@A MyCOPDTeam Member, bless you bless you for sharing your experiences with us, especially in such a way so as not to make us feel threatened by it all. All the Hospices probably won't be as good as yours, and some might be even better. You have been a tremendous help to many people tonight. ❤️💕💞

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A MyCOPDT...

Hey everyone. I got sick in 2019. I woke up and found myself in home hospice under a 6 month death watch. I don't remember the first four months I was home so in actuality I had about 2 months and some change left to "live." I didn't die which, on most days, I see as a good thing. Hospice turned out to be a lot different than I had imagined. It was kind of relaxing to not have to run around trying to juggle all the doctor appointments. All my meds were delivered 2x a week if the need came up. At first, an NP would come 5 days a week then it tapered down to once a week. Sometimes even once every 2 weeks. I was getting better and my brain was coming back home to nest though they did leave a few screws out when they put me back together. It is still foggy. My memory has not returned with those lost months. :)
Sorry, back to hospice. And, yes it does help the caregiver, and a lot of times it qualifies a person for more hours of in-home help/caregiving. They had someone come in every day who would offer to assist me in taking a shower, getting clothes together or things I would need help doing. When I asked when I would graduate out of hospice they told me I could probably stay in hospice for years and that many chronic patients do. He told me one patient had been in hospice for 10 years. It is going on 5 years since I was put in hospice but for some reason, I was eager to take on the world on my own. It still sucks trying to get appointments, doctors coming and going, covid, drive time and parking, etc IMO hospice is just one more tool we have in our toolbox to use when we need a break and want to just exist more calmly, at home with our "stuff." One thing about caregivers is that in some areas they are super hard to come by. I live up in the Mountains and it is nearly impossible to get everyday help steadily and consistently. It was maddening. Eventually, I had my old man designated as the caregiver so they pay him for the 19 hours a week I get. I would prefer if I had a neutral person to help me instead of an opinionated ornery old man but he does a lot for me and knows my preferences. He knows my non-preferences, too. I'm grateful and lucky. A mantra that sometimes needs to be repeated to myself when he drives me batty just being his good old-boy self. Oh yeah, when people hear the word hospice it can get you places in the real world. Front of lines with everyone offering it to you probably because they don't want us to croak in their line. Even Doctor offices were more prompt & responsive.
Sorry, this is so long, again. I can't keep anything short and simple. My mind just races through with the words & my typing can't keep up. I am always leaving words out so please bear with me. Thx Hope I gave you a little more to think about.

@A MyCOPDTeam Member, sometimes a doctor takes into account how well the caregiver is doing and if she is able to keep up with it. Hospice might give her some help without taking over. It can help you both. Just a thought.

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A MyCOPDT...

If you want to know why he's suggesting hospice, why don't you ask him? I think if you read your last post, you may see part of what he sees in you.

There are usually several organizations in any location that provide hospice services. Talk with each organization to find out what their services are and how they provide them. Then you can actually make an informed decision based on realities available to you. After you find out what hospice looks like you can decide whether it's going to help you or not.