It’s unfortunate that there are many people typically in their elder years that have no one to take care of them when they become terminally ill.
When someone is unable to make choices for themselves especially when they have six months or less to live, someone has to step in and make those final decisions for them. From signing a do not resuscitate order, making arrangements and as to what funeral home to go to, theses decisions need to be made immediately to insure proper protocols.
It happens all too often, when someone is all alone and the inevitable occurs, social service teams and community members are the ones who make the end of life decisions.
Hospice strives to every extent to fulfill the social, medical and emotional needs of all their patients. Once a patient signs on to Hospice they consent to all care to be taken over by the Hospice Interdisciplinary team, which consists of the Attending Physician, the Medical Director who oversees the medical care when the Attending Physician cant. A Nurse, Home Health Aide, Social Worker, Spiritual Care Worker, Bereavement Counselor and a Volunteer Coordinator.
Special care is needed when the patient has no family or friends to care for them. The team members locate services that can even help with medical bills and housing if the patient needs assistance of any kind.
Usually a hospice social worker will take over as a durable power of attorney and therefore at that time will be able to make decsions for the patient when the end draws near.
Its unfortunate but many of the patients who have no family or friends also do not have any money to pay for a decent burial. Many of these people end up donating their bodies to science at the state university. Sadly they have no one and usually no money. They have lived alone and sick So far they have to deal with their illness alone but that doesn’t mean they have to die alone.
The Hospice care team is there to make sure the patient is comfortable before and during the dying process.
This can be a very scary time to face especially alone. Just being there holding the patient’s hand or sharing comforting words during this difficult passing makes the patient feel at ease and makes the transition into death a bearable and peaceful one.
It’s unfortunate that anyone should die alone but the hospice team is trained to handle every caseload and they have the ability to pull resources together to make sure the patient dies with respect and dignity.
Many times the hospice team will attend the memorial service of the patient and even play a part in picking out the casket, buying flowers and making the final arrangements.
There are many organizations such as the United Way and non profit community funding programs that have monies available for funeral costs, burial, cremation and transportation of the body to donation institutions.
Hospice does more than just take care of the legal issues surrounding the dying patient, they provide care and support so the patient doesn’t die alone.
