Being Admitted to Hospice (What to Expect and Know)

When dealing with any medically related events or medical emergencies, please communicate with your primary health care provider.
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[@hayleymorris6294]

My dad and i were beyond greatful to be able to call out nurses in the middle of the night. During my mam's last day's she had a lot of breakthrough pain ( despite having a driver) nausea and terminal agitation which was so devastating to behold. They would come in and administer the relevant medication and also reassure us. The day she passed, the hospice nurses washed and changed her ( my dad and I could not face it at the time ) One of the nurses started crying and, in my opinion, it showed that my precious mam wasn't just another " patient " I sincerely thank God above for palliative care and hospice nurse's. Xxxxx

[@philbarone4603]

My dad is 99 and the VA put him in at home hospice but after six months they took him out because they said he was too healthy 😂😂😂😂 true story. He might make it to a 100, he keeps surprising us.

[@LaurieMarian]

Wow you’re lucky ❤

[@philbarone4603]

@@LaurieMarian and he is a great dad too so I’m doubly lucky

[@RABPWarrior]

I love that 😂😂😅 it’s great to be dropped from the hospice roster

[@BobSebring]

That's great!

[@battybethc8061]

You are lucky! I miss my Stepfather! 😢 He went to the Great Beyond in 1986 when he was my age 63. Hope your Father makes it to 110! 👍😊

[@debprice8869]

I used to do housekeeping and errands for Hospice patients and families, when I was raising my own children. ❤️When my DaD got sick, my sisters argued against Hospice, I am sure, due to a bit of misunderstanding. My brother and I knew it was right. I was too far away to travel to see him, but his brother, grandchildren and great granddaughter were close by. They visited him every day. I talked with my DaD on video chat💔One of the nurses made sure my DaD had his favorite music on, and got pain meds to minimize his symptoms. He died peacefully, surrounded by Love....

[@ConsciousConversations]

❤❤❤❤❤ so beautiful, honorable, respectful and loving .. there are few moments when a person needs their loved ones to let their life be about them and allow them to experience connection and with out perpetuating fear.

[@mikeywid4954]

I wish I had known about your channel 7 years ago when I lost my wife to pancreatic cancer. It would not have changed the outcome but perhaps I would have been better prepared. Thank you and God bless you for all you do.

[@shelleybrandon2825]

OY! There is a reason coming why I've been drawn to your channel. Bless your honesty, guts and care for the living and the dying. I'm forever grateful.

[@hospicenursejulie]

💕💕💕💕

[@jusmesuz]

I feel like I'm ready for Hospice but no one else seems to think it. I'm end stage copd and have spent the last 2 months in the hospital, in and out. I love you for bringing all this information to all. Please don't stop. ❤❤❤

[@Indianaparadise]

Don’t give up on someone finally taking you seriously. My mom who just passed yesterday had said for a year she had cancer but no one even would look because she had severe copd and was 80 yrs old . Fast forward to 5 days ago she goes to ER they FINALLY do a scan find lung cancer that had already spread and she literally was on hospice two hours before she passed ❤. She passed so peacefully I was holding her hand and didn’t realize she was gone ❤. We knew it would be soon after they took her of the bipap (I think it’s called? ) but we expected her to hang on days it was an hour

[@sonyakunkle]

Love and prayers for you. ❤🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@interestinginfo6765]

Im sorry. I had a friend’s dad die of COPD. In the late stages, like you, he found a compassionate hospice willing to take him in. They kept him comfortable for about 2 months while, like you the condition worsened, and then they slowly upped (as needed) his Ativan and morphine. In doing so he did not need to suffer the death he feared…not being able to take another breath and dying of suffocation. I pray you are well enough to advocate for yourself and like Julie says, get yourself, independent of doctor’s and family, fairly evaluated. We all deserve to die a compassionate and, as dignified as possible, painless death. My prayers are with you.

[@mariarib6504]

It's YOUR DECISION! Please don't hesitate any longer. We just called for my Mom. Mom said she didn't think she was ready yet but I needed the help. I was struggling to meet her needs. In one hour, all the problems I was struggling with were SOLVED. It's been one short week and we both feel like she is LIVING now - such as it is. PLEASE call.

