continued from chapter 13: part 2
My friend Helen found out about Home Support quite by chance. She and her
children were clustered around Curt's hospital bed, and although he wasn't about to discuss the prospect that he might be dying, he indicated by subtle means that his time might be limited.
He said out loud, "Oh, I wish I could go home," just as the doctor walked in.
"Oh, honey, you know that isn't possible."
The doctor motioned her out into the hall.
"If you want to take Curt home, I can put you in the hands of people who will arrange it and it won't cost you. I'll see that you have all the support you need."
She felt a mixture of emotion. Yes, she dearly wanted him home so that he could die in the place he loved. Yet she was fearful because she had never seen death. She kept that emotion to herself and accepted the doctors offer of help.
They are the couple I mentioned before who lived in cottage country on a lake. It was arranged for a vising nurse to come in once a day, or more often, if it became necessary. A hospital bed was set up close the kitchen.
A Red Cross homemaker came once or twice a week to keep the house tidy. Helen learned she could even have had Meals on Wheels for herself and Curt but she declined this. She said he wasn't eating enough to justify it and she never thought of it in terms of herself, although she wasn't eating properly at all.
When she felt he was slipping away she arranged for a nurse to stay the night so that she could get some sleep, and this was the only expense for her. The government picked up half the cost.
Our country squabbles a lot about the cost of social Medicare but it is the only humane way.
Helen's one small regret was that despite the careful planning, Curt died quietly while she was in the next room.
"He was a private man," she said, "I think this was the way he wanted to go. He didn't call, there wasn't a sound."
continued in chapter 13:part 4
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