Hospice Organizations- Gaithersburg MD

[Anonymous]

My family member in advanced stages of Parkinson's Disease is really struggling to eat/swallow and has become malnourished. She has also become very depressed and is giving up, she says this is no life to live. It has been suggested that we request a hospice consult. Up until a few weeks ago she was participating in activities and at least pretending to eat, but the last week has been really difficult. It sounds like hospice might provide support for her as well as her caregivers. She is lonely, but pushes away most visitors except me, saying "they don't understand" or "everyone keeps pushing me to eat, if I could I would, but I can't".

Does anyone have suggestions for one hospice group over another? Any experiences good or bad with Montgomery Hospice, JSSA, or Hospice Caring?

[Anonymous]

I am sorry that you and your loved one are going through this.

I used JSSA with my dad. He only really lasted a week once I called hospice, so I don't have a lot of experience with them. But they were really great with communication on all levels.

[Anonymous]

There is also Holy Cross Hospice, through which I received grief counseling. My father received hospice care in another state and the care and support for him and my mother was wonderful. Hospice care made his last month bearable and he died peacefully at home.
I am sorry your mother is suffering. I believe any hospice care will be good for her and you.

[Anonymous]

My father was at Casey House for his last week (also Parkinsons).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My father was at Casey House for his last week (also Parkinsons).

And I am very sorry

[Anonymous]

My dad was serviced by Montgomery Hospice and we found them to be really, really helpful. My dad was at Casey House for the last two weeks and they were amazing.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, we have an appointment with Montgomery Hospice this week.

[Anonymous]

When my FIL was dying of cancer and stayed at our home for the last four months of his life, JSSA was an absolute lifeline. They were wonderful across the board.

I’m so sorry for what you and your family member are going through, OP.

[Anonymous]

I'm so sorry for what you're going through.

We've used hospice a few times, and one in Montgomery County was quite terrible.

This is also worth reading: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/12/05/how-hospice-became-a-for-profit-hustle

Keep a close eye on what the nurses do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm so sorry for what you're going through.

We've used hospice a few times, and one in Montgomery County was quite terrible.

This is also worth reading: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/12/05/how-hospice-became-a-for-profit-hustle

Keep a close eye on what the nurses do.

thank you for the article, I will read today. Can you provide more information about what made your experience horrible? Was it Montgomery Hospice, or a different agency in Montgomery County?

-OP

[Anonymous]

When my dad went through hospice (at a hospice facility) I was horrified at the process as I didn't completely understand it at the time. I felt like he was OD'd on morphine, which he was, but I didn't understand the science of dying. I also thought they starved/dehydrated him to death, which they did, but again I didn't know that was part of the process of death.

OTOH, my mom did hospice at my sister's house and as I saw her dying every weekend I began to better understand the process and felt better about the way dad died. Like your family member, mom stopped eating about 3 weeks before death.

I could give more details, but just want to prepare you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My father was at Casey House for his last week (also Parkinsons).

Casey House is the only one with their own facility. They are run by Montgomery hospice. Montgomery hospice and JSsa were the two recommended to us by the nursing home. It really depends on the team you get. We used Montgomery and appreciated the support.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When my dad went through hospice (at a hospice facility) I was horrified at the process as I didn't completely understand it at the time. I felt like he was OD'd on morphine, which he was, but I didn't understand the science of dying. I also thought they starved/dehydrated him to death, which they did, but again I didn't know that was part of the process of death.

OTOH, my mom did hospice at my sister's house and as I saw her dying every weekend I began to better understand the process and felt better about the way dad died. Like your family member, mom stopped eating about 3 weeks before death.

I could give more details, but just want to prepare you.

It is horrific.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When my dad went through hospice (at a hospice facility) I was horrified at the process as I didn't completely understand it at the time. I felt like he was OD'd on morphine, which he was, but I didn't understand the science of dying. I also thought they starved/dehydrated him to death, which they did, but again I didn't know that was part of the process of death.

OTOH, my mom did hospice at my sister's house and as I saw her dying every weekend I began to better understand the process and felt better about the way dad died. Like your family member, mom stopped eating about 3 weeks before death.

I could give more details, but just want to prepare you.

I posted above about Casey house and yes you do have to know what is going to happen. Patients can eat and drink if they can do so independently. Otherwise they are kept comfortable. It is something that is difficult to watch but also an act of kindness for a person at the end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm so sorry for what you're going through.

We've used hospice a few times, and one in Montgomery County was quite terrible.

This is also worth reading: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/12/05/how-hospice-became-a-for-profit-hustle

Keep a close eye on what the nurses do.

thank you for the article, I will read today. Can you provide more information about what made your experience horrible? Was it Montgomery Hospice, or a different agency in Montgomery County?

-OP

That article is about private hospices that are money grabs. Montgomery hospice came in and my MIL improved as they worked with the nursing home on meds, food, hygiene, visited a few times a week, etc and they had to pull out. They greatly improved her quality of life. As soon as they pulled out, she declined and died within a few weeks. They came back in the last two weeks no issue. Thankfully they took the time to prepare men on what happens during and after death before as it is part of their intake. They were very ethical. The end was horrific but that was not their fault. After watching it I hope to drop dead like my parent did as she suffered for years. I wish someone would have drugged her to make the death quicker but no one did.