The Power and Joy of Connections As an Athena hospice volunteer, I have recently visited a few patients. Each has left me with beautiful memories I will never forget. However, due to their conditions or disposition, the process brought many obstacles and hurdles to each. My first patient was unresponsive primarily for the first couple … Continue reading “The Joy of Conversation”
coffee and carrying on
I see healthcare as a human right so volunteering at Hospice was my way of investing into the Baltimore community. In my medical career, I want to work with at risk and often neglected populations. The first resident I formed a unique connection with was Fernando: he liked smoking, sugar and baseball. He was from … Continue reading “coffee and carrying on”
Dying: A Ten-Year Reflection
At twenty-years-old the AHN Hospice Program gave me my first medical volunteering position, but I was ten-years-old when I had my first experience with end-of-life care. Then, everything under the umbrella of healthcare fell under two categories: wounds bandages, ice cubes, and my parents’ kisses could fix, and “the hospital.” Nasal cannulas and IV wires … Continue reading “Dying: A Ten-Year Reflection”
My Experience Volunteering for Hospice
Unfortunately, I was not assigned a patient throughout my time as a volunteer at Athena Institute Hospice. Consequently, I can not write about any Hospice related patient interactions. Nonetheless, I am able to reflect on some meaningful information that I learned over the course of the program. For instance, learning about hospice care through the … Continue reading “My Experience Volunteering for Hospice”
Reflections on my hospice experience: A call for healthcare that is more human
This past school year, I had the opportunity to temporarily join “Julia” as she navigates declining health and increasing separation from the kind of life she formerly led. I came to know “Julia” as a reserved, soft-spoken, mellow individual, surrounded by a loving family. Upon arriving at her room for our weekly visits, a cup … Continue reading “Reflections on my hospice experience: A call for healthcare that is more human”
2022-2023 Hospice experience
Hospice Reflection Date: 5/1/23 I remembered opening my email that weekend three weeks ago. As usual, I was looking whether the list of patients for today’s visit, assigned by my supervisor, had arrived. When I opened the inbox that contained the list, there was only one patient to visit, but it was a patient I … Continue reading “2022-2023 Hospice experience”
A Patient’s Top Support System: The Importance of Hospice Volunteering
I got assigned to “Patient X” in October of 2022. I feel extremely lucky to have gotten to meet, talk to and develop a relationship with “Patient X”. One hobby that both of us have in common is the joy of reading. Every time I visit him, I will either talk with him about books … Continue reading “A Patient’s Top Support System: The Importance of Hospice Volunteering”
Reflections on My Experience in Hospice
Many people regard hospice as a place circled by death. They believe it is a place where people come in and soon leave. They also believe that it’s a place not comparable to home. However, it often is the contrary based on my experience volunteering in hospice. People do come in sick, and they are … Continue reading “Reflections on My Experience in Hospice”
importance of nonverbal communications with hospice patients
Over the course of my training and practical hospice volunteer experience, I connected and felt entrusted by my assigned patient and developed a deeper understanding of hospice care. My patient Alice is a 93-year-old lady with Alzheimer’s, although the reason she was sent to hospice was unknown to us due to privacy. Alice is small … Continue reading “importance of nonverbal communications with hospice patients”
Creating Connections and Accepting Death as a Hospice Volunteer
Thanks to the Athena Institute Pre-Med Hospice Volunteer Program, I have been able to foster a nourishing and supportive relationship with my hospice patient. My patient is nonverbal, therefore, I bond with them through physical touch, engaging in behavior, such as holding their hand, brushing their hair, or changing them into a clean shirt after … Continue reading “Creating Connections and Accepting Death as a Hospice Volunteer”