My mom is currently under Hospice. The only regular set appointment we have with them is the nurse, who at our request, only comes 1 time a week. Last week the social worker called 1 hour before the nurse and wanted to know if she could come at the same time as the nurse. On the message she said if she didn't hear back, she would just come. She didn't come nor have I heard from her again. Yesterday, when the nurse was there (at 4:00), she told me the "ONLY" time the Nurse Practioner could come was today @ 9:30 a.m. That gave me less than 24 hours notice. Not only am I the only caretaker for my mom but I provide the insurance for my husband and I which requires I work 30 hours a week. I feel like I had no choice but to adjust my schedule since it was the "ONLY" time she could come. Am I wrong in expecting they should work with/around my schedule? I understand due to the nature of their work, their schedules may change and I am okay making the changes when a family is in a crisis situation. What are your experiences with Hospice. Is it normal for them to give such short notice? I'm about as stretched to the limit as I can be.
Or, "SEND SOMEONE ELSE".
Then, there is always the passive/aggressive answer, "oh, I forgot you were coming, that is why I was not home".
These tactics seem mean, however, if they are out to ruin your sanity, let the consequences lie with them. They won't get paid.
I was around when an R.N. tried to help a neighbor with antibiotics, I.V., but the neighbor did not come home from the hospital, instead spent overnight elsewhere. The nurse made it a point to return to do the job.
Lighten up, stop running around to accommodate everyone. It will all get done by them. You just don't work for them.
We n e v e r answer the door.
Sometimes when the nurse visited my husband it was almost like a social call. She took vitals and checked for bed sores, etc. but if there was nothing needed the call was fairly short. Sometimes some cares were needed and she got it done. Those visits were longer.
Scheduling hospice visits is not like scheduling three cleaning jobs a day, each to take 2 hours. The time needed depends on the specific circumstances of the patient -- and often that can't be predicted even the day before.
Sometimes our nurse showed up a little earlier than expected, because her previous patient had light needs. Sometimes she was later. Sometimes she had to reschedule. This flexibility was a bit inconvenient, but I was sure glad for it when it was my husband who needed the extra time!
The social worker should have called to explain why she didn't come when expected. Death is not scheduled but it has to be addressed whenever it happens. Emergencies happen. I would not fault the social worker for not coming -- but for not communicating the change to you.
Some patients are on hospice for months, some only for weeks or days. The patient population changes all the time, and with it the need to adjust schedules.
Frankly, I think the attitude that if the hospice agency cannot meet your scheduling needs you should find another agency is impractical and unrealistic. Yes, they work for you -- and for a large number of other clients who have scheduling needs too. "My needs should always come first" is not looking at the whole picture with compassion.
Yes, if your cleaning person can't meet the schedule you prefer, find a different cleaner. If your hair stylist doesn't have an standing opening at the time you need it, find a different stylist.
Hospice? Understand the complexities of scheduling service and try to work within their framework. State what you want, but don't expect to get it every time. Lots of other clients are stating what they want, too.
Why do we accept the need for some flexibility in other services we order, but expect a worker whose client before us might have a critical and time-consuming need, or whose client's caregiver might be in total meltdown and needs some compassion, to show up at an exact time?
I am not talking about when someone is delayed by a patient's needs, but instead the nurse had her kids that day, etc. (Allowing personal lives to interfere with getting to the patient without arranging for a replacement is, imop, unprofessional).
I respect the medical professionals, but sometimes they too have issues that need correcting. Mom Mandi was doing her best and was put out by the social worker, etc.
The hospice team and the caregiver and the client should be able to work together after settling in to a plan, and yes, I agree, things can change so people need to be flexible. I am not taking sides. And then, I am not a hospice professional.
I do not have a family member on hospice. People on here have said that hospice goes to the nursing home, not to the home, but that is their experience. My experience is that hospice comes to the home and they are are so very good that now, people are not only comforted, they live beyond the 6 months!
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