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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I’ve spent the last near decade doing mostly hospice care of patients of all ages, but mostly elders.

I’ll let you in on a little secret; even those surrounded by loved ones in the end died alone. It’s not like on TV or in movies folks. The dying process is a solitary act. We all die alone.[/quote]

This. I think people read an obituary that the person died "surrounded by loved ones" and assume the people were on vigil 27-7 until the person passed. They had loved ones visiting and often didn't want to traumatize their loved ones and died alone. Or they died with loved ones around and some of those people needed therapy afterwards, not just from the years of being there for the loved one, but from actually witnessing the death. I pray when my time comes I can say goodbye, but die peacefully in my sleep and not cause any trauma. Of course I also want the choice to die on my terms if I develop cancer or start sinking into dementia/Alzheimers. I refuse to become an angry, hostile, mean-spirited tyrant like one of my parents-refuse. Even if it means traveling somewhere else to end life and protect others.[/quote]

My elderly mom fairly recently died in my presence and it was absolutely traumatizing. I’m still in therapy.

True she didn’t die alone but I wish she would have. She did have an aide who following protocol (and because NO ONE COULD FIND HER DNR ORDER) called the rescue squad and then following along other protocol the sheriff had to be present to “call” her time of death or maybe certify her as deceased. It was quite a scene. [/quote]

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