I was assigned to one patient throughout my experience volunteering with a hospice program. Unfortunately, my time was cut short based on a slightly late start and an early ending due to the coronavirus. However, the time I was able to spend with my patient was truly eye opening. First, one of the most interesting … Continue reading “Connecting and Exploring as as Hospice Volunteer”
Program Year Ending: 2020
Program Year ending 2020
Finding Life in Dying Times
I followed the Project Leader down the brightly lit hallways of the nursing home, beaming what I hoped was a warm smile at those we passed and anxiously gripping the lanyard hanging around my neck. It wasn’t my first time at a nursing home—I had spent two years volunteering in one during my high school … Continue reading “Finding Life in Dying Times”
Planning and Impermanence
Death has only begun to affect my life in the last few years. Prior, I rarely thought about death and what it entailed, and I felt detached when others would talk about the passing of their loved ones. However, I began to think more about death when my grandpa was dying in the hospital during … Continue reading “Planning and Impermanence”
The End-of-Life Journey as a Companion
Reflecting on my experiences as a volunteer with Ascend Hospice, I am moved by a vast range of emotions and sentiments: namely, grief for the patients I can no longer visit, gratitude for the stories I have had the privilege of unearthing, and compassion for the patients and families facing difficult decisions and experiences in … Continue reading “The End-of-Life Journey as a Companion”
Truly Caring
The relationship I built with my hospice patient took time, as most relationships do, but overall, it was quite enjoyable. At first, my patient appeared angry upon our meeting and just wanted to sleep—that is, until I started reading his book to him. Once the first reading began, he propped up and seemed to be … Continue reading “Truly Caring”
Accepting Impermanence
During the time I volunteered through the hospice program, one of the first patients I met was James, who surprised me with his positive outlook. He appeared pleasant and did not seem worried. He was very open about himself, his life, and how he ended up in hospice care. Initially, I had thought that most … Continue reading “Accepting Impermanence”
Hope in Death
Bony fingers, labored breathing, and the sound of the steady drip of morphine. Holding my aunt’s hand as more time passed between each breath, I thought, “Why am I pursuing a profession surrounding death?” With each loss I suffered, I thought back to my two friends who each lost their mothers to breast cancer at … Continue reading “Hope in Death”
Colliding Worlds: A Connection 77 Years Apart
The story of my relationship with Agnes does not unravel as a movie plot with shocking turns, plentiful clichés and joyous moments of great splendor. It was not a difficult connection but one that did require work, as there were times when I was unsure of what to say or whether my time spent with … Continue reading “Colliding Worlds: A Connection 77 Years Apart”
The Lessons of Hospice in a Time of Crisis
I wanted to share with you one of the most important experiences I had at hospice this year. I was visiting Sarah, who let me know that she anticipated this would be our last visit. I asked how she was feeling about that, and she told me that she felt it was going to be … Continue reading “The Lessons of Hospice in a Time of Crisis”
Music and Healing
Beth, Alice, and I walked into the community room of the memory ward. An ornamented tree stood in the corner and colorful lights adorned the ceiling. The residents were just finishing dinner; those self-reliant enough were feeding themselves at the dinner tables, while the more disabled residents were being spoon-fed from their beds. Judy, a … Continue reading “Music and Healing”