HOSPICE
Since my last post, my dear father-in-law went home to glory. It was a peaceful passing since we took him home with hospice. The funeral was yesterday. I don't know how many of you have any experience with hospice, but they are WONDERFUL! We took my grandpa home to die when he had cancer so when Dad was so sick, I immediately started pushing to do that. Not all the family was onboard with it at first. They didn't understand how easy it is. They thought it was a lot of care but it's not. We had them put up the bed in the living room, and we were all able to sit comfortably on the sofa and chairs. We talked about old times, held his hand, kissed him and told him we loved him. The place overflowed with family and love.

I slept on the sofa the first night then on an airbed the next night since the sofa was so uncomfortable. I got up every hour or so to check on him. I gave him some meds that absorbed through his mouth twice and wet his mouth and lips with a sponge made for that purpose. i sang hymns over and over during those two days and nights. That was it. There is no real care when a person is unconscious and dying. You just love them home to glory. It's a wonderful and bittersweet passing. The hospice nurse comes to check on the patient and can do any bathing or anything else that needs doing. In Dad's case, it was happening too fast and nothing else was needed. The nurses are so caring and sweet. We just loved them. When he was gone at 1:40 am on Thursday, I got Mom and my sister-in-law up then called Dave and his brother before calling hospice. The nurse came right away. She washed and dressed him before the funeral home came. She was so sweet to Mom and all of us.

The viewing was Sunday and Diann and Denise came with their husbands. I realized after introducing them to half a dozen people that I wasn't mentioning their husbands! LOL Poor guys were treated as chauffeurs! They were such an encouragement to me though, all four of them. And funerals are wonderful places to catch up with family you haven't seen in a while. I got to show off my little angel. She showed up in the cutest little red and black dress with a matching beret. I wish I'd gotten a picture to show you. Darling!

Have any of the rest of you had an experience with hospice? If you have any questions about it, just ask too.

Labels: hospice