“Sarah” and I shared many moments over coffee, a simple ritual that became the foundation of our bond. She had heart failure, and while her body grew weaker, her spirit remained vibrant. When I first met her, I was unsure of what to say, afraid that I wouldn’t have the right words or that I … Continue reading “Lessons Learned in Hospice Care: Coffee & Small Comforts”
Author: A Student
Hallucinations and Hard Conversations
This year, I have been meeting with Anita. She has navy blue crocs with pink gibits, she likes ice cream and reading out loud, and she has a very sweet and strong personality. When I visit, we sometimes talk and sometimes watch what’s on the tv. I have listened to Anita describe the things she’s … Continue reading “Hallucinations and Hard Conversations”
Finding The Joy Again
Since starting the Hospice program with Athena, I have learned a lot about what end of life care really is. In September of 2024 I met “Mr. Smith” playing bingo at a table in the lounge of his senior living facility. It had been awhile since I had interacted with someone of his age, especially … Continue reading “Finding The Joy Again”
A Journey With My Patient
As I walked into the senior living home for the first time, I felt a mix of excitement and sorrow. I was thrilled to have a patient to interact with–to provide support to–which was my role as a hospice volunteer. But when I saw my patient, my excitement faded — I saw her bed-ridden and … Continue reading “A Journey With My Patient”
The Life-Changing Impact of Hospice Volunteering
Through this wonderful journey as a Hospice volunteer, I have cultivated a memorable bond with my patient, “Michelle”. While visiting her over fifteen times in these past two semesters, I have developed a deep bond with “Michelle”. Whenever I visit her, I am constantly amazed by her passion and determination to talk, make friends, and … Continue reading “The Life-Changing Impact of Hospice Volunteering”
A Learned Perspective
When I first arrived at the care facility, I was afraid. I knew I didn’t and couldn’t understand the weight of what I was about to experience. My first patient was an older woman in the memory care unit. At first, I noticed she shied away from speaking, meeting me overly cheerful “hello” with a … Continue reading “A Learned Perspective”
Listen
The Athena Institute Hospice program has been a transformative experience for a better understanding of patient care and becoming a pillar of support. Before the Hospice program, my idea of patient care was simply to just provide the patient with basic physical needs, but that could not have been further from the truth. The beginning … Continue reading “Listen”
Caring Over Curing: Lessons as a Hospice Volunteer
It was my first experience at the Senior Living Facility. I was excited to finally meet a patient after learning about the intricacies of hospice. I walked up to “David’s” room to find the room empty. The bed was stripped, but all of the belongings were still there. Confused, I went to the front desk … Continue reading “Caring Over Curing: Lessons as a Hospice Volunteer”
Laughter is the Best Medicine
Hospice care is a branch of healthcare that focuses on providing comfort to individuals nearing the end of their lives. During my time volunteering this school year, I had the privilege of spending time with a man who had dementia. This experience profoundly changed my perspective on life and what hospice care can be like. … Continue reading “Laughter is the Best Medicine”
Death in the Context of Living
Before starting hospice, I was admittedly quite nervous. This was not my first experience with hospice, since my grandmother was on hospice before she died in 2019 and my mother worked as a hospice therapist in 2022. Despite being familiar with hospice, I was unaware of internal procedures. I was worried that I might not … Continue reading “Death in the Context of Living”