School: Villanova

Becoming a volunteer through the Athena Institute Pre-Med Hospice Volunteer program has greatly shaped my approach to patient care as well as life in general. By meeting with hospice patients at a local nursing home, I have learned much from their experiences and have gained so many new perspectives. In the assignments and the reflection … Continue reading “An Eternal Experience”

“John” was the first patient we met at the hospice center. On our first day, we were heading to meet the floor staff when we spotted “John” taking a stroll nearby. The staff introduced us to him, and he turned out to be a very energetic and lively man. He shared that he went boxing … Continue reading “Empathy and Gratitude Learned from Others”

There was one patient in particular that stood out to me, F. Our relationship grew over the time of my visits, and it got to the point where he remembered me and remembered things about me. This helped me gain a stronger bond because I felt connected to him. Visiting him quickly became the highlight … Continue reading “The Gift of Time”

I sat at the Thanksgiving table with my family and friends, appreciating the full table of dishes and desserts in front of me. The laughter and conversation bounced around the room, filling my heart with memories of togetherness that I continue to cherish. However, one particular dish stood out to me: cherry pie. This dessert … Continue reading “Cherry Pie and Compassion: The Transformative Power of Hospice Volunteering”

When I first joined this program, I had been learning how to cope with my grandfather’s transition into a nursing home. His dementia had been rapidly progressing and I watched his mental decline grow worse alongside my family with each subsequent visit. Coming into this program, I had some prior experience with patients in nursing … Continue reading “In The Face of Loss: Where Little Wins Make The Biggest Difference”

My experience as a hospice volunteer was one that I highly value. Though I was only able to participate for a semester as I didn’t return to campus during the spring semester, my visits with patients in the fall were meaningful and provided me with insight about this essential part of patient care. I visited … Continue reading “Final thoughts”

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience in the pre-med hospice volunteer program, and I am thankful for each of the interactions that I shared throughout the past year. I vividly remember one of my most impactful interactions. A fellow student and I were meeting with a husband and wife, and the husband was comforting his wife … Continue reading “Reflection on Experience at Haverford Sunrise in Haverford, Pennsylvania”

This year with the Athena Hospice program has given me invaluable experiences and life lessons that I plan to take with me for the future. Over the course of this program, I have been able to create genuine relationships with my patients  and it opened my eyes to care in a way that I have … Continue reading “The Importance of Treating the Spirit”

I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect when I signed up to become a hospice volunteer. I suppose that based on my experiences watching my grandparents go through end-of-life care, I imagined that my visits might involve talking with patients about death, consoling them in their pain, and offering a hand to hold or a … Continue reading “Irish Jigs and Disco Balls: Joy in the Face of Dying”