Hospice of Dubuque

"This place is nothing more than Death By Proxy. My mom died at their hands, too! They gave her so much morphine she never woke up. All she needed was a little morphine to manage pain for her fractured pelvis. But they gave her so much she stayed unconscious and never woke up. She had dementia and a fractured pelvis and was otherwise perfectly healthy! (Updated 2024) My father had COPD -- no "terminal" diagnosis or disease. He wasn't at his "end of life." We had Hospice come in to help my mom manage my Dad's medication. (My dad was even opposed to having them come in and said, "I don't need anyone to help give me a shower.") My dad went from walking around, talking, going outside on the farm (Friday) to being bedridden by Monday and barely conscious. Why? The Hospice nurse gave him MORPHINE!!! TOO MUCH MORPHINE! By Tuesday he wouldn't wake up and by Wednesday my dad was dead. Again, he had COPD. He wasn't dying. He wasn't at "end of life." He had difficulty breathing, but he had oxygen which helped him and was walking, talking, showering on his own, was working in his shop doing woodworking, going outside with his beloved Springer Spaniel, etc. all the weeks before hospice got involved. By Wednesday he was DEAD! I blame Hospice and THEM GIVING MY DAD MORPHINE for his death! No other explanation for his death. None. THEY caused his death by giving him morphine. I would NOT recommend having them take care of anyone you love -- unless you want to rush their death."

"Make sure you get a nurse who KNOWS WHAT SHE IS DOING. Ours did not and my Dad suffered terribly because of it. They need much more end of life pain management education. Hospice and the nursing home did not seem to communicate well together. So many things I could say. I hear so many good things about how wonderful Hospice is so were shocked when we watched our Dad suffer horribly. The CNA's, and Volunteers were exceptional though."

"Everyone we have met here is Great and they are so supportive of my husband and me. Young Onset Parkinson's is a tough disease and they have given us hope and healing while we find our way through all of it."

"The head nurse that came did not have a clue how to handle my husband. I feel so badly for the treatment he received after dealing with cancer for 3 1/2 years. It was a nightmare for him and all of us involved."

"I can't say enough about how supportive, helpful, professional, and caring every single person from Hospice of Dubuque was and continues to be through the illness, death, and grief process. They offered comfort and resources for our loved one while she was sick, completely supported the entire family when she died, and have continue to offer bereavement support throughout the past year. I literally do not know what we would have done without them. At one of the most difficult times of our lives, they were there for us. Thank you, thank you, thank you."