Helping a Loved One Die at Home – Not for the Faint of Heart!

July 18, 2021. Seven out of ten Americans say they would like to die at home, but only 25% do. As a result, few people know what’s involved in a home death. In this 90-minute Zoom presentation, three Hemlock members will share compelling stories of their personal experiences guiding a mother, a husband, and a client through life’s final stage outside of the efficient but sterile and chaotic environment of a hospital.

Hunt Kookier, MD shares his mother’s journey with cancer, the medical decisions she made along the way and her peaceful death in his home.

22:34:  Robin Pruitt, Hemlock Society of San Diego member,  narrates a somewhat harrowing experience she had when her 78-year old husband died at home. He had been coping with a neurodegenerative condition for 8 years then suddenly had a stroke, eliminating his ability to walk.  Her husband had documented his desire to “never wanted to see the inside of a hospital ever again, no matter what happened.”  Robin states:  “At least in my experience, it takes extraordinary determination to avoid the medicalized system of death that is prevalent in our culture.”

1:04:21: Anita Neff, Health care case manager, CNA, Death Doula.  Talks about one of her clients who was kicked out of a facility for complaining too much.   He eventually ended up in a Board and Care facility where, with Anita’s help, he was successful in Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED) .

Watch this video, Helping a Loved One Die at Home – Not for the Faint of Heart! on YouTube