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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A primer on handling death and dying with anecdotes, October 8, 2007
As an octogenarian with not his feet but his actuarial table on a slippery banana peel, "From the Start Consider the Finish" had ominous relevance. I don't know when I'll go, but the authors have convinced me that, for my sake and that of those who may be with me at the transition, a call to hospice will be in order. Half way through the book, the glowing anecdotes about hospice made me call my niece in California. She had enlisted the help of hospice on her mother's passing. She not only supported the authors, but added that they even coordinated the transport of my sister's remains to be interred in Pennsylvania.
Most of the chapters are anecdotal and they record experiences during patients' last days. The stories vary as widely as people are individuals. For some, death comes at the end of a prayer; for others at the end of an epithet. All the stories are real and most witnessed by one of the authors and told with empathy and reverence. The dedication of the authors to the hospice function and their sensitivity as practitioners to the differing needs of each dying patient, physical, emotional and spiritual, is evident. Their support is extended as well to the loved ones involved who may have various issues to resolve. ARV, as a nurse, also provides some background of how death was treated pre hospice.
The stories are well told and I became involved in several as I identified the characters with friends and relatives and could almost hear the conversations, declarations of love and shrill complaints. I found nurse Divina, a hospice veteran, to be almost a divining angel, able to understand and bring peace to the dying and the living.
In all, the functions of the several hospice team members and the skills they bring to those present are described in some detail. They often act to diminish tensions that exist or arise between patient and grievers or among grievers. They are often able to provide a projection of what to expect as the end comes.
One thread of continuity throughout the book is the need for and the value of communication (conversations). What eventualities to discuss while still healthy, measures to be taken preceding death, the disposition of the remains and all the services post mortem. The value of the DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) directive, its effect and its display is discussed.
While the anecdotes are a good read, a few chapters are rich in useful information:
Chapter four is a listing of the services available from hospice, with possible variations. E.g., care may be provided in the home, a hospital, long term care or other facilities; there are visits from the team, appropriate medications, equipment and supplies approved by hospice; you may use your physician or a hospice physician skilled in palliative care, etc.
Chapter six lists the team members and the talent each brings to the scene along with an anecdote for each to describe the performance of their function.
Chapter seventeen introduces something with which I was unfamiliar; the Ethical Will. It is essentially a remembrance to be passed on to the survivors: expressions of love, family history, prescriptions for living and stories untold.
A prequel provides a glimpse of SRD's parents, her father a professor, her mother a registered nurse and a psychologist. It also relates how SRD, a single mother, came to hospice, first as a volunteer while an attorney and finally full time.
Appendix I provides Home Site Web addresses and telephone numbers to contact the agencies.
Appendix II is a list of questions to ask when enlisting hospice care.
If you expect to die, I recommend this book to plan for and to anticipate the events leading to the occasion whenever it may happen.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
From the Start Consider the Finish, October 9, 2007
As a former Hospice nurse, I simply could not put this book down. It so accurately portrayed the spirit and substance of Hospice as I experienced it. I couldn't wait for the next chapter to unfold. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of the roles of the varioous members of the team. Everyone thoughtfully contemplating end-of-life issues needs to read this. it will change your death!
Barbara FarrFrom the Start Consider the Finish: A Guide to Excellent End of Life Careell, R.N.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The first book I've ever reviewed and recommended, October 28, 2007
As a Christian, I know that I will be leaving this earth to live with my Heavenly Father forever. Before reading this book, I never gave a thought to any of the events that could lead up to that death. This book has changed my view on how I want my final days to be. It opened my eyes to the fact that I need to have conversations about this very subject with my family. Not only about my death, but their deaths also. I don't want anyone in my family making uniformed choices for me. As a family, we don't like to discuss death. It's usually done in whispers, as if just mentioning death will make something bad happen. This book is a breath of fresh air that takes away that looming dark cloud. It explains how Hospice can make death less painful, for everyone involved. It explains how we all need to have conversations about how we feel about life and death. It's all about talking to one another. Sharing our feelings. I loved the stories about real life people who experienced death through Hospice. I loved reading about the Hospice Staff. They are very special people. I believe that they are there because they feel a sense of fulfillment in what they do for others. They are definitely blessed people. I want them taking care of me when it's my time to go. How about you? This book is a must read.
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