What went well? 

I was able to successfully complete my final weeks and continued to directly interact with various Hospice patients, visiting them in-person and having extended conversations with them regarding their experiences and things they take joy in.  One particularly impactful moment was a music class I did with several residents at a care home, including callbacks to popular tunes from the 1900's.  Although small, these moments can help make care personal and meaningful, especially in a time of such uncertainty and pain for many people.  I have been able to comfortably complete tasks in these last two weeks, managing my schedule to plan visits to new care homes in different areas.  I have also continued conducting bereavement and comfort calls for family members of patients, and I will be continuing these into the school year. 

What could have been done differently? 

I think that for the most part, all parts of these last two weeks have functioned smoothly and well.  If anything, I would like to have made and delivered a set of gifts for my coworkers for my final week, but I will still be working with them in the future.

What were some of the issues?  

Initial issues like unfamiliarity and difficulty with communication were, for the most part, reduced by the final week.  The environment in hospice care will always be one that is different from traditional healthcare settings, but I think that I was able to adjust successfully.

What do I plan to do next? 

I plan on continuing my work with the organization through weekly comfort and bereavement calls, which I can do virtually when I am at school in another state.  When I return for breaks, I will likely be able to continue working in-person.  I am grateful for this opportunity and the support of the Laidlaw foundation!