((((lou_lou))))

http://www.hospicefoundation.org/2011fallbook

Thinking of you our dear Lavender Lou.

Hospice is filled with amazing caring people who can help you through this very difficult time.
Michelle

it is possible to hasten the end of life through the use of meds at high dose. sometimes this is a kindness bestowed. sometimes the loved one is too strong and this tack does not work. i have read some packet inserts that indicate seemingly innocuous drugs can be used in this way.

there is an alternative to hospice where they continue to try to keep you alive. for some this approach is best. i was unimpressed with hospice and would like to see improvement. for example if the patient gets an eye infection you treat that so as to ease the pain. to me a no brainer, but not standard in hospice. perhaps in different regions it has different definitions.

after 20 years with parkinsons disease hard to gain weight - frail
lost 30 pounds in a year, neither of my doctors would allow my right to hospice care?
my son is only 25, and that is too young to take the full responsibility for mom...
no spouse living
only me

I don't understand how the drs could deny your request for Hospice care.
Could your 25 yr old son request it for you?

And I am curious as to how you requested it from the drs.??? Did you express your need for their help....or did you mention a "way out" of this life.?

Much love to lou_lou and Alffe has a "need to know."

From what I've read online, your Doctor must certify that you are terminally ill to get hospice care.

for the medicare payment requirements -
[hospice care is covered by medicare part A
*generally less than 6 months to live per Dr & hospice director*
the full pdf-
http://www.medicare.gov/publications...pdf/hosplg.pdf

[For example, hospices also specializes in caring for terminal patients with:

heart failure,
chronic lung problems,
kidney disease,
stroke,
AIDS,
neurological conditions like Parkinson's disease,
the last stages of Alzheimer's and similar conditions,]
http://www.americanhospice.org/gener...-hospice-treat

If those requirements don't fit maybe a call to the hospital services person or county services to ask how to get assistance/helpers?

(((Lou Lou))) Tied had what I think is the correct response to this..."it is possible to hasten the end of life through the use of meds at high dose. sometimes this is a kindness bestowed."

That is what happened with my sister when she was dying from metastatic breast cancer. In fact, when the doctor told her (we weren't there at the time) that there wasn't anything further to do...she requested to be 'put under' and kept under. She was scared and didn't want to be conscious when her time came.

And that was what they did. They kept her basically unconscious with meds...I'm assuming high doses of morphine. Eventually your body will give out that way. The drugs aren't used to kill them, but to relieve all of their pain in the kindest way possible. And their bodies and spirit eventually give in to whatever the disease is, probably hastened somewhat by the use of heavy narcotics.

But my sister did request that. We never got to say good-bye to her. She didn't want to say good-bye to us. She asked the doctor to do this before we came in for our daily (day-long and night-long) visit with her.

So please don't think that he was committing suicide. He was finding relief from his interminable pain.

I hope you can find help soon.

Been thinking of you a lot.

You've been dealing with so much for so long and from such a young age. You're such a talented woman. For 10 years or so, I guess, I have so admired your work and especially your tenacity!

The more I read your posts here the more I am confused though. Please don't give up. You're a fighter. We all know that.

If son can't look after mum then someone else can and I'm sure that they can help you.

I don't want to see your life hastened but I would love to see it more comfortable. You're a very special human being.

<sigh>