I have posted on here many times and answered questions every now and then. Dad passed away Oct 7th 2013 from Liver Cancer . He was in a hospice facility for 11 days until he died. The day before he was admitted he was in the hospital and was talking,eating and very clear headed but his ammonia levels were high and he had been very combative, not eating and wouldn't take his meds for 4 days at his nursing home. ( He was in for a Psych Evaluation.) The hospice worker talked to me about admitting him instead of returning to the nursing home. I agreed to this and arrangements were made. He was transferred later that day and was alert and in good spirits. The next morning he was unresponsive and stayed that way until he passed. They gave him morphine and ativan around the clock. He never got any water but they did cleanse his mouth and moisten it with swabs. It seemed like he could hear me the first few days because I would shake his shoulder and say "dad". His eyes seemed to be moving under his eyelids and his mouth would move slightly. I did ask about them lowering his dosages so he could wake up a little. The nurse said he was getting a very small dosage already. I just wonder if the drugs made him unresponsive and if less was used he could have ate and drank and lived longer. I know it was time for him to go but I'm kinda puzzled about his going from complete alertness and straight into unresponsiveness so quick. The nurses did a Great job. I myself don't know how they do it. They treated dad like he was their baby. So gentle and compassionate. I was just wondering if anyone else had the feeling that death felt a little rushed once their loved one was placed in Hospice.
I have better things to do, than to go back and forth, with a hospice industry keyboard warrior, doing damage control for the industry.
I'm not reading your long, drawn out misleading post, because it would be a waste of my time.
My only purpose is to warn people and get the hidden truth out there.
People can check the resources I have recommended to confirm anything I have said or anything they, themselves have witnessed.
If anyone wants more information about the cream, it was talked about on the second episode of, "Exposing Medical Predators, with Carly Walden".
I stand by everything I say, and I'll never change my mind.
No comment on my post?
Do you see your error?
Would you like to retract your statement?
It's people like you who spread lies without having the facts. The sad part is that, until proven wrong, innocent people believe you.
You have every right to not like hospice. You can scream it from the rooftops but check your facts BEFORE you post.
Check my profile for resources on what you have witnessed with hospice.
Then after, we got a copy of the insurance bill and were outraged!
Nothing was done for him!
Has anyone else experienced such lack of care ?
Now I'm waiting for the "flood gates" to open! ;)
This is taken from PubMed.gov (US national library of Medicine/National Institutes of Health).
ABHR Gel in the Treatment of Nausea and Vomiting in the Hospice Patient.
"Hospice patients at the end stages of life often suffer nausea and vomiting, distressing symptoms that are either side effects of medications or direct effects of the underlying disease state. Such symptoms can greatly diminish the hospice patient's quality of life. Effective pharmacotherapy is available, but in many cases traditional dosage forms are incompatible with the patient's physical condition, cause discomfort, or are difficult for family members to administer.
In such cases, a compounded preparation containing lorazepam, diphenhydramine, haloperidol, and metoclopramide-commonly referred to as ABHR gel-has proven highly effective. A number of case reports are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of ABHR gel in relieving the symptoms of nausea and vomiting in hopice patients."
Why are you convinced that these relatively small dosages are LETHAL? They are NOT.
[For those who would like to know what these medications are:
Ativan- (Lorazepam-generic name), a benzodiazepine, anti anxiety drug),
Benadryl (diphenhydramine-an antihistamine-to dry up excess secretions),
Haldol (haloperidol-an antipsychotic)
Reglan (Metoclopramide-an antiemetic-helps with nausea).]
It also had this to say;
"Haloperidol is not approved for use in 'psychotic conditions' related to dementia. Haloperidol may increase the risk of death in older adults with dementia-related conditions."
I am a part time hospice nurse and we do not use this gel in my company. I have never given any Haldol to a dying patient.
In the cream,
Ativan 1 mg. is a regular adult dose (I take 1 mg. to fall asleep and stay asleep.)
Benadryl 12.5 mg is half to a quarter of a normal adult dose (I've taken 50 mg. for allergies.)
Haldol is the smallest dose available .5 mg.
Reglan 10 mg. is a normal adult dose.
Unless you are a compounding pharmacist, PLEASE don't tell people that these are lethal doses. You are wrong. I know you want to blame someone and condemn hospice but you can't use this as a reason.
