My First Hospice Visit

I had my first Hospice visit today. And I walked away feeling like everything was perfect in my world. I have found my calling.

When I first decided to volunteer to work with hospice clients, I was surprised by how many people thought I was making a mistake. So many didn't understand why I wanted to work with dying people. They thought it would be too hard on me. And maybe it will be, but tell me, where does it say that life isn't hard sometimes? Why do we believe we have to stay away from "hard" or "painful"? Wasn't it the "hard" or the "painful" that taught us the most?

The hospice I volunteer at realizes that it can be difficult so they suggest limiting your contact with the client to one visit a week so that you don't bond too much and then hurt when they pass. I'm not sure I'm going to follow that suggestion.

I have two clients that I provide companionship to. One is a 97 years old woman, I'll call Jane and the other is a 92 year old man that I'll call John. How original is that eh? LOL
I admit, I was nervous when I got to the home. I didn't know how the energy there would affect me. A representative from the hospice I work for showed up to take me around and introduce me to my clients. I didn't like the energy there. It was utter cacophony. It was not pleasant and the smells were not pleasant. I hate how this society takes the elderly and dying and shuts them up in little rooms so that they can "die" out of sight. Every room has its own air-conditioner and that's all they ever get to breathe. The first question I asked my rep was if the residents ever get to go outside and enjoy some fresh air. She said that some do and if I want to take my clients outside, I have to get a nurse to put them in their chairs. My clients will be getting fresh air. And I'm going to bring in some lavender scent to their rooms for aromatherapy.

I met Jane first. At 97 this woman had it all together. Yes, she talked slowly. It took time for her to dredge up the memory and find the words. But I was patient. I just sat there with my heart chakra open and I felt love flow thru me. I am a Reiki practitioner and sometimes, energy just oozes out my hands when I'm near someone who needs energy. Jane needed energy and I let it flow. Janes diagnosis is "adult failure to thrive". She was positively animated at the end of our visit. Jane told me she loved to garden, so I'm going to pick up a picture book of gardens for her so she can escape to a picture garden when she needs to.

I met John next. John liked to dance and he even danced on the Lawrence Welk show in his younger years. John likes looking out his window at the birds and the squirrels so I'm going to get a picture book for John too.

I read somewhere that the universe never forgets a life and that the memories and experiences of that life are thrown into the mix where all benefit from that life.

My brother died alone. And he died believing that he didn't matter. I volunteered for hospice so that no other human being passes from this world the way my brother did. Jane and John will know that they are cared for. They will know that they were valued. And I will not mourn them too deeply because I believe that they are going to a better place and I will know that their last days will be full of love and kindness and compassion and caring and respect. We will all pass from this world someday and I can't think of a better way to go.
gently,lauralee