The Grim Reaper

I admitted a patient into our hospice program last night at the urgent request of her daughter. The patient was 97 years old and dying from a gradual decline in her health, or old age, as most of us would call it. She hadn't eaten in 3 weeks and had only small sips of water for the past several days. Needless to say that by the time I saw her, she was bone thin and very close to death.

Her daughter told me that she had been hoping for her mother to die peacefully in her sleep, but now she was agitated and might be in pain. I'm delighted that I was able to see this patient and help bring her some comfort and peace at the very end of her life, but why did they wait so long? Instead of feeling like the skilled medical professional that I am, I felt like the Grim Reaper, albeit much more compassionate. I was sweeping in at the very end of life, ready to reap another one in through hospice.

This woman and her family will probably never meet their hospice team; they won't develop a relationship with a nurse who cares about their wellbeing, they'll never meet the home health aide who would have helped them with her personal needs, they may get a call from the social worker and chaplain but probably won't benefit from all they have to offer. They won't have time to take advantage of the physical, social, psychological, emotional, and spiritual care that the hospice team is ready to offer.

The patient and her family certainly benefited from hospice care, but how much did they miss out on?

What do you think keep patients and families from seeking hospice care sooner? Post your thoughts here or discuss them in the community forum!

What is Hospice?
The Palliative Care Team
Does My Loved One Need Hospice?