1 /5 Pamela Sarra: As others her have stated. I would give zero if I could. The home hospice care for my mother at 98 contracted aspiration pneumonia and would not recover according to her long time house call physician. Calvary was recommended to me by a sister of a clergy I knew that was also an attorney. I think she was more familiar with the inpatient care so I so not blame her. Initial nurse was great, then she was transferred somewhere else. Then the visits were to be 2 times a week, but the assigned nurse rarely showed up, due to too many excuses to mention. A substitute would be sent, so there was zero continuity of status, of care. Oxygen was supplied, but the other meds in the " box" was vague. The first 4 weeks were minimal care, at best. Her final week, which we never knew was her final week or that she was coming to the end was not predicted. I know end of life is not san exact science. However, on the last day of her life, 7 weeks in, I was called by the nurse that was the one she saw the most, that she would be dying in a few hrs, that she was in a coma.
I said I would be right over and ill see you shortly. She told me she had to leave, leave
when she was dying, on the day we needed a nurse there to make her comfortable and the transition Peaceful. No, she had other people to see. She did not show my mothers aide
the last hours meds, and left. What was truly astonishing was, all the days my mothers assigned nurse did not come, I was told because another patient was dying and she had to stay with them..
When I got there, within an hour of the call, my moms entire body was jerking uncontrollably.
She was unconscious, gasping for air, it was the worst thing I have ever seen in my life and I am in healthcare. IF A GOT A VET SHE WOULD HAVE GONE EASIER, LIKE MY MANY DOGS.
This home service is the worst. I will never forgive myself or forget that day, which also was my
birthday, so Ill remember it with extra heartbreak forever. This is a business, nothing more..
They have too many clients, not enough good nurses and leave families to administer their
job at the most critical time. DO NOT USE THIS HOSPICE IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR LOVED ONE HAVING A PEACEFUL PAIN FREE DIGNIFIED TRANSITION. Ill never forgive myself.
