A good palliative care experience for myself and my husband

I am writing to share my and my husbands experience with palliative care.  I was grateful that Saskatchewan has this service, and that it was available in the city we lived in.  My husband had congestive heart failure and diabetes.  Between the two his body was shutting down.  Our doctor started him as a palliative care patient with home care at first.  The home care workers and nurses would come and care for him at home, washing him, helping him dress for the day, and changing any dressings he had.  When his health got worse and he was admitted, it was hoped that he might recover enough to go back home, but after a some months with no improvement, and probably some aspects getting worse my husband decided he didn't want to "fight" his problems anymore.  He opted to take himself off all medications but those for pain.  At this point, our doctor had him moved into a "palliative care" room.  This room was wonderful for him and the family.  It was a private room, with it's own bathroom, a T.V. a comfortable recliner and room for family to come and visit.  Which they did. The nurses who attended him when he was in a regular hospital room were great, but those caring for the palliative care room were exceptional.  They stopped doing the daily bloodwork, and other than coming in to check on him and see if he needed any painkillers, left us to ourselves.  Though they were ever ready to help if we needed it and, of course they continued to keep him clean. The social worker who worked in palliative care was also a great help, providing advice and giving me a chance to talk about what I was feeling, and I believe she talked to my husband as well. Family came and visited at any time of the day, and I was given a cot that I could use to stay overnight with him.   After a week, my husbands body shut down and he died, with some of his family around him.  The nurses gave us all the time we needed to say goodbye and clear out his stuff, before preparing him to go to the funeral home.  All in all it was a good experience.