Home Care Stories
Impact of Home Care Lives on After Death
Nashua, N.H. - He died as he lived - with great dignity and strength.
Edward Guilmain was 101 when he died at home. He was able to receive care for the last six months of his life at home, where he wanted to be, in large part because of the assistance provided by Home, Health and Hospice Care in Nashua.
Danny Guilmain, Edward Guilmain's 76-year-old son, had nothing but praise for the people who helped take care of his father for approximately six months. "The care was there and so was the compassion," said Guilmain.
Home Health and Hospice Caregiver Pat Ladner said it was easy to care for Edward Guilmain, whom she called an "angel." Said Ladner, "He just reminded me of someone I would want as a father . . . He was just such a strong person. He reminded me of a giant oak tree." Ladner said the caregivers would do such tasks as bathe him, change his linens, monitor his pain and provide symptoms control. A massage therapist came to the house as well. They were also there to answer questions and provide support for the family. As she pointed out, the whole family needs care.
Danny Guilmain said it was their presence and willingness to simply sit and talk with his father that made the most difference. "They were really super. He looked forward to seeing them come over."
"Something as simple as holding a hand can accomplish mountains of work," said Ladner.
Guilmain said when it got to the point where he and his family could no longer care for his father alone, the thought crossed his mind about whether or not they would have to put him in a home. The thought remained just that, however, once his sister mentioned inquiring about home care.
At first the caregivers came twice a week. Near the end, they came every day. "There was always someone there. They never missed a day," said Guilmain.
"This was truly a story of how families pull together," said Ladner. She said Guilmain's family was very involved in his care. The home caregivers, however, loved to visit with Guilmain. "Every week it was a fight among the nurses to see who was going to go to his house," she said.
Edward Guilmain succumbed to old age in February 1999.
Home Health and Hospice makes approximately 100,331 home visits per year, serving approximately 5,000 people in all its programs, of which 500 are hospice patients.
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