Hospice volunteering has no doubt shaped my future aspirations as a physician. I have experienced first-hand the value of emotional care at the end of life. We will not be able to physically cure every patient, but we can always provide them with comfort and support.
During my volunteer experience, one of the biggest challenges at the beginning of the year was communicating with verbally unresponsive patients. However, I had a memorable moment by making a connection with a patient while massaging her hand. She was rocking back and forth and making noises, which some of the residents said was singing. As I continued to massage her hand, she suddenly stopped making noise and seemed less agitated. That experience left me hoping to connect with the patients more- even if it meant being more innovative, and not using speech. So in addition to sometimes providing aromatherapy and oil massages, I also began bringing my ukulele. I sung songs in the common room, so that the other residents could enjoy the music as well.
Another positive experience occurred near the holiday season. A fellow volunteer and I decorated the walls of our patients with holiday-themed gift wrap. One patient’s daughter mentioned how grateful and happy she was to see the decoration on her mom’s walls. And another patient told us that every time he saw the wrapping paper, he thought of us.
This same patient also taught me the depth of loss. As I comforted him after his wife’s death, I was overtaken by his grief. Here was a cheerful man full of aphorisms who expressed a pain and loss that I could only imagine. Due to his weak sight and hearing, I decided to place my hand on his shoulder. Although a small gesture, his gratitude for my presence at that moment was undeniable. Another moment was when one of our patients first arrived to hospice care. During the first visit, his unhappiness was evident. Unsure if he knew he was under hospice care, I tried not to use the term “hospice” and instead framed it as emotional support. We talked about each other’s families, hobbies, hometowns. In subsequent visits, the patient was more cheerful. The visits were often more light-hearted and my fellow volunteers and I saw glimpses of his humor. I hope that first meeting left him feeling more supported, and helped him cope with his new situation.
Special vulnerable moments like the ones I described have defined my hospice experience. Those moments are also what guide me in my decision to become a physician. They are what makes the career so enticing for me personally, and I believe empathetic care is vital in patient care. I hope, as a future physician, to remember to the power of empathy and emotional support. I hope to value the humanity of medicine while navigating the intricacies of interacting with a patient and anticipating their needs. I hope to keep my experiences in hospice in mind as I continue on my medical journey, remembering what it means to truly care.