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Ask your hospice provider about alternatives to your spouse dying in the home. There are sometimes inpatient hospice places, including units within hospitals. This is a normal thought on your part and nothing to feel guilty about. I wish you much peace in a such a difficult time
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Reply to Daughterof1930
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No need for guilt. A lot of people feel that way!

A home is a sanctuary for the living, not a tomb for the soon-to-be dead. My husband will not be dying at home. The sights, sounds, and smells of death can render a home not so homelike, and it would be hard to erase those horrible memories afterward. Worse yet, you still have to live in the home where your beloved took his last breath. It is not for me, and my DH would totally agree. He had a wife die at home. Those were sad memories that he couldn't get away from, and he eventually moved out of their dream house.

Also, the dying mostly don't know where they are at the very end. My dad insisted that he die at home, but in his final days, he thought he was in a hospital. Go figure.
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Reply to Fawnby
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This is common.
You can talk to the Hospice Nurse or the Social Worker or Chaplain. Explain your feelings.
Most likely what they will do is transfer him to the In Patient Unit if they have a free standing one. Or they will transfer him to a facility they have a relationship with. they may classify it under "symptom management" or since he is on Hospice you are entitled to Respite they may put as a Respite request.

Please do not feel guilty you are justified with any feelings you have.
If it is that you do not want to be with him alone when he dies I get that. Most Hospice have Vigil Volunteers and they are trained volunteers that will sit vigil anywhere the patient is. Home, hospital, facility so that the patient is not alone or the family is not alone and is supported during this time. So if it is that you do not want to be alone with him talk to the Hospice staff about what will make YOU feel comfortable, safe and supported.
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Reply to Grandma1954
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I felt the same way. I told the social worker, "move him or me," and she suddenly suggested three nursing homes. I researched all three and they were horrible for my (young) 51 year old husband. I then found three more options on my own. I called each one and found a spot. I then called the social worker back and she agreed. It was $700 per day ($21,000 total) and I believe my insurance covered it. It was a really nice inpatient hospice facility. The only issue is your husband must be actively declining. At one point, my husband wasn't declining fast enough and they said he might have to return home. This was extremely distressing because I didn't want him to die in our house & then we have to continue living in it! Brain cancer deaths can be brutal and I didn't want our kids, parents, or inlaws to endure that. Thankfully, he was able to stay in that inpatient facility. He had his own RN and he didn't suffer at all in the end. At home, I couldn't guarantee that.
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Reply to Caregiveronce
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There is no need to feel guilty. Confusing and mixed feelings are normal during this time. Hospice will offer 12 months of free grief counseling. Sometimes grief can feel like guilt, but you are probably feeling anticipated grief, anxiety and fear. Guilt is when you have caused harm in some way. This is not the case here. In time, you will be able to sort out your feelings.
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Reply to Scampie1
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My friend was the same with her husband. He went to hospital for his last days and passed there. She told me she couldn't have him passing at home. It would have been too hard for her. ((((hugs)))) Do what you need to do and let go of the guilt. You are not doing anything wrong.
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Reply to golden23
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CaringinVA Nov 22, 2025
Thank you for sharing this, Golden. I’m hoping that this may be an option for my MIL as well. I really don’t want her passing in our home.
(1)
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No need to feel guilty. Everyone reacts differently. It's a personal decision. Some people want to be there for the final breath of a loved one, others find it too painful. Some people won't give up and take that last breath until the family leaves the room. You don't need to justify how you feel. Please don't let unnecessary guilt add to your grieving process.
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Reply to MG8522
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Guilt is out of the question. Guilt requires that you CAUSED something out of EVIL INTENT. That doesn't apply. You didn't cause this and can't fix it and you are confusing GRIEF with GUILT. That is self harming and inappropriate, and awful waste of energy so needed now.

Can you tell us more about why you do not want him to pass at home? This is something you should be discussing now with Hospice, their RN, their Social Worker, their Clergy support. Do know and understand that there are few in-facility hospices. He may require nursing home placement with Hospice support if this is something you can't tolerate in the home for some reason.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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Brandee again

Script to say to hospice RN or hospice Social Worker

" I can no longer care for husband in the home. I'd like to get him transferred.
Please help me facilitate the move."

There is no reason to feel guilty about this. I had Mom transferred towards the end to the physical hospice location. There was an RN on duty around the clock and also CNA's on duty around the clock. I think I had to pay about $300 per day to have this covered but I'm really glad that I moved Mom.

There is no reason to feel guilty.
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Reply to brandee
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It's a difficult place to be but no need to feel guilty. Many people have a hard time with death. Did your husband ask that he die at home? Did he say he wanted his last days in quiet comfortable familiar surroundings verses noise, machines, and anxiety of the unknown? You have to pay for a facility, can you afford it? Can you find a hospice facility that is warm and comfortable and your husband will be OK with? A good hospice team will help not just the patient, but the family. Palliative care can make sure he is given medications to help agitation, pain and help with other symptoms. Keep in mind giving higher doses of morphine will not kill him. You can make his death a peaceful "good" death and after he is gone, remove the bed etc. and re decorate if that will help. His memory is going to be there no matter.
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Reply to noni1959
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