[@vickywray7285]

My Father had AML after battling for 4 months he asked his hematologist how long he had, that was on a Friday and his doctor told him maybe a week. Hospice came that same day had a hospital bed brought in for him, ordered all the pain meds and answered all the questions. In the very early hours of the following Tuesday morning he passed and the hospice nurse came and pronounced him. It was a difficult time and they provided a very caring service to our family.

[@hospicenursejulie]

💕💕💕💕

[@normanjefferychester882]

Thank you Julie for the blessings that you give people, that do not know

[@jeffpawlinski3210]

Julie, once again, You are an American Treasure! -Jeff, Hospice Care Liaison (Milwaukee)

[@hospicenursejulie]

Thank you!

[@RABPWarrior]

Every time I hear the word Hospice, I cringe with fear but listening to you, is making it easier to hear

[@hospicenursejulie]

Happy to hear 🥰🥰🥰

[@kiwioffgrid2437]

I use to too.

[@stankatbarrell9878]

Your channel is such a blessing. There are people like me who tend to flock to youtube morticians (I'm a caitlin doughty girly 😅) for answers about death. However, I appreciate your appeal to those who aren't comfortable with a macabre environment and instead (understandably) need a calm, gentle, and caring person to guide them through their transition or just to satisfy curiosity for the future.

[@hospicenursejulie]

Thank you so much

[@marianblair1262]

Julie, you are so great! I can’t thank you enough for your friendly informative videos. ❤ I am 80 years old, and fortunately in good health right now, but I am planning with my family what I want to do when the time comes. Your videos have helped me with that so much! I hope, when I need one, that I have a Hospice nurse like you! Thank you!❤

[@DebiG1057]

I have the gene for ALS and if I develop it, I want Hospice right away.

[@kathidori8504]

May I ask, why did you check for this gene?

[@tonyharris3306]

It's my understanding that you have to have 6 mo. or less in order to be approved for hospice.

[@JW-jl8iq]

Just went through that with my mom

[@philbarone4603]

I’m very sorry.

[@maryknight4109]

I am sorry for your loss. Sending you love and light

[@KaldoniaKaldonia]

🥺💕

[@JW-jl8iq]

Thank you everyone. She is in a better place. Dementia sucks

[@livefire4433]

@Hospice Nurse Julie I cannot THANK YOU enough for your videos! I started watching your videos by chance right around the time my mother in law was on the down turn in her health. She passed on in October of 2021. Then in November of 2023 My Momma passed on. And today I find out that my Momma’s sister my favorite and much loved aunt has metastatic cancer throughout her chest abdominal region and bones. If not for your videos I would be totally lost. God Bless you for the work you do. I will forever be eternally grateful.❤

[@RABPWarrior]

Please do a short video on palliative care

[@hospicenursejulie]

I do have a video about palliative care. It should be labeled on my channel.

[@teamcougars]

When my grandpa was dying of leukemia hospice came to our home since he had moved in with us after my grandma died he was so comfortable being in his own home and his own bed with a cat and a dog in bed with him ❤ he passed away very peacefully 🙏🦋♥️ luckily 2 of his hospice nurses lived in my parents neighborhood so in the 2 times they had questions they walked to my parents house and they did whatever they needed and answered questions and concerns they had or needed clarification on 💖🦋🦋 they were such a Blessing to us 🙏🦋🦋

[@bevconklin5172]

I’m at the age where everyone died. My “roots”, died-all within years. I wish I would have known all this in 2020. I’ve definitely planned and vocalized for myself-there aren’t many here to know about what I want or who I am.

[@lizzijansen6527]

Thank you Julie. Thank you. Keep information coming. It’s in my future.

[@hospicenursejulie]

You are so welcome!

[@MamaT160]

Excellent information! Thank you so much for your channel. You are doing a wonderful service.

[@hospicenursejulie]

Thank you so much!

[@gatorfan98]

Thank you for this information. I don't think this was explained very well when my late mother went into hospice. After falling several times her ALF said she couldn't come back unless she was on hospice, so we had to sign her up to get her back "home" to her apartment. She fell and hit her head (she had HF and a very poor appetite, so she was weak) and had a brain bleed so we had her taken to the hospital. At the hospital, the hospice people came to see her and took her off hospice, and said she'd have to be put back on when she was discharged. We didn't understand that she wasn't supposed to be admitted any more. I mean we knew she was slowly going downhill, but my dad would get very upset if anyone said anything so we were all basically in denial for his sake.

