I don't know where to begin. For everyone who has rated Rainbow Hospice with 5 stars, I truly and sincerely envy your experience. Very sadly, ours has been a little different.
2 days ago my Dad, who has two types of terminal cancer coded on an operating room table after cardiologists found a blockage to his main artery in his heart. After CPR and extremely painful chest compressions (with broken ribs and possible broken sternum) he was "brought back" to us.
He was taken to ICU and we were told that due to his cancer diagnosis that he is not a candidate for heart surgery due to his advance head, neck, and Esophageal cancer. It was at this time that my family and I made the extemely hard decision (with the consent of my Dad) to stop all treatment and try to let him live out the rest of his days in peace and comfort. We were advised by hospital staff to contact Rainbow Hospice.
Our initial meeting was unbelievably comforting. We were told that due to my Dad's condition, that he absolutely qualified for In Hospital Hospice Care. That nurses would assess his condition daily and if there ever was a time he improved that he could be moved to a nursing facility or in home hospice and that Medicare covered all of our hospice needs.
It was explained at that time to the hospice nurse that in home hospice was NOT an option, as my mother is fighting her own stage 4 cancer would not be able to provide the care needed for him to live out the rest of his days in comfort. We were again assured that there were other options that would be covered by Medicare and we would not need to worry.
WONDERFUL! Paperwork signed, weight lifted that Dad could live his last days pain free and with dignity, right??? WRONG!!!!!!
2 days after signing paperwork, Rainbow staff has decided that Dad can no longer stay in the hospital. And with his broken ribs (possible sternum) advanced Esophageal and Head and Neck cancer, GI feeding tube, and 2 days after full cardiac arrest he is "strong and healthy" enough to be sent home with his wife who herself is in a stage 4 cancer diagnosis/fight for her life.
We, as a family, are now scrambling and in a literal fight for my Dad's remaining day to make sure he is pain free and can be treated and helped through his final journey like the a 73 year old Korean War veteran, husband of 48 years, father of two, grandfather of 3 deserves.
We let our guard down with you Rainbow, and we trusted you in our most vulnerable moments. In my 40 years of life, this is my biggest regret.
I know this post is long and if you read it until the end, please heed my warning. DO NOT subject your loved ones to this terrible institution.
Shame on you Rainbow Hospice. At our weakest you took the most advantage. read more