1/27 - Hospice, what hospice?

My father in law went into St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn for pneumonia just before Christmas. He was discharged on New Years Day. A week and a half later he went back in, only in worse condition. His health did not improve while there.

He stopped eating and drank only a few mouthfuls of liquid a day. He also has stage 4 melanoma that is taking it's toll.

When younger he worked outside in the sun and was subjected to the harmful rays from the sun. Little was known about skin protection in those days.

His health worsened while in the hospital.

On Friday the 25th we got a call that this could be it. So the entire family rushed to his bedside to be with him. Later in the day he was given the option should he code, that is have a cardiac arrest does he want to be resuscitated and most likely be put on a ventilator. He said no. So DNR orders were written.

He wanted to go home to die and so arrangements were made that night to bring him home.

The hospital made arrangements to have a bed, oxygen and medications delivered later that evening prior to his discharge. They also offered to have a hospice nurse come to the house later that evening to help take care of him.

A representative from Good Shepherd Hospice Services a division of the Catholic Health Services stopped by his room to make the final arrangements for the nurse.

He was discharged and an ambulance brought him home during a mild snow storm that produces only half an inch of snow. The EMS drivers brought him inside and put him into the bed that was setup in the front room for him.

The hospice nurse never came that evening but did call and said that she would be there early Saturday morning. Saturday morning she did not show up either so we called the main office in Melville and inquired about her. They had no record of a nurse being there at all.

They said that they will have someone here later in the afternoon. Afternoon became evening. Evening became night. 10 PM still no nurse.

We called again on Sunday and they said someone will be over in the morning. Again all though the day we waited for the nurse that never showed.

Finally today a nurse did show up, spent 10 minutes with my father in law, and 20 minutes sitting on the phone in her car. She told us that my father in law needs to be evaluated in a few days, then a social worker will come over on another day, then on another day the case manager to make up a nursing plan, then an RN is to come over to evaluate the medications and finally, a nurses aid will be assigned.

At the rate they are going he will be dead by the time the aid is assigned.

The Good Shepherd Hospice Services apparently does not care for a family in pain having a member, a Koren War Veteran who jumped at the chance to serve his country, slowly die in front of them. They promised that someone would come and help to give the family a break but do not keep their promises. So the burden of giving hospice care to a dying patient lies on the shoulders of the entire family who are grieving.

This is not the way things should be done. It is a shame that this is allowed to happen and it is a shame that nothing can be done to help the family.

I have to wonder if it is like this with other hospice services.

Shame on you Good Shepherd Hospice Services.

'till next time