A respite patient at our facility is someone who is not close to dying yet. They are in hospice home health care and are usually cared for by family members and/or sitters. They come to this facility for a week to give their caregivers a break.
I wish I had known this was possible when I was a caregiver for dad, mom, and J.d. Medicare will pay for a week every 6 weeks or so. (I THINK THAT’S WHAT IT IS) I’ve never really asked, but it seems like I see them every month and a half or so.
Anyway, this particular facility is not really equipped to handle them. This facility is for the ones who are knocking on death’s door. There is 1 nurse and 1 cna on the graveyard shift for every 6 patients. If we have respite patients here, they get their medications just like they get at home. There are no comfort beds for them. They are still living and will for a bit longer. That being said, the ones who are dying get comfort beds to make their passing as easy as possible for them. I have noticed that it is when they finally stop hurting and are finally able to take a breath without pain. Soon after that, they will finally go. I think their pain makes them live longer. It is so sad. Some have their family with them, and some don’t. The families are able to sleep right in the rooms with them and come and go as they please while their loved one is here.
The problem is, with the ones who are dying, they can get meds every hour or 2 if needed to control their pain and make them comfortable, and that leaves little time for the respite patients who are just visiting the facility for a week. They have no family or friends to sit with them because they are trying to get some much needed rest. The respites are alone, and some are too far gone in their minds to know why they are suddenly all alone. Some yell for help, and the nurse or cna will go to them to make sure they are okay, but they can’t sit by the beds of people who just don’t want to be alone. This facility is not staffed for someone to just sit by their beds and hold their hands. I wish I could do that, but I’m not allowed to go into the rooms unless needed for something. I have to just sit at my table and listen to them as they yell for help or call their loved ones’ names.
There should be a place just for respite patients who just need their hands held for a little while. It is the saddest thing to hear them as they cry out and don’t understand why no one comes. Sometimes, I hate this job, but I feel this is where I’m supposed to be right now.
Pray for us.
worldinsidemyhead 