Saturday, August 29, 2009
Hospice-Dying with Didnity
Hospice is a medical specialty, which focuses on relief of pain, symptoms and stess of dying, or a life threating illness. It also maintains the qualty of life to the end. It deals with the emotional, social and spiritual impact of dying on the patient, family and their friends. Too my of our elders and terminally ill are dying horrible deaths.They go into nursing homes to die, family and friends stop visiting and the quality of life drops below than if they lived on the streets. This is where hospice does it's best work.Some veiw hospice as nothing more than assisted suicide.The Catholic tradition believes it's morally incompatible with the vision of a good death. That is, dying is not to be thought of as a uselees experience, but the last 4 most important things to do before you die. Which are, 1.saying i love you 2.saying thankyou 3.giving or asking for forgiveness,4. the most important one saying goodbye.This is what hospice is about. I am strongly against any form of suicide, for any reason and what hospice does for some many is not that.
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I agree hospice is a great program, my grandmother was on hospice over the spring. She had acute renial faliure and cirrhosis of the liver. It really brought the family together to say goodbye, i love you, thank you, and asking for forgiveness. On top of the point of hospice, I have to say the people that treated my grandmother and our family, during this emotionaly hard time were excellent. Witch is why I agree this is a wonderfull program.
ReplyDeleteI work in a nursing home and I think
ReplyDeletehospice is an amazing program as well.
The Hospice workers are always friendly,
approachable, and great with the families.
It's such a rough time that the families
go through and hospice brings out an
understanding hand.
Hospice is a great program, i personally have had a few family members on it. Although it is tough to see someone you love on it, it is good to see some care for them when you cant.
ReplyDeleteInteresting issue, LaDonna. I had no idea that some people considered hospice a form of assisted suicide. In your profession, are you involved with hospice care along with working with the Alzheimer's patients?
ReplyDelete