Hospice in the House

Many years ago, mom's doctor suggested that we set up a time to speak together about hospice. "No way!" I thought. Hospice is what you have happen when there's nothing left to do but wait for death. We certainly weren't ready to wait for death!
A couple of years later, mom was diagnosed with mild to moderate Alzheimer's Disease. In hindsight I see that we had really moved through the mild stage in our ignorance (or was it denial?) and she was truly in the moderate stage. I studied up on the disease, a little at a time, because taking in too much too soon was devastating to me.
About two and a half years ago, I left my job of 26+ years to be mom's full time caregiver. Mom is now in the final stage of the disease. Hospice has been involved for almost one and a half years now. My attitude towards hospice has changed dramatically. They are most definitely not here to "wait for mom's death" with me. They are here, instead, to help mom live more fully and comfortably the rest of her life...and to help me (and the rest of our family) to be a part of that life.
I was skeptical at first. I had spent years documenting all of mom's care, being her eyes and ears at the doctor's visits, ordering and dispensing all of her medications and tracking her reactions to any changes in them. I had stayed with her every time she had been hospitalized, being her voice (especially after dementia had taken such a hold on her). My main concern was that if she were on hospice, she would be denied something as simple as an antibiotic for a bladder infection. There was no way I was going to let mom die from an untreated UTI...after all...it's not like we were living in a third world country!
Now...I will be eternally thankful for our hospice team. They have lightened the load I carry tremendously. They are my extra eyes...who notice changes that I might miss (and they know the importance of those changes). They bear the brunt of the resistance/frustration that mom puts up when it comes to bath time. That's a blessing for sure! One of the most appreciated things (for both mom and me) is that they provide a nice break for us...from each other...conversation-wise. Mom gets tired of me I'm sure. I'm always there. And after spending 35 years working as a waitress, I miss being able to spend the day chatting with people who are able to carry on an interesting conversation that makes any sense.
Summing things up...hospice has provided me with information, instruction and tools to make my job of being mom's caregiver easier. They have also been a wonderful source of support to me...assuring me that the care that I've been giving mom is top-notch...and that it's okay for me to choose to take a nap over doing the dishes, vacuuming or working in the yard. One other very important thing they have given me is the awareness that my taking care of my mom at this time in her life is just one of the many blessings that I've been given. It is a big thing, to be sure...but it is not my everything. I also am blessed with a wonderful husband, loving daughters, supportive siblings, many close friends and a deep-rooted faith that God is with us every step of the way. Praise the Lord!
I am thankful every day that I opened the door...and that hospice is in our house. God bless them all!