Hi, My 96 y/o mother in law is on Hospice care. CHF and kidney failure. Thorcentesis due to fluid in lungs a few weeks ago, difficulty
breathing and swallowing, dependent edema, falls. Lives in assisted living and they have Hospice in effort
to keep her "home." Allergy to morphine. Takes only Tylenol for pain usually.
She has been given Ativan 0.5 mg 2xday for past few days. Now with several of side effects, belligerent,
Hallucinations, more difficulty breathing, weakness, agitation, anxiety. What else is out there?
I'm an RN and know Hospice and their protocol with no heroic attempts to keep her alive, just comfortable.
Does no one think about the patient anymore. What works for one patient has opposite effect on another.
I think you're going to tell me to talk to Hospice. I'm frustrated that I am patient advocate
with no one listening, just going along with protocol. Dying is a fact of life and I've accepted that.
Maybe we should consider another Hospice provider in the area. Thanks for your time.
Ginny Triassi RN