Since starting the program, I have not had all too many opportunities to visit Plush Mills Senior Living, and the visitations have been unfortunately cut short due to the ongoing pandemic. However, in the limited time that I was able to come spend at Plush Mills, I have cherished my time with Sue. A lovely grandma, Sue was a joy to spend time with as we talked about her life and my life. We talked about our shared common ground, in that she spent time on the NJ coastlines, reminiscing about her beach home on Long Beach Island, and I shared that I too lived by a NJ beach in Point Pleasant. Sometimes, we would hit on more serious topics of her health, and her struggle in becoming more dependent on the help she is surrounded with in nurses and aids. In this struggle, we touched on faith, another common ground for her and myself. I had the opportunity to pray for her health, her mental struggle to be okay with needing help and for progress in mobility; this was a special moment we shared together. Oftentimes, I would forget I was a volunteer to provide comfort to hospice patients; in time, Sue felt a friend for me as I was a friend for her. During this experience, while listening to patients’ stories is a valuable skill I got better at, I also feel that opening up and sharing my story is another part of this experience that I was able to develop when meeting new patients.
In preparing for medical school, I would say this program has helped progress me to become a better listener and friend for others. While juggling homework, clubs, and a spiraling life, hospice volunteering was another spot on the agenda. However this required more forethought, preparation, and energy as I had to shift gears before coming to visit, becoming a listener in a professional manner. This was difficult but helpful in understanding the mindset and fortitude required in patient interaction.
Having a connection with people is important, and getting to know patients like Shaun, a newer patient, perhaps took a bit longer than Sue did; understanding that Shaun and I came from broadly different backgrounds, it seemed we had little to talk about. However, as he opened up about his grandkids, and his encounter with Mother Theresa, I found that connection is as simple as working to find matters of interests. This took an effort on both sides, but I found his experience in meeting Mother Theresa fascinating, and our conversation took off from there. Thus, I have grown in being able to pick up on subjects that hold meaning for me and the patient, allowing me to better connect with new people more easily.
Hospice has given me a better grasp on handling patient interactions, more specifically listening and connecting with new people of different backgrounds. It has been an enlivening experience, and I am glad I was able to partake in this meaningful program. This experience has been more than a stepping stone into graduate school, and I am grateful for the impact it has and will continue to have on me.