[@PattyLankeCollins]

Keep on keeping on you help so much. My mil is on hospice -in home.

[@stevengrappy8664]

I wish I was in your area and had you available for my nurse, you are so thorough. I am new to Hospice care and been admitted on only a week ago. I'm going to see how this week goes and I think they either have to change my nurse or I am going to change to a different company, I am not comfortable with her.

[@pammerryweather7914]

Bless you for this video. Perhaps you could do something for those of us with no close family, no family home, and doing this "on my own". DNR is signed, kids are all advised; body is (supposed to be) going to a research place in Oregon. So, I'm by myself -- can I do it this way? If not, now what? I am not likely to die of illness anytime soon, but I want to be ready when it gets to that point. Again, great video and thank you.

[@sarahk802]

I really admire you and am thinking about working in hospice care as a social worker/therapist. I just don’t know if I’m strong enough to stay grounded myself while working with so much grief every day. But it’s such important work, especially for patients who are alone and without family.

[@irmapena9319]

Gracias nurse Julie

[@margaretnorris5840]

My husband was admitted to hospice immediately. His primary care physician denied it. We asked to have someone else admit him. He died 5 days after admission. Hospice was the best thing for me…resources were available thru them that all his other hospital doctors did not offer.

[@battybethc8061]

Thankyou Nurse Julie. I have the big CA and when the time coming l would want you to be my Nurse, but l living so far away in Lawtowne Massachusetts! Lol! 😂 I thank you for your explaining what hospice be like and what to expect! Thankyou once again! 👍❤️😊 Have a blessed day! 🙏👍

[@matthewsmith1547]

Love your work, you are doing a great service.

[@BobSebring]

Yeah, I remember the it's either this or that. Although my mom was on Hospice care, there was a time when it was an emergency and the Hospice nurse was too far away from the house in which I believe at the moment that time was of the essence. My mom had complained about her heart, and I instantly thought it could be a heart attack. She had one a few months prior while she was in the hospital. I had given her some morphine from the Hospice kit they gave me, but not being a doctor I was concerned. So I said to myself, to hell with this either this or that, and called for an ambulance. By the time the ambulance had come and go the Hospice nurse had showed up. I had told the nurse her vitals and she suggested to give her more morphine in addition to the recommended dose that I had given her. After that, she had left because nothing else could be done. I was also told to call Hospice when she had died, which is what happened. My mom had died a little later and I called Hospice again. She came back to confirm the death and to "clean her up" before the coroner came. She needn't have worried since I made sure my mom was always clean. While the coroner was on his way, she showed me some of the signs that indicates death from the body, like discoloration of the feet. Eventually the coroner came and had wrapped my mom up in a sheet, placing her in back of the wagon and taking off. But I'll never forget that moment of thinking that if I was to call for an ambulance my mom would lose her Hospice benefits, at least that was my understanding at the time. But I didn't care, I thought my mom possibly could be suffering from a heart attack and I figured an ambulance would get here quicker, and I was right.

[@JobyJoby-iw2wr]

My recent entry into Home Hospice has been a god send for me and my family. Should have entered Home Hospice a year ago when my medical care derailed and was turned into an ATM machine to pay for useless procedures where the outcome was already known. Sadly, I felt like I was being badly used for others' entertainment. For the first time in a very long time, I am improving - rallying. I have no idea how long I have left but now I'm living one day at a time.

[@lynneperras1727]

Thank you, Julie. ❤️

[@joycejudd5109]

please define/explain hospice music therapy. That honestly intrigues me quite a bit. I've never heard anyone mention it but you.

[@BobSebring]

With my mom Hospice had a program where a musician will come to visit your loved one and play for them. My mom and I had considered having a harpist come and play for us, but we didn't follow though with it.

[@hospicenursejulie]

I don't have much to say about it if I'm honest. I just know the basics. I would Google it.

[@amygalvin1799]

I’m not sure officially, but when my Dad was in his last day I played his favorite music via headsets and even though he was unresponsive his eyes lit up immediately after the music hit his brain. Even the hospice nurses noticed this joy.

[@amygalvin1799]

You can still go into the hospital hospice unit.

