Sad news

[vettecat]

For those of you who know Lois Mangan...

Got this on the Arisia mailing list today, thought people would want to know:

Hello,

I just got off the phone with Phil Nathanson, Lois's brother. Lois is at a very small hospice in Cambridge and expected to die within the next few days. She is suffering the end stages of Parkinson's Disease.

Please DO visit her. It is advisable to call ahead.

Chilton House
65 Chilton St
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 661-6415

Preferred visiting hours are 9:30 am to 8:30 pm.

It is a small facility with only four patients. Please be kind to everyone there and respectful of their needs and privacy.

When I asked whether there were things to bring, or not bring, the person on the phone simply said not to bring anything that Lois might be allergic to.

I'm glad of this opportunity to visit with Lois while she is still with us.

Please pass this information to others who may be interested.

Jill

Edit: Apparently the situation may not be as dire as we thought - see update here.

Comments

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

:(

Please do pass on my good thoughts and wishes.

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

Honestly I don't know that I'll be visiting, I don't feel that I'm close enough to her to belong there right now. I just thought people ought to have the information. (But thank you for vindicating my decision to post it, I had a feeling people wouldn't have heard.)

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

No, I hadn't heard that. I knew she was ill.

I'm kind of surprised nobody's posted to the MASSFILC list.

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

I wasn't sure about that because I'm not on it... want to pass this forward?

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

Mmm...maybe. Since Paul's on the list, I feel kind of funny about doing it there. I'll crosspost to my LJ, though

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

Ah. Fair point.

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

Aw, what the heck. Posted.

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't imagine he'll object, since he has been telling people. It's probably just too hard for him to do that.

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and he's probably just a tad busy right now

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

Apparently the situation may not be as dire as we thought - see update here.

[arib.livejournal.com]

If you know of folks who are considering visiting her that haven't been to a hospice before, I could let them know some of what to expect.

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

Don't know who's planning to go, but thanks.

[persis.livejournal.com]

yes, please.

[arib.livejournal.com]

Let's see...

(For some background, I'm a social worker with 2-3 years of geriatric social work experience, and I'm currently working in a geriatric care setting.)

As mentioned in the original post, the facility seems to be on the small side. Try to respect the privacy of the other residents.

In my experience, hospice is generally a positive experience for the person receiving the care as well as for their family members. While they may not be in the best of moods, they'll be happy with the care and attention they're receiving.

Just because somebody's receiving hospice care, it doesn't mean they're imminently dying. For example: For medicare purposes, people can enter hospice when their condition is such that they are expected to have a life expectancy of six months or less. Sometimes, people outlive that expectancy and can be receiving hospice care for as much as a year.

Hospice focuses on comfort care measures as opposed to actively treating an underlying condition. This can include high-dose pain medications, oxygen, or even treatments like chemotherapy or radiation treatments (shrinking a tumor to make someone more comfortable, even if it's not going to cure the cancer). Hospice patients will usually have some sort of Do Not Resuscitate order or living will in place to address their wishes with regards to lifesaving/end of life issues.

I'm afraid I don't have much general information that's springing to mind right away, do you have any specific questions? Feel free to post them in reply, or email me at arib@livejournal

Not true

[madfilkentist]

Paul Mangan posted this to the MASSFILC list:

I think Phil may have jumped the gun. Lois suffered another
setback while in the rehab facility in Brookline - gastrointestinal
bleeding (probably an ulcer) complicated by aspiration of bloody
vomit (which may lead to another pneumonia). Lois is depressed
as hell and is currently receiving comfort-only care. But this may
change (if Lois so decides), and she is NOT at death's door yet.
Her family and I have some hope for more time with her.

Paul M.

PS - It is not a large room, and Lois has many things she needs
or wants with her. Bring affection and encouragement?

Re: Not true

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

Wow. I hadn't heard that, obviously - I'll pass it on. Thanks for the update!

Re: Not true

[stormsdotter.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm still going to show up there tonight. Thanks for the heads-up!

Re: Not true

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

I'm sure she'll appreciate the company.

Re: Not true

[karisu-sama.livejournal.com]

We just called her and gave her virtual hugs and kisses and support. Dang, we moved to California in '93, but we still miss her!! Last saw her in person at Millenium Philcon!!

If only plane fare wasn't so expensive.... -_-

Re: Not true

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

Gott sei Dank!