When the time comes to make a decision for support for a dying loved one, Hospice is the compassionate choice. At least, that's my opinion, after going through this process a few times over the years. That said, not all Hospice providers are equal, and some are more available or less supportive, depending on the facility and your unique situation.
I had the support of Odyssey Hospice for a year and a half for a dying relative, which is probably longer than most people use Hospice for a particular instance. My relative was at his home, then at two different facilities during that time, and they weren't facilities where Odyssey normally visits. They were undaunted by this, and made weekly visits anyway. They were able to work with my relative's current doc, who happened to be a visiting geriatric physician and already had a relationship with Hospice in general. So we went ahead with them.
The chaplain, Richard, was the bright spot of the entire experience and went above and beyond his role in providing support. I think I stayed with this Odyssey (aptly named) because of him. I'd give him 5 stars.
Unfortunately, we were assigned a nurse that we didn't like and were stuck with for the entire time, and they are the one who directs care and support for the patient. She ended up putting a lot of their job on me, making me run around town picking up medical items and medications during my work day, calling me at incessantly at work, and laying on the guilt nice and thick. I dreaded the sound of her voice. I'd give her one star because you're not allowed to give zero.
There was some turnover in the social worker department during that time, and while each MSW was decent, it was hard to start over. As far as I can tell, their job consisted of providing lists of facilities and services and listening to me rant while I became increasingly more frustrated. Unfortunately, I still had to do everything myself while I was trying to work and be a mom. Two stars.
One thing I'd advise if you're in the situation to need Hospice support is to ask your doc or facility manager which one they'd recommend, and make sure they can support you in your particular situation. Another piece of advice: don't be afraid to switch to another Hospice provider when it turns out they can't. As I've found out later, it's a fairly simple process. read more