Would You Like To Choose Where You Die?

Issue 25.15

For years I have told my wife, I want to die at home in my bed asleep; is this really a choice I can make?  People die in the hospital right?

Yes, the reality is that most deaths of Americans happen in a hospital 63%, and about another 17% of people die in an institutional setting like a Skilled Nursing Center, that leaves about 20% of people who actually die in their home.  This is in stark contrast with where most people, like me, say they would prefer to die; which is in their homes 89%.  The people choosing to die at home are growing much, much faster than those choosing to die in a hospital or facility.

Why is this?

New technologies and services for pain medication, transferring, incontinence care, in-home medical, non-medical care, and hospice are now widely available at home.  Having these devices and services available, makes the choice to die at home no more difficult than the choice to die in a facility.

Mary (Not her real name) the wife of one of our clients we had been providing in-home care for a couple of years let us know that the doctor had told her that her husband Fred, (Not his real name) had less than a week to live.  Mary told us that Fred had expressed a very strong desire to die in their home and not in a hospital.  We put together a plan for Mary to make Fred’s dream come true, this plan included 24/hr care, daily nursing care, a hospital bed, commode, catheter, IV pain medication etc, this was all handled by Kind Hearts and in-home hospice.  Fred was able be comfortable and to pass on in his own home, Mary was able to with Fred and to be awake and alert at the moment of his passing on.

It’s a new day; and like the old days you can often, choose to die in your home; but now you can have help and medication, and tools to make it easier and more comfortable.

Questions Call: Roland Whatcott Kind Hearts Senior Care 435-275-1656.