Dying and Heaven

When some of my residents die it is totally different then others, being in the fact that they are of the religious order. They are declared as professional religious, meaning that they are nuns or priests. They look and perceive death very differently then those of us who are lay persons. They see death as a reward as they look forward to Heaven and all that it holds for them. I can say that I have seen many beautiful souls go to Heaven in the last year, with one dear soul that just departed from us very recently. She will be greatly rewarded for all her work here on Earth.

The nuns and priest do not fear death, rather they often embrace it. They see it as a reward for all that they have done here to serve their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. They look forward to going home to see Jesus and receive from Him their true and ultimate reward as it states in Matthew 5: 12 (NIV)  "Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven."  The nuns and priest have this reward to look forward because of what they have done to forward the gospel, and the life that they have chose to live for Him as it states in Mark 8:34 "Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." They have given their entire lives to following Jesus. They have put away all other gods, and only serve the one true God as they are directed to in 1 Sam. 24:14 (NIV) "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD."

In Philippians 1:21 (NIV) "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." They know they will be rewarded for their works here on Earth.   They understand that by living for Christ here on Earth that she will now reside with Jesus in Heaven and that is a gain. She is now with her true Savior. Thus death for them is not bad, or a sad time rather it is a a good thing if you are in Christ Jesus. It is exciting to know that all our hard work here on Earth will be rewarded when we get to Heaven, since we are there for an eternity Matthew 5:12 (NIV) "Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." They are excited to go to heaven because of what it states in Luke 6:23 (NIV) "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven."

They understand that God will be faithful to them since they have walked in His ways and have followed his narrow path for their lives. As it states in Psalms 108:4 (NIV)" For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies." They are graceful for His continued faithfulness to them and they continue to walk and believe in God no matter what happens to them as they travel that path. They know that God will always come through on the promises that were made to them. Psalms 145:13 (NIV) states "Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made." They long to hear the words of the Father when He states "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" Matthew 25:21 (NIV).

 The nuns and priest  are able to understand that they will be taken care of by the Father in this life, that their needs will be met. As Philippians 4:19 (NIV) states "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."  They do not fret over daily things because they are able to trust in the Lord completely. They know that God will take care of them and their needs without a shadow of a doubt.  Psalms 33:21 says "In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name." then in Psalms 62:8 (NIV) it states "Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah" Therefore if pour our hearts out to God and put our trust and fatih in Him, He will respond to us.  God is there for us, it is stated that "I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." in Psalms 91:2 (NIV).

By their faith, and knowledge of who God is and their constant companionship with the Father, they do not fear what is to come but rather embrace it and look forward to meeting the one that they have devoted their lives to following. We too are entitle to all of this and more by following Jesus and walking with him daily. We do not have to fear death, we can have the same confidence that they have in their soul, by following the Lord daily. By walking with him and  having fellowship with him in prayer, singing and meeting with other Christians on a regular bases.

Hospice care

One of my jobs at the nursing home is to take care of the hospice patients, along with my long term residents. The only real difference is that there is a help a phone call away when a patient is hospice. If you have a question all you do is call and they will walk you thorough the problem or situation and give you any needed guidance, or they are there to bounce off what you are thinking, in the middle of a problem that involves a hospice patient. I love working with the hospice staff when they are in the facility. They are a true blessing. 

We often will have assistance from hospice when the patient is getting closer to death. It can involve anything form 24 hour nursing care that hospice will prov ide for the resident to a volunteer sitting with the patient around the clock to give the family members a break, and be ensured that their loved one will not be left alone. It should be stated that once a patient becomes hospice the level of their care does not change by the nursing home staff. They are still care for as they were prior to them becoming hospice. Once they are hospice it does not change the fact that the patient is dying, but hospice does not prolong the process or hurry the dying process. It is an individual expericene that varies according to each person. They all progress through the same stages, but some go quicker or slower then others. The hospice patient can also last longer then what one may think. We have had several patients that were hospice, actually start to thrive and do well, thus they are taken off hospice since they are expected to live longer then the 6 months that was predicted when they were admitted to hospice.


As a nurse with hospice patients we deal with death and the administration of pain medication and other liquid meds that are ordered by the hospice MD. The purpose of these medications is to keep the patient comfortable as they progress closer and closer to death. We use the liquid meds when the patients progress to the point where they are not able to swallow pills or become unresponsive to verbal and tactile stimuli. At this point they are able to swallow the liquids and are able to get some relief from the pain and anxiety that they are experiencing as they progress in the dying process.

Part of our job at this point is to administer the medications every hour to every 2 hours around the clock to  control the pain of the dying patient as they progress closer and closer to death. Hospice is very good about controlling the pain in their patients. They meet with the patient often to ensure that they are not experiencing any pain and if they are they will adjust the medications accordingly. 


We are there to support the family as their loved one makes the journey to the other side or towards heaven. We assist in calling the minister to have them anointed, along with giving them emotional support at this time. We are there in the nursing home and are communicating with them what is happening to their loved one as they get closer and closer to death. 

After the death of the patient / resident hospice will continue to follow the family and provide counseling, and continued support for the family up to a year after the death. They will continue to help the family deal with the loss of their loves one. 

http://www.hospicenet.org/index.html


 

Twas the Night before Chemo

Twas the night before chemo

(Stolen from a friend and no I am not about to have chemo anytime soon.)

