What went well? 

I was able to directly interact with many of the Hospice patients, including in-person visits to their places of residence and being able to talk with them about their lives and conditions.  Most hospice patients are entering a period of their condition where they are seeking comfort rather than cure, so the work of volunteers is crucial in making sure that they feel comforted in their final months.  The first two weeks included a lot of learning in terms of procedure and scheduling of visits, but overall I was able to adjust well to my new role.

What could have been done differently? 

I think that for the most part, things have gone smoothly.  However, if I had to change one thing, I would organize my visits more close together such that I would be able to spend more time with each individual patient.  Generally, it can feel rushed when I have to be in multiple places during the same day.  I am also planning on conducting more outreach to communities outside the usual scope of the areas that the hospice organization services, since they are actively looking to work with more communities that need their help.

What were some of the issues?  

Some of the issues included patients being unfamiliar with me at first, making it more difficult to communicate with them, and not knowing how to approach outreach at first, since this area of healthcare is one relatively new to me.

What do I plan to do next? 

Next, I plan on continuing my patient visits regularly, as well as starting to learn how to conduct bereavement calls.  Bereavement calls are routine calls conducted weekly with the loved ones of deceased patients, to check in during the difficult time and to make sure they have access to full, free counseling services if desired.  I am also planning on beginning in-person outreach to different care facilities through various activities such as ice-cream socials and balloon badminton.  These events bring joy and comfort to all patients at these facilities, including those serviced by the hospice organization and those who are not.