WEAPONS

As part of the hospice admission team, we are guided by Medicare guidelines.  They require all hospices to ask specific questions.  One of the challenging questions we are required to ask is “Are there any weapons in the home”.  Most folks are fine and I typically will hear a “No”.  There have been a few times when someone will say, “I refuse to answer that question”.  I then move one, but I strongly feel that there are weapons around.  

Grief is such a strong emotion for all of us.  So many use humor to cope.  That will arise with this question and it typically will make me laugh.  Humor so takes the edge off their emotions regarding the loss of a loved one.  My best rule of thumb is keep laughing as I plan on doing so

WEAPONS

 

I ask a lot of specific questions

when doing a hospice admission.

We have to follow Medicare guidelines

or could easily lose our license.

 

We ask every patient; every family,

“Are there any weapons in the home?”

It is asked for the safety of our staff,

but the perception of that question

brings up a multitude of answers.

 

It is a difficult question to ask now and then;

although I mostly hear someone answer, “No”.

If they say “Yes”; I then ask, “Are they locked up?”

Most are locked up, but some no.

                    Then, we just move on.

 

I try to use humor occasionally to soften the question;

“Any weapons; any ammunition; any AK-47s?”

It typically gets a laugh

                    easing the struggle to answer.

 

Families also use humor, as well, with their answer.

Again, likely to soften the awkwardness.

When asked, a ninety-five-year-old woman,

with a huge smile gruffly said,

                    “Just my mouth!”

 

Today, when I asked the wife that question;

she hit my funny bone and I couldn’t stop laughing.

“Do you have any weapons in the home?”

                    ‘Yes, My Red Ryder BB Gun”.

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