with this disease. Do you think from my very unprofessional description that I will have Mum for long, or do you think her prayers to be with my dad will be answered? Thank you for listening to me.
Avatar f tn My husband died last week after 12 hours of horrible suffering. Vitas Hospice of Orange County would give him only methodone and I was told by a nurse AFTER his death that he should have had morphene . Now I am nearly suicidal with regret. How can I live with the guilt and is it warrented?
Avatar f tn I work in hospice and have had many ESLD patients over the years. I'm going to suggest that if you consider hospice, one of the questions you'll need to ask the admission nurse is whether they will tap (remove fluids) as a comfort measure. Stress comfort. We don't normally do invasive, curative or restorative procedures but can make exceptions when the goal is relief from symptoms, pain or discomfort.
Avatar f tn I know not everyone likes the Hospice word, but they do wonderful work with the whole family., I have seen patients live longer and have a better quality of life while on Hospice. If a remission occurs hospice can always be stopped.
Avatar f tn Hello JudyAnn, Welcome to our little corner of the world where everyone will understand what you and your daughter are going through. First let me tell you how sorry I am that she has progressive MS. She is very fortunate to have you as her advocate - we all need someone at our side on the good and the bad days. I would strongly recommend that you find a pain management doctor to help with the pain.
Avatar f tn s life due to breast cancer is relative .... sometimes it is and sometimes not. With current care death from any type of cancer is rarely painful .... Hospice services are a wonderful thing and these specialists do everything possible to make one's passing a gentle experience. I can't say that "it" looks like anything in particular ...there need not be any type of obvious lesion in most cases as recurrance happens within other organs.
Avatar n tn My mom died in 05 of emphysema, I lived with her the last 3 years and was her only care taker. If your mom is capable of walking (on a treadmill) this would be really good for her, very slow with oxygen on of course. My mom walked every day that she could and the Dr. said that is the only reason she lived as long as she did.
448147 tn?1269818087 In addition, my mother continues to have the "flare ups" of hep c during her final stages. The symptoms (in addition to whats listed above) are sores, itchy skin (from toxins) hair loss, fever (sometimes infection) and flu like symptoms. oh,, her body does produce any white blood cells or red blood cells (she takes meds for that as well) she also has no immunity. she cannot be around grandchildren.