hospice volunteer

hospice~ : a facility or program designed to provide a caring environment for meeting the physical and emotional needs of the terminally ill. 
That is the definition I found in the Merriam Webster Dictionary.
In fact, most of the definitions were very much the same, yet as I have completed my 3rd week in Hospice Training, I find it to be so much more than that.
At the Hospital that I am training with, it consist of a team that focus is caring beyond curing.

The team consist of:

• Nurse / Care Manager
• Social Worker
• Spiritual Care Coordinator
• Hospice Aide
• Therapists
• Dietians

and

• Volunteers

That's where I fall in.  My decision to become a volunteer has been pecking at me for some time. I just didn't realize what that little voice or calling was. I felt a void, but didn't realize it was a need to serve.
I have learned so much not only about Hospice, Patients, Caretakers, Family dynamics, and Death & Dying process, but about my own dynamics and my own spirituality.


This isn't for everyone.
You have to be compassionate yet genuine. You have to know how to treat one with respect not pity. Dignity not condescending.


How I see it, is, these patients are at the end of life...We will all die one day. No getting around that. However, we may not all know when our time is near. We may not experience daily pain and suffering. Worry over loved ones, financial situations, and the hereafter.  If we are lucky, we will live a grand life and peacefully die. But, that isn't the way it is for everyone. Some are faced with long grueling exhausting diseases that deplete us. Some have a shorter illness but knowing their time is short, well, I can't imagine as I have never been in this situation.

And there is the families. The friends. The feeling of uselessness as they can not protect or "save" their loved ones. The how can I make it better...What can I do for you... The anguish of failure that I can't "fix" you.


My role as a volunteer will be one of many hats. I am here not only to assist patients but to assist families. To relieve. To give an extra hand. To give some valuable time.
I may be needed to sit with a patient. To read. To talk. To laugh.
I may be needed to clean. To cook. To help with household chores.


I will be a chameleon. I will be what they need me to be.

愛、祈りとヘルプ

愛、祈りとヘルプ 

translated from Japanese to English

Love, Prayers and Help

I know you are all aware and following along with the current tragedies in Japan.

First came the massive Earthquake,

followed by the devastating Tsunami,

and now the damaged Nuclear Plant causing much
panic and fear.

And the weather is not helping.

I too have read much in the Internet, paper, and watched
the news intensely.

Tonight reports claim
4164 confirmed deaths
12,000 unaccounted missing

I have been in awe of the amount of people that can / will stop and go help without a second thought.
I am so impressed with the many Bloggers that have written beautiful pieces and are doing so much with them for the Japanese victims.

My Blogger friend Erin Wallace did it best 

(of what I have seen)

Please click this link
HERE
Her Blog
Dropped Stitches
is a wonderful resource of ways you can help
as well as cool things you can purchase that will also help through proceeds.

I also found helpful the radio station I listen to
K-LOVE

Please remember, Prayer is Free!
We can all keep those affected by this disaster in our prayers.

This will have a domino effect in many ways.

Let's be a part of the positive effect.