I'm not saying all hospices are as good as the one I work for. There have been overdoses I'm sure, AS THERE HAVE BEEN in hospitals, nursing homes....anywhere medications are given by human beings. But, IN MOST CASES (97%), hospices are there to relieve pain and suffering by giving the lowest dose possible. The dose is increased when the patient no longer has pain relief from the smaller dose.
Are you aware that the doctor's order can be a sliding scale or multiple strengths ordered (meaning that if the patient needs less, the nurse can give less, if the patient needs more, (s)he can give more?)
I firmly believe that no one needs to nor should sign up their loved ones if the hospice has ANY infractions against them. If you choose not to enroll your loved one, even in a highly rated hospice, I would hope that you WOULD have pain relieving medications available, should your loved one need them.
I doubt you have seen the deaths I have over my 39 year career. Whether in hospice or not, NO ONE deserves to die in pain. Not you, Prolife, not ANYONE.
And I'll scream that from the mountain tops. Give the dying who are in pain, a comfortable passing with pain medications, regardless of who's giving them!
See, there's a difference between some 'long a** response'. Some are actually very informative and can keep my interest. While others,.. well, I start daydreaming as I read until eventually I just stop reading. Don't speak for others...
I'm glad you looked at it and liked it. And again much of what you said about it is correct.
I just disagree with downplaying the fact that the organization exposes hospice, and other care facility, murders. When I know that is the purpose of the organization and why it was founded.
Please read the books, if you get a chance.
The organization was founded by a hospice nurse, turned whistleblower. Who saw these things happening and couldn't take it anymore.
Your statements that it contains information informing people of the hospice philosophy and Medicare guidelines, etc, is correct.
But, to down play the horror stories, and the fact the website exposes murders that are happening in hospices, and other care facilities, all across the country, is incorrect.
There are many writings contained on the website about the topic, authored by the founder, Ron Panzer. Including the very detailed book, "Stealth Euthanasia: Health Care Tyranny in America".
The book, "Restoring the Culture of Life".
(Both of these book are free to read, on the website, btw.)
As well as many, many other articles about hospice murders and the culture of death.
There is the timeline of the merging of the Euthanasia Society of America with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
There is a link to lifetree.org (Life Tree). Which also contains a wealth of information about hospice murders.
As well as links to other websites which focus on this.
The organization does inform the public of how to find a good hospice. And they have never taken the stance that ALL hospices murder. But, that many do, and it is so widespread that it is happening in every state, of the United States.
I personally would have a hard time trusting any of them after what I have witnessed. We only have one in my area, which provides service to three counties. That is the one I have seen do the killing.
I am not affiliated with the Hospice Patients Alliance. I am only a supporter of their work, and I know the website from front to back.
It is a Prolife website, which focuses on not only informing the public of how a good hospice should behave and what they are entitled to under the hospice benefit. An even bigger part of their works goes to informing the public of the hidden dangers of hospice.
They are also patient advocates. There is a phone number on the site. They take phone calls daily, helping people get their loved ones out of deadly situations with hospices.
One of the broad members now has a radio show coving the topic, "Exposing Medical Predator, with Carly Walden".
Another, Vickie Travis, also does radio interviews, "The Vickie Travis Show", and also is the founder of "The Kaiser Papers".
It is actually a very informative site and far from what I expected. There is a great deal of information and I only had time to skim it.
It started by outlining the Hospice Philosophy which is a very good thing to read for anyone considering hospice. There is also a link which explains what hospice covers under Medicare /medicaid and many Insurance companies. This link is about 45 pages so takes a lot of time.
All this information is well worth reading because it really tells you what hospice can and should be doing for their patients.
There are horror stories included which Prolife is fond of quoting. They are horrible and no one should have to go through the experiences those poor people suffered.
That however is not the focus of the site. In no way are they trying to disuade people from using these end of life services and to suggest that this is their purpose does, what is probably, a fine organization run by decicated volunteers a great disservice.
It is a 401c charitable organization and no one is paid. it is supported by voluntary contributions. I would actually recommend making memorial contributions to them for their fine service.
Now to the bad stuff which is none of their making. It is not just about what can and does regretfully happen in hospice but in the entire healthcare business these days.
