Hospice and VNA
I have to say that I cant say enough good things about our Hospice nurse, or the Visiting Nurses that preceded her. In the last 6 months, they have been so helpful, and so supportive. My father was not an easy man to deal with at times, and if he didn't like you, well, you might as well go home. The VNA nurses who first set him up once he got out of the hospital were excellent, esp. his nurse Erin, who never failed to brighten his day with "Hello Sunshine" (and sunshine he was not) and who helped us through the intravenous antibiotic pump, the feeding tube, the flushes, the this that and the other things. When her time was up, my father tried to give her some money, but she wouldn't take it, couldn't. But that was his way of expressing appreciation.
His Hospice nurse I didn't take to so well at first, but in the end she was perfect. They had things in common, and in the short time she knew him she put him at ease. And when the end was near, she knew it and made everything as smooth as possible.
She told us some stories while we waited for the funeral home to arrive. Some of the things she's seen (no names mentioned) about families who made it all easier for their loved ones, and families who just couldn't care about anyone but their own petty issues. Family members who 'stole' sick relatives, ones who stole their dying relatives pain meds for their own habits, ones that didn't give meds. that were there until it was too late, then blamed the nurse for the death. But there were other families that she worked with that were so supportive and helpful, even wrapping grandma up in coats and blankets and taking her out on a chaise lounge like the Queen of Sheba in the winter just because she wanted to be outside for a while.
They really do make a world of difference.
His Hospice nurse I didn't take to so well at first, but in the end she was perfect. They had things in common, and in the short time she knew him she put him at ease. And when the end was near, she knew it and made everything as smooth as possible.
She told us some stories while we waited for the funeral home to arrive. Some of the things she's seen (no names mentioned) about families who made it all easier for their loved ones, and families who just couldn't care about anyone but their own petty issues. Family members who 'stole' sick relatives, ones who stole their dying relatives pain meds for their own habits, ones that didn't give meds. that were there until it was too late, then blamed the nurse for the death. But there were other families that she worked with that were so supportive and helpful, even wrapping grandma up in coats and blankets and taking her out on a chaise lounge like the Queen of Sheba in the winter just because she wanted to be outside for a while.
They really do make a world of difference.