When we received the difficult news that it was time for my mom to receive hospice care,…read moreCompassionate Care Hospice was suggested. JC and Gabriella came to El Camino Hospital in Mountain View and met with me and my sister to help us understand what it would look like. Once they'd answered our questions, they went to my mom's hospital bedside and explained things to her. They were patient and caring from the moment we met them.
Once my mom was discharged from the hospital and returned to her assisted living apartment in San Jose, CCH had made the arrangements for the equipment we'd need to be delivered (hospital bed, oxygen, commode, shower chair, wheelchair, etc.) so everything was ready and waiting when the medical transport arrived with my mom. The team helped us get my mom settled in, and they coordinated with the assisted living staff to ensure everyone was on the same page. CCH made everything as straightforward and easy for us as possible.
JC is an RN and my mom's case manager, and he made sure we knew he was always available to us. He responded to my many questions at all hours of the day and night, managing medications and mom's overall comfort, and JC or Carlos (also an RN) would even come see my mom late at night to administer additional pain meds, coordinate with assisted living care team, etc. They were both awesome and my mom felt cared for and supported.
April saw my mom most weekday mornings, bathed her, dressed her, answered questions, and basically made sure my mom was comfortable. April would sometimes bring Emilie with her for nursing care. They were both so warm and caring, mom really looked forward to their regular visits and quickly grew very fond of April.
Remya is the CCH social worker. She visited my mom the day after my mom got home, then she asked to speak with me separately. I thought I was handling the situation fine, but as Remya asked me gentle questions about how I was doing, I found myself pouring out my heart to her, unburdening myself of stress I hadn't even realized I was carrying. Remya checked in with me regularly, sometimes in person, sometimes over the phone, sometimes via text. She referred to me as mom's 'primary caregiver' and as such, she always wanted to make sure I was managing okay, and she had very helpful insight. I appreciated that she was always available to me, and I reached out to her when needed. It was like having my own personal therapist and she helped me process my mom's impending death and passing, then continued to check on me for a while after my mom passed.
JC and Gabriella were with us when my mom passed. They stood quietly out of the way and did not intrude during this very private and personal time with my mom, but they were right there when we had questions, quietly monitoring my mom's breaths. After her final breath, they contacted the mortuary, prepped mom for pickup, and tended to some other details for us, allowing us to focus on our family and our grief.
JC, Carlos, Remya, April, Gabriella, Emilie. These are the best of the best. They cared for my mom and my family in a professional, yet personal and caring way. She was so much more than just a patient to them. I will be forever grateful for the kindness and compassion they showed my mom and my family.