I'm working at the " hospice at home" initiative for one more week. The H@H nurses care and support patients who want to die at home
I'm waiting for calls to come in and have patient appointments later today.
The office is quiet save for the constant screaming of the herring gulls that populate this part of Llandudno beach
I am reminded of Broadstairs
Always with the dying. How do you feel with that?
ReplyDeleteDeath has always played a big role in nursing generally
DeleteI'm looking forward in having three days off together
The breaks must be important
DeleteMy father died at home at his request. In spite of nurses attending daily, it was very rough on my step mother. She is not a complainer and it was some time after he died that we found out how bad it was. I won't inflict my own lingering death on my partner should it come to that.
ReplyDeleteI'm walking out on the ice floe when it's my time
DeleteDon’t live too long a John, man made climate change is reducing the number of ice flows
DeleteA deep sense of peaceful purpose on a summer Saturday morning. Love the mug!
ReplyDeleteSuch a vital service. Enjoy your days off when they come.
ReplyDeleteI have used hospital in the home (brilliant) but have no experience of hospice in the home. I worry about it - it is what I would want but it definitely needs to be a family decision.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your deserved days off when they come round again.
Are you a death watch beetle?
ReplyDeleteI've been called worse
DeleteJohn you are the perfect man for the job.
ReplyDeleteScreaming herring gulls seem appropriate. If I were a believer, I'd say god bless you.
ReplyDeleteLol
DeleteThe screaming of gulls is a very poignant sound isn't it, always filled with memories of many seaside days.
ReplyDeleteI'm currently sat here listening to the mournful whistling cry of the Red Kites as they circle the trees at the end of our woodland.
The red kites have made a sucess of themselves just recently I hear
DeleteI have a nesting pair near me. Love to hear them whistle.
DeleteA Smaller Life, your photo reminds me of the automaton rabbit that pops up from cabbage leaves.
Home hospice care is much more popular than in patient care here in the States. My parents had the same home hospice care team (at the same time for a couple of months.) The nurses do a lot of driving, but they also get the hear the birds between patients.
ReplyDeleteI've found comparing in patient to out patient care interesting
DeleteInitiatives such as teaching carers to give breakthrough and symptom control meds have been intetesting
My father in law always said he wanted to die at home, surrounded by his family that he loved.
ReplyDeleteHe collapsed with a dissecting AAA at home, he died in a hospital side room with all his family surrounding him. He got his wish in a way. But it was a 'nice' death all the same.
Emergencies like his are always hospitalized
DeleteMy aunt who had motor neurone disease decided against care at home and chose instead the Hospice because she thought it best for my uncle x
ReplyDeleteMotor neurone is a complex condition . A real challenge for home care
ReplyDeleteMy husband came out of the hospice after 4 days so he could died at home which he had always said he wanted to do when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. It was very special 3 days with him for all of us and I was happy to be able to do that for him, that was 3 years ago. Heather
ReplyDeleteXx
DeleteThe hospice nurse came to give my dad a morphine pump the night before he died. I spoke to him and explained that the nurse was here and what she was going to do. His eyes flew open and he said to her "I bloody love you people ". That was his last lucid moment and it makes me smile each time I think of it.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work John.
My dearest friend from nursing school is now a home hospice nurse. It takes a very special and loving soul to do this work. You have what it takes- straightforwardness, humor, deep empathy, strength and good skills. A hospice nurse is an angel to the dying and the families.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts as well .
DeleteMy sweet AMIL promised crazy FIL that he'd die at home and with the help of hospice visits, he did at age 88.
ReplyDeleteBless you and all who are called to attend the dying.
Love the mug! Perhaps that could be a group thing - show us your favorite mug?
Hugs :)
Barbara I also like that mug. where did you buy that mug from John? x
ReplyDeleteIt's just one of the hospice mugs
DeleteUp until the lockdown began, my mother was a hospice volunteer at a local hospital. I wonder about those whom she sat with. I imagine they're now mostly alone, save for staff.
ReplyDeleteMy Dad was able to die at home with assistance of the Palliative Care Team. His doctor managed to get him the last available nurse by basically shouting at the powers that be that Dad had stayed out of the system as long as possible and to force him to die in a hospital was cruel.
ReplyDeleteDad got his wish. We were all there when it happened. To this day I'm sure that his nurse helped him pass. Dad wanted it and frankly needed to die. He was given six weeks and lasted six months. As he put it "I can put my dog to sleep if he gets cancer, I get to suffer, life is not fair".
The only problem I had with his death was the nurse left as soon as he called the funeral home. I wound doing the PM care on my Dad because my Mum wanted him washed and in clean pyjamas before he left the house. It was my last act for him.
You play a huge role in a wonderful initiative. I always though my beloved would want to die at home, but he chose the hospital to spend his last two weeks. And the staff made available a private room and a cot for me. They fed me, loved me and made our final time something so very special.
ReplyDeletePS when I was in Llandudno a bloody seagull swooped and stole my icecream!
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