Hospice.. help needed

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Usually you have to agree to non resuscitation when you enter a hospice
 
You may wish to consider consulting a Palliative Care Specialist as an alternative to hospice. While Hospice does offer palliative care the two systems have some key differences. Palliative care is available through all stages of a life limiting illness. In this program there is no expectation that life prolonging measures will be avoided which allows for more care choice options as needs increase. In addition to the suggestions in the posts above a consultation with a Palliative care specialist would be able to better explain the differences between the two programs as to your specific situation. Your Dr would be able to refer you.
 
@moderator The was no reason for this to be flagged.
CilladeRoma said:
Yes, in fact I have. I am a hospice volunteer, work in a skilled nursing facility, give talks about end of life care and decision making and have done home hospice for 3 granparents and a parent.

Feeding tubes and IV fluids are often contraindicated for end of life and are considered “extraordinary” means. The Church does not required this, and it is often not comfortable for the patient.
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I’m sorry for your situation.

Get a second opinion before any decisions are made.
 
The flagging on this site is ridiculous. It shouldn’t be available to the majority of us. Lay moderation is awful.
 
Here are some links to consider on this issue, though ever situation is unique.

https://www.ncbcenter.org/files/5314/4916/3492/NCBCsummFAQ_NutritionHydration.pdf
Whenever a recommendation is made to withhold food and water, one should ask, “What will be the cause of death?” If the answer is dehydration or starvation, and assisted nutrition and hydration can be easily supplied and assimilated, then not supplying them is a form of euthanasia. Unconsciousness is not a fatal disease. No one dies from unconsciousness.
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https://www.ncbcenter.org/resources/information-topic/end-life-care/revision-directive-58/

I have not seen anywhere that IV’s or feeding tubes have been classified by the Catholic Church as extraordinary means.
 
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Yes they will. Maybe not in every case. But it isn’t so cut and dried that they never give supplemental hydration.

My own mother had a feeding tube put in because she could not swallow. She would have died from starvation and dehydration.

Instead, hospice allowed the disease to kill her.
 
Typically, hospice where I am would not allow a patient with a feeding tube to be admitted to hospice. In my nursing home, we have a couple of people on “comfort care”. One is a tube feed because of a stroke that affected swallowing. She is a DNR/DNI will no other medical interventions. She is able to take some fluids by mouth. At some point, we will have to stop using the feeding formula because her body will not tolerate it.
This is is no way euthanasia or killing the patient. It is allowing nature to take it’s course and allows the patient a peaceful death.
Forcing fluid & nutrition is just has bad as denying it.
 
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And what is that?
To me it means they want what is best for the patient. Sometime a feeding tube or IV fluids a is not what is best, and often it makes things worse for the patient.
 
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edward_george1 said:
I’m not sure why this was flagged. It’s correct. The Church does not require us to needlessly prolong life, especially if it will cause greater suffering to the dying person. While nutrition and hydration are ordinary means of care, they become extraordinary and thus morally optional when the means of delivery become excessively burdensome or provide no real benefit. Attempting to feed and hydrate someone whose body is incapable of receiving nutrition and hydration is unnecessary.

-Fr ACEGC
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This needs to be repeated. I think a lot of people missed it.
 
Basic care does not include feeding tubes and IV fluids. Both are invasive, and for a dying person, usually will not change the outcome.
See Father’s comment above.
 
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It is not rare instances. End of life means just that, end of life. Forcing fluid and hydration via artificial means on someone who is at end of life is extraordinary means.

Of course, families, the patient and the care team should discuss things. I never said otherwise. But we also need to let people go as peacefully and pain free as possible.
 
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If it has not been suggested, see if Franciscan Health has a hospice in your area. A co-worker who expired to breast cancer spent her last days in one such facility and was treated very well. It had temporary sleeping quarters for family.
 
My community is blessed. We have many 2-bed hospice homes that have room for families and loved ones. My family spent last Christmas at one with my 92 year old grandmother. It was a sad, but wonderful experience.
 
And my point is that there is no one answer for everyone.
Bottom line is that in many cases, especially with the elderly, forced feeding and fluids is contraindicated.
This thread is just more evidence to me that people need to learn how to discuss end of life care with loved ones before the time comes to make decisions about it.
 
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