Initially, I believed this hospice company would be a good fit, as it came highly recommended by a close relative. However, that impression quickly changed once we arrived home with my mother. Communication from the nurses, aides, and company as a whole was inconsistent. We were told oxygen would be provided shortly, yet it did not arrive until two days later, and only after we had to follow up. A regular schedule for visits was never established, and although they sent help when we called, we had to make the call each time.
I found myself constantly reaching out with questions. While the RN assigned to us was wonderful, she was only available one day each week. During the less than two-week span we worked with this hospice, the LVN who visited appeared unprepared and uninformed. I had to show her how to drain my mother's ventilating drainage bag, along with other essential tasks.
My mother was supposed to receive anti-anxiety medication on her first day in hospice care, but despite repeated requests and ultimately the threat of changing providers, the medication wasn't delivered until five days later.
When my mother began showing signs of the active phase of dying, I had to call to ask what the plan was for support. The responses I received were vague and unhelpful. I asked if someone could assess her or if we were simply supposed to call once she passed, as well as how arrangements with the funeral home should be handled. Brittany, a representative, responded, "Oh, no one got the funeral information from you? That should have happened on day one." The entire experience felt unstructured and chaotic.
The only positive aspect of this experience was the RN who came when my mother was within eight hours of passing. He was compassionate and attentive through the night, staying with us until she passed. However, after he left, we waited alone for the funeral home to arrive. Now, ten days after her passing, the hospice company has yet to reach out with any words of condolence--no email, phone call, or text.
As an RN with over 30 years in healthcare, I would never treat a family going through hospice in this way. I strongly encourage families to conduct thorough research before choosing a hospice provider to ensure their loved ones receive the compassionate and structured care they deserve. read more