Lickity Split... not

LICKITY SPLIT: A description, of doing something in a fast time. I have picked up this little phrase as well as some other golden oldies, hanging with the retirees that volunteer with me at the Hospital. My conversations have been a tad different than my usual as well. When I was "Office Mom", at the last employment, I grew to favor this title and truly enjoyed the youth that surrounded me in that office. Although my "co-workers" are very diverse from the last employment, I am enjoying their company as well. I am finding it an adjustment to decrease my pace. I live up to the name, "Speedy Gonzalez", and attempting to slow it down a notch. My co-volunteers understand the concept of, slow & steady, much better than I. They have been around this block longer than I. Most everyone that I am working with have retired and yet not ready to stop working. These folks have dedicated their lives to work, and are not about to give it up in their golden years. Some are lonely, many just need to feel needed. I am amazed how much they work. Their paychecks? A meal ticket for a free lunch (up to $7.00) per day, a pin to wear on our nifty Volunteer Vest to show off after 500 hours, and so on. They are so dedicated. They awe me. It is very interesting to get a better insight on hospitals. Something I am getting a glimpse of sitting here watching and learning.  It is very much a community. We have several patients that come on a regular basis for dialysis and other outpatient treatments. Also, I am starting to see familiar faces in the Doctors, Nurses, Chaplains, and other employees here at the Hospital. Currently I work the Information Desk, escorting  patients helping them find their way to where to go, and to the parking lot when discharged. I run parking passes and cards, as well as flowers and balloons. I also pick up and drop off specimens to the laboratory. I recover wheel chairs that mysteriously never return to the wheel chair parking area. I am still waiting to get into training for the "Help Program". That is what I was originally assigned and what I was hoping to do. That or Hospice.  I am trying to be patient but always struggle with it. Working the Information Desk is not where I want to be. There are plenty of Volunteers here, and I do not feel as needed. They are lovely, and I enjoy them. But I want to be helpful in a different way.  I want to fill that void from visiting my Aunt when she was living in the nursing facility. Hopefully that will begin this week. Please do me one favor next time you are in the Hospital. Look around. Try to remember, not to call only with that complaint. Try to remember to be thankful. From that Doctor to the volunteer. It pleases them so to be told a simple, thank you. To often we get so busy we forget to do that. One of my co-volunteers worked as an LDR nurse in this hospital for 40 years before having to retire. After a couple of years "retired" she came back and is a volunteer. She has been for many years. She puts in long hours, never complains and doesn't make a dime doing this. Just a lunch pass.  She has touched thousands of lives. She is absolutely an angel. This Hospital is Blessed with many like her. I wonder how they would run without her help. I hope she is appreciated.

Help, I've Fallen...again

I hate to admit it, but maybe it's time for me to get one of these! The advertisement says, "every senior, over 50 should have one". I am two years away from that age, maybe I should get a jump start. My Mother In Law wears one. Even though I have a spouse, ("who are you going to call if you have fallen and can't get up?") he doesn't always see, let alone hear me, when I have fallen. Sometimes, I think he wishes he didn't just see me fall down, again.



Once I was getting an award for being a great Girl Scout Leader. I stood up took one step and my ankle completely gave out. Down I fell spread eagle to all the troops, parents, and staff. (My troop still loved me).
Once, wearing Harley Davidson boots, I got off our bike, took a few steps, then BAM, hit the ground. No alcohol involved.
I have fallen many times in heels.
Many many many dog walks I have tumbled.
I have fallen walking in to work... three times within one year.
I broke my foot last year falling... in my closet.

Sometimes I trip, sometimes I misstep, usually, my ankle just gives.

A week ago Thursday, I took a tough fall. I had two dogs on leashes, one running free. I was navigating them back to the back yard when I twisted my ankle in a low spot between yards. I heard three snaps and thought for sure my foot had broken off completely. Sergio was in the house, as was my cell, he couldn't hear me nor would I scream. My loving concerned pups got me up and back in the house (sometimes it's really good to have a hundred and fifteen pound strong dog). Oh, BTW, foot was still attached, and amazingly only sprained.
By Tuesday, I was tired of the ankle wrap thing, ice packs and decided enough time. I'm all better. Against my smarter loved ones advice, I freed myself & willed myself well. I had things to do, places to go, and that ugly lace up brace was holding me back...
Until the following Thursday, when I tried to cross a busy intersection downtown Indy during rush hour, and my ankle gave way 3/4ths the way across the street. Now, a car stopped, instead of running me over, but other than that, NO ONE HELPED ME. I fell so hard my finger on the hand that broke my fall, was bleeding. I had road marks on my hip, and shoulder from my "tumble". NO ONE HELPED ME. I mean, really? I pulled myself to the curb, picked myself up, and tears running, I just leaned against a stand, as the dozen or so people continued to cross, walk & stare. Grant it, I may look like a crazy woman, and a few F Bombs probably rolled off my tongue as I took flight. BUT NO ONE HELPED ME! I think I am more disturbed by the lack of kindness than the embarrassment of falling or pain endured yet again.

Of course I have done more damage by re-injuring it. It looks as though the ligament is torn. Now it is swollen on both sides. And now I get to wear a lovely stirrup ankle brace with air bladders. {I am so cool! I know!} I am pretty sure I have an ankle that "gives away". I probably got hurt a long time ago , didn't allow it to heal and now, I am paying the consequences.

It kind of sucks.