T'was the night before chemo, when all through the room
Not a patient was stirring, from Ativan I presume
The chemo bags were hung on IV poles with care
In hopes that a cure soon would be there
The patients were nestled all snug in their lounge chairs
Sipping Ensure and hugging Relay teddy bears
And the nurse in her scrubs and I in my wig
Had just settled down for another chemo gig
When out in the parking lot there arose such a clatter
I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the blinds and threw up on the glass
Soothing my nausea with the fresh cool breeze
The wind took my wig and it flew with such ease
When what to my wondering eyes did I see?
Eight tiny nurses giggling with glee
Leading the pack was an oncologist so sweet
With a mission of cancer that they would beat
To help with side effects from chemo we blame
Was his arsenal of drugs that he shouted by name
"Now Xanax!, now Ativan!, now Zofran! and Compazine!
Let's offer comfort with bonbons and magazines
On Vicodin!, on Darvocet!, on Tylenol! And morphine!
Let's make them loopy and make a big scene!"
To the top of Mt. Courage, to the top of Mt. Hope
Now dash away, dash away so we can help cope
With tumors and lesions and lumps it is clear
We must make their cancer finally disappear!
So up to the clinic-top, they flew and flew
With a sleigh full of drugs and the doctor too
Then with a jingling I heard from their purse
Was the prancing and pawing of each little nurse
As I drew in my head and was turning around
In through the vent the doctor came with a bound
His eyes how they twinkled - his dimples so merry
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry
He was dressed all in white with an ugly plaid tie
He preached to the patients, "Do not ask why"
Have courage, choose hope and just think positive
Live, love and laugh and your life will be lucrative
Never forget that you are heroes in my book
Conquering cancer without a second look
With a wink of his eye and a twist of his head
He soon let me know I had nothing to dread
A bundle of drugs he had flung on his back
He looked like a drug dealer opening his pack
He spoke not a word but went straight to work
Making me feel sick, so I called him a jerk
A human pin cushion, I had become
So multiple pokes, again I succumb
But then I remembered, my life he was saving
So I realized I better start really behaving
"What comes around goes around" I always say
And a bad attitude might haunt me one day
I thanked him for fighting with me side by side
With two against one, cancer cannot hide
Then laying his finger aside of his nose
And giving a nod, up the vent he rose
He sprang to his sleigh, gave the nurses a sign
To travel the world fighting cancer like mine
The sleigh was our hope and he was the driver
Bringing strength and good cheer to every survivor
I heard him exclaim as he flew out of sight
Happy Holidays to all and to all a good night!
~Heather Warrick

Christmas in the Nursing home...

It's that time of the year again, trees, family, food, presents, cookies, Santa, the birth of our Lord and Savior. It's a wonderful time that we all look forward to each year. It is a true blessing to celebrate with the ones that we love, going out to pick out a perfect or not so perfect gift for those we love and care about. A time to treasure family and friends. It is a glorious season to say the least, unless  you live in a nursing home. Yeah, they have a tree and a nice dinner with the same people they shaer their daily life with day in and day out. They are there, and for some of them Christmas is just another day with a special dinner and a gift from Santa. Wait there is no Santa? Unless the staff and visitors stop at the giving tree in the lobby and pick up a tag for the resident; sadly not all nursing homes have this pleasure for there residents. I do believe that some of the homes are going to this for there residents. 

So that is Christmas? A nice dinner and a package from a generous stranger. How lovely, you say, that is so nice for them, that is enough. But is it enough, is it enough for you and your family to have a dinner and not spend time laughing by the fireplace, cuddling at night by the tree as it glistens in the dark. To watch it sparkle in the night, and experience the magic that you have in your home at this time of year. Is it enough for you not to have more then a couple of hours to visit then be left alone again for the rest of the night knowing that the phone will not ring all night and no one will think of calling you on Christmas cause you are old and living in the home? Is it enough to think that if we visit for an hour that it is a gift in itself, would you be pleased with that, would you feel loved or content?

Christmas is about the Love and birth of our Savior, it is about spending time with family near and far. It is about it all but we often forget those we put in the home and visit when we can, stating they know we are busy eith our livies, they were my age once, they know all the business I have to do. The shopping, the wrapping the Christmas cards, the lights, oh the lights inside and outside the house. 

What about those in the nursing home? What about them? They are being taken care of and that is what matters. Is that all that matters? The staff tends to there needs daily, talks to them, comforts them, supports them in all the manners that we are able to do. Yet, there is one thing that we can not do and that is take the place of their family. Yes, we care for them, we treat them like family, but we can not replace you the true family. We can't be your substitute at Christmas. They know if you visit, if you call, if you bring them a gift. We know we hear all about it, cause we are with them daily. We know if you come and spend time with them and if you bring a little gift or not. We can tell by the sparkle in their eye. The sparkle that says you were here and they are loved by you. Yet, you ask what do I bring them they need nothing! They tell us not to buy them anything. There are a few things that they all need and can use no matter what they say or tell you.

The List:

1. Body Lotion that smells nice

2. Body wash.

3. Stuffed animals (yes, they love them)

4. Books to read or puzzles to do

(imagine having to reread over and over or do the same puzzle time and again)

5. Shampoo 

6.Pictures of you for their room

7. A special blanket for their bed ( Put name on it)

8. New Clothing!

9. New Shoes!

( they don't get to shop a lot or not at all)

10. Candy

It is the little things that the residents tend to love. They appreciate the thoughtfulness of anything that you do for them. It may not seem to be a lot to you but it is the world to them!