When I started working as a nursing assistant at a nursing home, it became clear to me that death was something I was going to have to face as a medical professional, but I always tried pushing off the thought of dealing with it until it was absolutely imperative. Coming in to work and finding … Continue reading “Shining a New Light on Death”
Category: Athena Hospice Program
this is for posts in the category of Athena Hospice
My Hospice Experience
When I first started hospice, I ended most of my visits feeling sad. It seemed like most of my patients were unhappy and felt trapped. They complained about how they had nothing to do, wished to go outside, or wanted better food. Frequently, the patients couldn’t even hear me, so any attempts to comfort them with … Continue reading “My Hospice Experience”
Hospice and Me: A Reflection on Patient Encounters
Dr. H struck me as a very sweet-tempered and genuinely caring person when I first met him. This has not changed as I have gotten to know him better. When his eyes light up at the mention of his wife coming to visit, or when his voice speaks of his children’s achievements with a father’s … Continue reading “Hospice and Me: A Reflection on Patient Encounters”
A Reflection on My Experience as a Volunteer
The first patient I met moved me to tears. She was sitting in the lobby by herself. My volunteer coordinator said, “She is always here, the nursing staff almost always just put her here and leave her, shoving a day-old newspaper in her hand.” The newspaper was covered in grease and food crumbs. She had … Continue reading “A Reflection on My Experience as a Volunteer”
New Perspectives
Throughout the past nine months, my experience as a hospice volunteer has taught me some of the most valuable lessons and equipped me with a better understanding of the balance between medical care and the beauty of human life. My weekly visits with patients allowed me to experience many aspects of end-of-life care and to … Continue reading “New Perspectives”
Recognizing Death
Throughout hospice volunteer experience, I had many meaningful connections with my patients. The moment that I find the most memorable was when my coworker and I visited Michelle, a recently-admitted patient. When we knocked on Michelle’s door, she was obviously agitated. She immediately asked us what was going on. We told her who we were and … Continue reading “Recognizing Death”
The Healing Power of Conversation
From my very first visit with Sally and Mark in the hospice facility last October, the married couple has never not made me smile. Sally was a stay-at-home mom, who raised not only her children with Mark, but also her nieces and nephews whose parents passed away when they were young. Despite her dementia, her … Continue reading “The Healing Power of Conversation”
The Last Hurdle of Life and Its Effects on Others
While serving as a hospice volunteer for the past few months, I have met several people in hospice along with their families. It’s interesting and exciting to listen to each person’s stories about their lives. One particular patient named Mary and her family changed how I viewed the end of life. Mary had been in … Continue reading “The Last Hurdle of Life and Its Effects on Others”
Listening to The Little Things
From just one hospice visit, I learned that near the end of life, you begin to find beauty in the mundane and simple. During a visit with a new patient, we spent our entire time together talking about food. My patient was commenting on the breakfast food she had in front of her, wondering if … Continue reading “Listening to The Little Things”
What Death Has Taught Me About Life
My hospice journey began with a patient in the late stages of neurodegenerative disease. Even though she was awake, she could not speak or show conscious awareness of her surroundings. It was frustrating at first because I did not know how to interact with her. I tried asking questions, showing her pictures, and reading to … Continue reading “What Death Has Taught Me About Life”