I want to tell everyone just how wonderful the CNA's employed by St. Mary's Hospice are. We had 2 CNA's that cared for my mother-in-law for about 16 months.
'Mom" was referred to the hospice program when she became unable to care for herself because of a terminal illness. We were told by the doctor at the time that she may last about 6 months with her conditions. At first, she could get around pretty well with her walker but needed help getting meals prepared, and taking medications properly. After about 6 months her condition worsened to where she could not prepare her meals and she was getting her meds totally mixed up.
St. Mary's Hospice CNA's were coming in twice a week to bathe her, and see to her needs. The RN's would come once a week to check her condition and her vital signs. The children had been taking turns staying with her but the task was very hard. All of the family had to keep their jobs..... and taking care of "mom" was a full time job.
We finally had to find sitters for her around the clock. Two of the CNA's from St. Mary's Hospice came on board as "sitters" at night for mom. They found two more ladies to help out with the "sitter" positions for the day time. These women were wonderful to Mom. They took such good care of her that she lasted far beyond the 6 months she had been diagnosed with having. For well over a year these ladies "sat" with her and took care of her. They became "family" members to all of us and mom was very pleased with them.
Mom died last week and the Hospice CNA's were abosutely wonderful to the family. They helped us to know what to do and when the time of her death came, one of them came in and bathed mom and dressed her for her trip to the funeral home. This is not something this caretaker was paid to do. She did it because she had grown to love mom and the family.
These hospice caretakers are excellent at caring for dying patients. They become emotionally tied with the patients and also grieve just as the family does.
I commend these ladies for who they are and what they do; on duty and off duty! St. Mary's Hospice can be very proud of these ladies (CNA's) that they employ. They are of great value to your program.
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