[@RABPWarrior]

Note to self: stop looking at Julies missing nail polish finger! Focus woman!!

[@hospicenursejulie]

🤣🤣🤣

[@user-go3bg3kn8v]

I jad the great pleasure to move in with my 99 year young aunt Dottie and help her from the bed to a wheel chair to a walker and a cane. By the time she was 100 I took her to the beach and she laughed and said she hadn't felt sand between her toes in 85 years! On Christmas Eve she was 101 in 2017 and she had her neighbors over and we were drinking champagne and telling dirty jokes and My beloved Dottie laughed so hard she dropped jer glass and she was gone ! I am sorry to those individuals and families that have to suffer a gruesome death....

[@albertouribe435]

Thanks

[@jenniferrenninger8675]

I've always heard about good experiences with hospice. However, when my dad passed a year ago, I was extremely disappointed with them. He got home around 4pm. Around 3am the next morning he fell and my mom called me and my husband to help. Beginning around 8am he became extremely combative. He was this way all day, and my mom and I had trouble keeping him in bed. I frantically called the hospice contact. She said she lived several hours away, and our only option was basically deal with him or call the ambulance if we couldn't handle him. We ended up having him admitted back into the hospital where we sat with him for a day and a half until he passed.

[@wendywright5486]

My husband is in pain mgt hospice & I can see his evil twin re-emergence little by little he wants home hospice too be honest I'm seeing the writing on the wall & I feel Very mixed about going through dealing with the personality disorder again, especially at this, the pain level is beyond. What palliative was able to take care of without putting him in there from a surgical mistake Three years ago so frustrating

[@battybethc8061]

Thanks!

[@hospicenursejulie]

thank you!

[@madsenyt]

There are times when you refer to other videos, but you don't have links to those resources in your notes. It would really help me to be able to see other things that you talk about after I watch your video. Would it be possible for you to add links to your notes? My son told me about your channel. It is valuable and I've learned a lot. Thank you!

[@bevconklin5172]

I’m not religious, but most chaplains have “intention”, that’s not about money….but about ppl. Chaplains are cool, I’d rather hangout with them, than a businessman. Chaplains listen.

[@TheNester.]

PLEASE STOP THE SPAM OF MONEY MAKING POSTS!!! 😡 THIS IS A CHANNEL FOR END OF LIFE CARE, NOT A SPAM THREAD THAT SWINDLES MONEY OUT OF THE PEOPLE LOOKING FOR ADVICE ON CARING FOR A LOVED ONE!!!

[@tricialangley7298]

How do we know which Hospice company to chose? Are there several Hospice companies to select? Will the doctor or hospital recommend a Hospice company? Can the family change hospice company ? Thank you for the information. I want to know what will happen before it actually happens.

[@A_Bvgzi]

Can people get on hospice when they just don't care to care for themselves anymore? I have a mental illness that'll slowly progress to the point I begin to lose cognitive function and begin to stop understanding I need to care for myself before it slowly kills me...

[@hospicenursejulie]

No, you have to have a terminal illness with less than six months to live

[@A_Bvgzi]

@@hospicenursejulie Ok understood. Any idea what sort of facilities may be in my future? I'm dreading it

[@jimkoney4200]

I spoke to a Hospice company who approved my mother for Hospice. But they wouldn't allow her to receive her Redacrit shots twice a month. The shots seem to help her hemoglobin level remain stable. I told Hospice that as long as she remains stable I'm not going to place her on hospice.

[@karken7729]

Can someone continue to take seizure

[@hospicenursejulie]

Yes, definitely

[@quinn2014]

I have a severe type of myopathy that is causing me multi organ failure. Im probably going to end up on hospice in the next week or so. Im very nervous and dont know what to expect

[@sheldonrobertson8670]

Julie. Thanks for your channel I have a brother who has been on Methadone for addiction issues, my guestion is if he had to go on Hospice care is there any pain meds that would help considering.

[@margodphd]

Usually the course of action is either to give additional short acting opioids for breakthrough pain (immediate release morphine, fentanyl nasal spray, etc.) taking high tolerance into consideration or switching the patient to a shorter acting opioid using dose equivalence chart (transferring the dose into equivalent of morphine, hydromorphone, oxycodone or fentanyl patch) since methadone metabolism at the end of life can become less reliable, and the tolerance to the pain relief effect of methadone in long time use has been proven to increase faster than tolerance to respiratory and CNS depression and constipation. Addiction stops being a factor one has to consider in end of life treatment, only the patient's comfort and there's added benefit to most hospice doctors being well versed in caring for patients who have significant opioid tolerance.