From my own experience the elderly do get substandard care in some hospitals and I can only assume it is because they are considered expendable. I would have been left to die on several ocassions had not my husband spent every day and many nights at my bedside. Fortunately he is a retired MD and was able to advocate for me. Think no food for 10 days, missed doses of essential medications. So much IV fluid that I went into heart failure. This was in a major teaching hospital.
The bottom line is that money is driving the healthcare industry these days. Medicare patients can wait months to see a specialist because enough are not employed. You can't have an organ transplant if you are over 70 so if the person at the top of the list gets the first available organ, it may be from an older person and maybe only have a few years of life so the cycle has to begin again for a young person.
One hospital had no hand washing facilities either in the room or the corridor. There was a half bath but no one would use that because patients dirty hand had been on the taps. Instead they relied on hadsanitizer stations that were liberally supplied. I later spoke to the chief medical officer about that and other things. He said he had been trying to get the sinks installed for a long time but the board always refused him. This same hospital had beautiful grounds with huge pots of seasonal plants in perfect condition by all the entrances. This was very pleasant to see but wouldn't sinks be a better investment for the patient's welfare?
There is also some political stuff on the site which I won't go into because of A/C protocol. But the reality is that healthcare has become increasingly unaffordable.
There is also what I perceive as a push to enroll the sickest of us into what seems to me to be a paliative care program. The insurer for the medicare supplementary plans identifies those with the most long term health needs that they regard as fragile. At present it is voluntary and you still keep your PCP but there is a PA assigned to your case and visits monthly. There is also a RN who may also visit and help available 24/7. The RN calls every two weeks to check on the patient. The patient is supposed to call some one on this team when any problem arises and someone will advise or visit. This is suposed to prevent unnecessary visits to ERs or wait for an appointment with the PCP. This sound very nice and convenient which of course it is and the patient can still consult and visit specials of their choice. The PA can also prescribe which is a convenience for minor things. There is also mobile X-ray and blood testing right in the home. This is a medicare program administered by the insurer. But being the nasty suspicious old lady that I have always been I a m afraid it could be the thin end of the wedge for the elderly and disabled. PCPs are also required to ask patient's with long term diseases if they want to be a DNR or if they are sick of going to numerous Drs and would like Palliative care. My PCP apologised and said it was something she had to ask.
Anyone with a few hours to spare would learn a lot from visiting this site and I would thoroughly recommend taking a look. it is designed by caring people to help not to frighten.
I’m not sure why you were offended and harped on rosie’s choice of topic title regarding Hospice. Why does it matter? Maybe it was a last-minute thought for her, but that’s why I read this: b/c I’m having thoughts and questions and need to talk to Hospice about my Mom. If you were offended by rosie123’s title, why did you even ‘click’ on it and then read this blog - and comment and continue reading? Maybe you enjoyed it or learned something from others.
I’m sorry for your losses and those of everyone on this forum. It’s very difficult watching our elderly parents go downhill or suffer. Or any of our family and friends. We don’t want to give them up, but we want them to have peace and know it’s ok to go.
My sister and I tell our Mom that we will be reunited with her, and she will be with all of the family and her friends, which she talks about each day. At 91, Mom has outlived 3 of her 6 children, our Dad, all of of her 7 siblings, most of her friends, and of course her parents. She says she’s ‘ready to go home’ and be w/all of them, and we understand. I’ll never be ready to give her up, but it’s hard to continue wishing her to stay when she has less quality of life each week and she hangs on b/c she loves us and is strong and a survivor. :)
Thank you all for letting me share/vent, and b/c of reading your stories, I now know I need to talk to Hospice, and also w/my sister so we can make decisions. Blessings to all of you and your families.
You seem to know what it was. You were there, were you?
I bow to your omniscience. Easing nausea is clearly against your beliefs.
What an evil thing to say.
I truly hope others are paying attention to your language, as it reflects your personality.
Caution should be used when taking advice from someone with such a mindset.
The cream was a lethal drug cocktail that is commonly used by hospice.
It is ABHR Cream (Ativan 1mg/Benadryl 12.5mg/Haldol 0.5mg/Reglan 10mg)
Please contact the Hospice Patients Alliance. They are patient advocates. You have a right to decline treatments and revoke the hospice Medicare benefit.
616-866-9127
I have left the phone number here in this comment, but things like that have a habit of disappearing around here. If it disappears, it can be found on their website.
You can stop this and get her out of there. Please, listen to your instincts.