This past semester, I only had one hospice patient, “X.” She is an amazing woman; she has trouble remembering me sometimes, but we still talk about her childhood, especially the farm she grew up on. She is in her early 90s and lives in the memory care section at a care home for seniors. We would sit in the common area and look at picture books of the different types of farm animals.
Interacting with my patient has reassured me of the important companionship within patient care. Working closely with my patient has changed my perspective on companionship. Before I started volunteering with “X,” I interpreted companionship on a surface level as something bounded by depth and time spent with the individual. However, I grew to understand that these are small traits in what it truly means to be a good companion to patients, by remembering that when approaching patients’ care, remember to approach with respect for their values.
My patient and I haven’t seen each other for so long, or do a lot of talking sometimes, but we have built a good connection with the little time and talking we have done so far. Sometimes it felt as if I wasn’t doing enough to help my patient engage with the conversation more, but I would see her nod and smile at something I said, ask me questions, or be excited to see me, which has allowed me to see the influence of my presence.
This program has allowed me to do so while building communication skills and educating me on the liminal transition of death and grief. That when it comes to life, one day you are just 10 years old running around, and the next minute you are 80 years old. Participating in the Athena institution has also furthered my perspective on how fast life can go; even the smallest attempt at communicating with patients can lead to the patient feeling more comfortable talking to you. Also, seeing how the environment plays a huge role in patient care careers, such as when “X” and I would go over to the other building in the care center for an event. “X” would be excited about walking across the street, even if it is a small change in routine.
Make sure you have the person’s attention before you start. Avoid insisting that each word be produced perfectly. Do not ignore an aphasia patient in a group conversation, try to involve them as much as possible. Give them time to speak, resist the urge to finish sentences or offer words. Communicate with drawings, gestures, writing, and facial expressions in addition to speech (M.A.D.G.C.) These are some communication dos and don’ts that I have learned and implemented when working with my patients. These might seem like trivial things that are already known, but it is important to keep reminding yourself how these goals form the foundation of patient care. Remembering that one of the main goals of working in patient care is to make sure the patient is being heard and is comfortable in this liminal transition in this stage of life.