12 minutes ago, The_Omega said:

One thing I'm learning about hospice care is that yes, it can be a tremendous tool for patients at the end of their lives, and their families.  On the flip side though, nursing facilities, and inconsiderate family members, can, and do, also use it to drug up inconvenient loved ones and actually hasten their demise when they're really very comfortable without medication.

Had my mom in hospice last year, and in the beginning, the care was fantastic.  What they don't tell you though is that once the patient stops eating, they cut off food and water.  The last couple of days were horrible.  Even when she was in a coma, she blurted out "I can't breathe" and she was in visible discomfort.  There is no easy way for end of life unfortunately.

31 minutes ago, Procus said:

Why do YOU hate America?  I'm against all those radicals who were burning flags and taking hostages.  I was very happy when they were let go once Reagan took office.  Morons like you promote weakness and effectively encourage taking of hostages.

I was a jr in HS during the hostage crisis. I did wear a t-shirt to school with an alien flipping the bird and "Hey Iran” printed on it. The principle said he agreed with the sentiment but made me turn it in inside out for the rest of the day. I’m not say I got the hostages released but they signed the deal a few days after that incident  

Top that projection of strength tough guy. 

4 minutes ago, Procus said:

Had my mom in hospice last year, and in the beginning, the care was fantastic.  What they don't tell you though is that once the patient stops eating, they cut off food and water.  The last couple of days were horrible.  Even when she was in a coma, she blurted out "I can't breathe" and she was in visible discomfort.  There is no easy way for end of life unfortunately.

That does suck. My dad was in hospice  five or so years ago and hung on for a few days in that horrible starvation state. My mom was in a few years ago a tapped out much faster. 
 

There are easier ways for people with terminal illnesses to end their lives with a little more dignity than starving to death. 
 

 

8 minutes ago, Tnt4philly said:

That does suck. My dad was in hospice  five or so years ago and hung on for a few days in that horrible starvation state. My mom was in a few years ago a tapped out much faster. 
 

There are easier ways for people with terminal illnesses to end their lives with a little more dignity than starving to death.

Even worse was the withholding of hydration.   Really rough couple of days.  Sorry for your losses.

11 minutes ago, Procus said:

Had my mom in hospice last year, and in the beginning, the care was fantastic.  What they don't tell you though is that once the patient stops eating, they cut off food and water.  The last couple of days were horrible.  Even when she was in a coma, she blurted out "I can't breathe" and she was in visible discomfort.  There is no easy way for end of life unfortunately.

I know of a 99 year old woman, proud, strong-willed woman who moved into a retirement community with her husband 15 years ago, then her husband died 10 years ago.  Don't think her son thought she would live as long as she has and he seems to view her as more of a burden as more time goes on. She's now blind, and can't walk because the retirement community dropped her.  She's had gum cancer which she had surgery and radiation for, and occasionally suffers bouts of sundowners where she'll get confused about where she is, or talk about having been visited by her dad husband while she slept. Also, given her blindness, and the high turnover rate among nurses in her facility, when she does suffer a bout she'll get suspicious of the nurses on call that day.  She's never been physically abusive, not one time.  The nurses got tired of dealing with it, and her son got tired of dealing with it, so they started her in hospice, giving her heavy drugs starting at lunchtime which knock her out until the next morning.  Essentially she's now lucid for a few hours a day.  They surgeon who operated on her mouth told her that, even though the cancer has begun to spread again, it will not be what kills her, and she says she rarely feels any discomfort for it.  That's the excuse they used for these heavy drugs though.  These drugs do a number on the heart.  Essentially, even though she's not in pain, and is not a danger, they've decided that they're just going to drug her up for the rest of her life which will, ultimately, probably be what kills her.  Unconscionable.

1 minute ago, Procus said:

Even worse was the withholding of hydration.   Really rough couple of days.  Sorry for your losses.

We had a couple of ferrets, one died, and the other became so despondent it didn't want to live anymore, so it completely quit eating and drinking.  Took it about a week to die but yeah, that was horrible, especially that last day, and that was just a ferret not a parent.