Choosing Hospice

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  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #42
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  • CherylHutch
    CherylHutch Member Posts: 1,375
    #43
    unknown said:

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    Well said, Graci!
    Graci, I'm sure that was hard to write... but it makes me angry just reading that you and your spouse had to go through this. I'm glad he did eventually get comfort, but it took way too long... and where were those "professionals" when you were fighting to care for him on your own?? Once again, the whole insurance thing is more a hindrance than a help and at a time when you are fighting to make a loved one comfortable, the last thing you should be worrying about is insurance and paperwork :/

    Thanks for telling us another perspective of this journey that I'm sure a lot of us have not thought about or prepared for.

    C.
  • CherylHutch
    CherylHutch Member Posts: 1,375
    #44
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Canadian here
    Hi Kathy,

    As a fellow Canuck, I think each province handles it differently. I know, here in BC, we do have palliative care wards in hospitals, as well, we have hospice "homes" where someone can go for hospice care when it's close to the end and they don't want to die in a hospital. Of course, you can also elect to stay at home with family/friends and have palliative care staff come to the home. I'm not sure how it works in other provinces though, or if it is the same across Canada.

    C.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #45
    CherylHutch said:

    Canadian here
    Hi Kathy,

    As a fellow Canuck, I think each province handles it differently. I know, here in BC, we do have palliative care wards in hospitals, as well, we have hospice "homes" where someone can go for hospice care when it's close to the end and they don't want to die in a hospital. Of course, you can also elect to stay at home with family/friends and have palliative care staff come to the home. I'm not sure how it works in other provinces though, or if it is the same across Canada.

    C.

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    #46
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Ontario
    I live in the Toronto area. There are hospices here. Some are like big houses for people to live in, others offer care in the home.
  • CherylHutch
    CherylHutch Member Posts: 1,375
    #47
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Hey Neighbour!!
    Wow... we are almost neighbours, although it is a bit of a drive if we were to meet for coffee . Which BC Cancer Agency do you go to? I know there's one in Abbotsford (a new one), and one in Surrey. I go to the one in Vancouver which is a 10 min. drive from the West End where I live.

    For sure we can find out the information from any of the BC Cancer Agencies. I have to admit, I haven't even asked or inquired because I am not about to plan for that yet (denial? reality?). I do have a support team of friends who will be with me whenever I need them, but I suppose I really should at least make a plan and let them know, should the time come. But right now, I am so far from being anywhere close to bedridden... so I'm living my life as if I had a cold or a stomach bug... at the moment, it's a sore foot . It is kind of weird even thinking Hospice or end of life plans when, although I am on Chemo, you would never ever know it! My gang down at the theatre are amazed... I put in more hours than the average volunteer. Heck, I put in more hours than some of the paid employees. And it doesn't matter that working in the theatre is something I love and is a passion... if I didn't have the energy, then there's no way I would be able to do it, even if it is a passion of mine ;)

    The reason I know about in home palliative care, a friend of mine who did end up dying from cervical cancer, there was a group of us 7 close friends who spent the last 7 weeks of her life with her 24/7. We had in home palliative nurses come in, and then when it really got bad so that there was no way we were going to be able to manage her pain, even with the drugs, we had her moved to the palliative care ward of Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver. The hospital is an old one and kind of dingy... but the palliative care ward was beautiful, new, modern and the staff there were all angels, minus the wings. I have not checked out the palliative care wards at the other local hospitals (St. Paul's, VGH, etc) but I was very impressed with the one at Lion's Gate.

    If I find out anything more, I'll for sure, let you know!

    Cheryl
  • 462lt
    462lt Member Posts: 117
    #48
    AnnaLeigh said:

    Sometimes......
    Sometimes choosing hospice is about having the strength to LET GO. We all know how much strength it takes to hold on to the hope that you will win this battle but it takes enormous strength to make a decision to stop the fight. This is always, and should be, a very personal and individual decision made only by the person who must go through the day-by-day struggle of trying to stay alive.

    I wouldn't dream of asking a loved one to "never give up" and would never insist they seek additional treatments long after they have been subjected to more than their bodies can take just so I can have a few more precious months with them.

    Hospice is about choices. Choosing how you will spend the remainder of your days. Something I hope I have a chance to decide.

    Thank you
    Thanks you anna for your insight I feel the same way. Laura
  • serrana
    serrana Member Posts: 163 Member
    #49
    AnneCan said:

    Ontario
    I live in the Toronto area. There are hospices here. Some are like big houses for people to live in, others offer care in the home.

    hospice etc
    I read all your posts folks and want to say just this:
    Lots of ideas, opinions, information. All interesting and informative.
    However, to me, the discussions and opinions seem to be exactly what they are, reflections, opinions, reports, not of some "truth" or "way" but evidence and statements that everyone is unique in their approach to living which includes dying. There is no "truth" to be found, no one is right nor wrong here. News.....
    Everyone will die even those without cancer.

    We are fortunate in my opinion to be somewhat more aware of our end of life than many who don't have medical issues and in that respect are fortunate to be able to consider its meaning and process in advance and in depth , rather than being surprised when we are dead and never experienced the process involved in leaving this world and our body.

    Depak Chopra makes alot of sense to me when he discusses the body as the vehicle in which the soul is transported; it is the presence, journey and existence of the soul and it's existence that I believe is the issue here, not what kind of bed the body (vehicle) ends up in and how many milligrams of morphine are available.
    The journey, gang, it is the journey of the soul.Lets know that every one is on this train if they are fully human.
    Serrana
  • CoolGirl
    CoolGirl Member Posts: 9 Member
    #50
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/875009#Comment_875009

    It's been eons since you posted but i loved your reply Pat!

    From a never give up hope hospice patient- I Thank you!

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