Legendary Bluesman B.B. King Receiving Home Hospice

Credit: Wikipedia

With a flourishing career since 1949, the 89 year-old “King of Blues” B.B. King announced on his website on Friday May 1^st to fans: “I am in home hospice care at my residence in Las Vegas. Thanks to all for your well wishes and prayers.” This comes after a couple of serious hospitalizations over the last few months. Both hospitalizations had to do with suffering from dehydration, a complication from the Type II diabetes he has battled against for over 20 years.

The most recent hospitalization in Las Vegas (where he resides), however, happened the day before he announced his home hospice care. As CNN and its affiliate KLAS announced, he was hospitalized “because his daughter, Patty King, said he wasn’t eating and was dehydrated” and “tests showed King may have had a minor heart attack.”

This news comes as a sad reminder that we, as humans, don’t live forever no matter how well loved and talented we might be. The important thing to remember, though, is that there is great home hospice out there to help provide support and comfort for patients during the final days and months of their lives, as well as providing help and support for the families and loved ones of those dying. People can die with dignity and surrounded by those who loved them in a more comfortable and familiar environment than a hospital.