Oceanna

Read that report; it was excellent. And, for me, the timing was perfect. As a stage IV NSCLC, I was taken by total surprise recently while having 3 tumors at back in abdomen radiated: severe unbearable searing stabbing debilitating bone pain (turned out there was more cancer at L-4 that no one knew about). I digress. My younger sister came to the rescue (I'd been driving myself but suddenly could not move). While doing her research, I noticed something interesting. VNS (visiting nurses), my primary care doc, and a few others were pushing my sister to use hospice (rather than some other in-home care groups, private or non-profit), saying it's not for the dying anymore. 
I was shocked. It was like they were parroting a new ad campaign. "They've bought into it," I told her later, noting the NYorker cover story that I'd asked her to read. Still having not read the report, my sis asked my current med onc re: using hospice. My onc nurse looked at me, then back to her, horrified, and told my sister that, as it has been for many years, hospice is for those who are dying. 
Or is it?
It is so disappointing to see these sorts of things happen. It nhappens everywhere and, I suppose, I am not surprised, but as someone above mentioned, I have looked forward to that organization help me transition into the next stage of life. I pray they will still be there, as I remember them. I used hospice for one week for the end of my Dad's life at home (he was 94; dementia)  and they were caring, reliable, and everything I expected. But I see things are changing -- and changing fast. I think we're OK so far out where I am away from the cities, but I do feel we have an obligation to put this info out there, as the NYorker and you, now, have done.
Thanks fo sharing, Trish in CT
 
 

Read that report; it was excellent. And, for me, the timing was perfect. As a stage IV NSCLC, I was taken by total surprise recently while having 3 tumors at back in abdomen radiated: severe unbearable searing stabbing debilitating bone pain (turned out there was more cancer at L-4 that no one knew about). I digress. My younger sister came to the rescue (I'd been driving myself but suddenly could not move). While doing her research, I noticed something interesting. VNS (visiting nurses), my primary care doc, and a few others were pushing my sister to use hospice (rather than some other in-home care groups, private or non-profit), saying it's not for the dying anymore. 
I was shocked. It was like they were parroting a new ad campaign. "They've bought into it," I told her later, noting the NYorker cover story that I'd asked her to read. Still having not read the report, my sis asked my current med onc re: using hospice. My onc nurse looked at me, then back to her, horrified, and told my sister that, as it has been for many years, hospice is for those who are dying. 
Or is it?
It is so disappointing to see these sorts of things happen. It nhappens everywhere and, I suppose, I am not surprised, but as someone above mentioned, I have looked forward to that organization help me transition into the next stage of life. I pray they will still be there, as I remember them. I used hospice for one week for the end of my Dad's life at home (he was 94; dementia)  and they were caring, reliable, and everything I expected. But I see things are changing -- and changing fast. I think we're OK so far out where I am away from the cities, but I do feel we have an obligation to put this info out there, as the NYorker and you, now, have done.
Thanks fo sharing, Trish in CT