[@sheldonrobertson8670]

@@margodphd thanks so much for your informative response, I was embarrassed to admit that it's me.

[@sheldonrobertson8670]

You sound like you really know your stuff thanks again for helping me understand the process 🙏

[@margodphd]

@@sheldonrobertson8670 I am "fortunate" enough to be aware of both patient and doctor perspectives. There is no shame in seeking treatment, opioid maintenance is the most effective long -term treatment and it's a shame there's still plenty misconceptions. Doctors working in palliative care and pain specialists are well aware of all issues that can arise from high dose opiate use (such as hyperalgesia) and are equipped to deal with any if they arise :) You need not to worry, fortunately people that deal with end of life care are one of the best, most caring and least judgemental professionals I've encountered.

[@elsie412ok]

Nurse Julie, I don’t know if you’ll see this, or if you’ve covered this before, but what do you think about medical aid in dying? There’s a few states in the US where it is allowed.

[@Three721]

How do you handle it when the family doesn’t want you to use the word hospice. Especially when the patient asks you. 😢

[@LilByrdFly2]

Yeah right they always came running when I called. Not!!!!!

[@jamesortiz5388]

My roommate is getting morphine it's obvious he is suffering greatly just looking at him. Yeah he'll die peacefully at the moment of his death.

[@sonyakunkle]

He probably isn’t aware of it. I’m sorry for you and your roommate. ❤

[@tonybennett638]

Nurse 👍

[@mynosycat]

Would like to know about end of life with leukemia

[@carolemantha8958]

Hi nurse Julie, my name is Carole and I would like to know what are the symtems of stomach cancer?

[@christopherparker3409]

What's medicare as I don't know what it ìs as I live in the UK

[@kiwioffgrid2437]

Myeloma is arguably a terminal illness with deteriorating health but no approx date of death? How do they fear when applying for hospice?

[@kiwioffgrid2437]

For those with myeloma who choose too can have chemotherapy and stem cell replacement therapy while in hospice care? Or are these treatments often done earlier on....before the bone cancer progresses to far?

[@gracejones2831]

how do you tell your loved one it is time for hospice? I care for my sister and when that time comes I just don't know.

[@kareldebures7006]

Thank you Julie, this is so helpful for what to expect!

[@hospicenursejulie]

Glad it was helpful!

[@zeldamoore8371]

The hospice experience all depends on the nurse that comes regularly. If they fail to do all parts of their job, it is not a good experience.

[@TheBlazeFangirl]

My mom was forced to go off hospice to do palliative radiation. 😕

[@nellyberchman6612]

What about dialysis patients on hospice do they still get that TX in hospice?

[@KaldoniaKaldonia]

How much “time” for someone with jaundice (patient has metastatic rectal cancer (in liver). ?

[@bluesky5587]

Questions like that are not appropriate here….chatgpt would know for sure if u really need to know

[@hospicenursejulie]

You could have jaundice for quite some time. You have to be looking at other things as well, I would talk to that person's doctor.

[@ScorchingSands-lv1cw]

Can my husband continue on Dialysis and get on hospice? He has cracked tailbone + needs stronger meds to sit in recliner at Dialysis for 4 hrs

[@ApostateMike]

Hi Julie. I am a dialysis patient. I've had ESRD for almost 30 years. I had one transplant in 97 that was from my father, I have been back on dialysis since 08 and have been thinking of going on hospice. My doctor and social worker just tell me I'm depressed, but with no family and no support system i am unable to get a transplant. I'm only 41 but i really dont want to do this anymore. Any advice?

[@karken7729]

Seizure meds while on Hospice.

[@lynnewolters8411]

Julie, what determines hospice at home or hospice care delivered at a hospice facility?

[@kavanobrien6547]

Is there a reason why you won’t answer my questions?

[@johntrevett2944]

Jesus is King!

[@1NHFNP]

Please say “PROVIDER ” not “Doctor” many Nurse Practitioners like myself work as Hospice providers:-)

[@tonybennett638]

Nurse 👍