Health & Fitness
Breaking Down The Wall
The hospice concept of care focuses on providing comfort and peace for the whole person, physically, spiritually and emotionally. Every day, Arbor Hospice employees and volunteers practice this compassion with patients and families. Here’s a story shared on the Arbor Hospice blog by one of our volunteers. This is a wonderful example of what we’re all about.
I approached an Arbor Hospice patient residing in a nursing home cheerfully and asked if she'd like to pet Alpine, Arbor Hospice's therapy dog. She stared straight ahead, lips tightly pursed, stone-faced. No response. I asked again. She turned her dagger-filled eyes and looked into my eyes as she shot these words at me, "I am dying! And you want me to care about THIS?"
Alpine and I are impervious to occasional rejection. Some people don't like dogs, some are afraid and others are simply not in the mood for us that day. But we have never had someone angrily lash out at us.
I was shocked and shaken on the inside. I calmly said, "Okay, we'll go." I turned and walked away - but I only took a few steps.
With no conscious plan, I turned around and went to her side, incapable of walking away with those words hanging in the air. I placed Alpine behind the chair, out of the woman's sight. I don't remember what I said as I put my arm around her shoulders. I do remember that I said something I hoped would break through the wall of anger behind which she appeared to be painfully isolated and alone.
She began, "I can't go anywhere or do anything!"
We sat in silence, partly because I didn't know what to say, partly because I knew full well nothing I said would free her from that truth.
Eventually, I said, "You sound like you're feeling very angry about that."
"Yes, some," she said, the energy drained from her voice.
"And sad?" I asked.
See the rest of the story on Arbor Hospice’s blog.