Notionally I understood the concept of going into hospice. I knew it was a final stage place where your care and safety were taken care of while you moved into the final breaths of life.
What I didn’t do my homework on was the gap in my mind between an institutional, cold sterile hospice environment vs what I have here at The Rosedale Hospice. Fortunately Tracey, as usual, had done the work to ensure I was given this location as an option.
In my head I’d always envisioned going back home for this phase, it just seemed like how you did it.
We’d always been perplexed by whether we wanted my death to be at home or not. What would it do to the memories of the house? Would it be cathartic, or positive for everyone, or would it be a situation where ‘that room where dad died’ created a negative space.
But, as with all things, the more you learn, the better prepared you are to make better decisions.
In the really heady, fast moving moments when we were changing philosophies from intervention to palliative care it became obvious that the only safe, low impact, family oriented decision was for me to come to hospice.
Looking back I couldn’t imagine how it would be good for anyone if I was at home trying to manage me with my pain management, other drug management, heck even the multiple daily cleaning of my catheter (actually it’s a suprapubic, look it up), even simple things like bathing and mobility are more challenging. And that doesn’t even include that moment when shit goes sideways and calamity really begins. Being in a hospice facility really is the right spot to be. I’m allowed to leave for visits if I want so I have options if I feel I want them.
For those that are not aware a hospice has dedicated medical teams that look after you on all your medical needs that relate to keeping you comfortable and safe as you prepare to die. They are keenly aware of my medical conditions, they dispense the drugs, they change my dressings, and are fully prepared with plans for when my body tells me it’s had enough. The people that work in these facilities are truly some of earth’s more gentle humans. From the doctors to the nurses, the volunteers, spiritual guides, housekeepers and cooks they truly cater to your every need knowing full well that you are in a state of flux emotionally and physically.
They have many different rooms for gathering friends and family, and of course having visitors is highly encouraged.
This is a place is full of respect and dignity for every life.
I highly recommend and would give it 5 stars!! ;-)