Please help, I dont know how to handle this.

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

Kobethegoat24

Full Member
5+ Year Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2017
Messages
222
Reaction score
122
I am a hospice volunteer and a patient I had just visited just died. I am incredibly sad. I just visited him and his son. HIs son is an amazing person and he called to tell me he had died. I am now in shock and dont know what to do. Should I go visit him and console him, or should i give the family their space? His father just died so I feel like I should give him space but I dont know what to do. Please help

Members don't see this ad.
 

DokterMom

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2013
Messages
5,422
Reaction score
12,685
How long did you work with the patient and how well did you know the family?

When my mother died, one person from the hospice came to collect her most-powerful medications (morphine) and be available to consult with final arrangements and logistics. But after that, their work was done and it would have seemed odd had they come for a purely 'social' condolence call. But that's N=1.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

Matthew9Thirtyfive

kitty cat yin yang
Moderator Emeritus
7+ Year Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2016
Messages
24,742
Reaction score
44,485
I am a hospice volunteer and a patient I had just visited just died. I am incredibly sad. I just visited him and his son. HIs son is an amazing person and he called to tell me he had died. I am now in shock and dont know what to do. Should I go visit him and console him, or should i give the family their space? His father just died so I feel like I should give him space but I dont know what to do. Please help

Unless you’re really close to the family, give them space.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
Members don't see this ad :)

Stagg737

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2013
Messages
11,208
Reaction score
14,927
Agree with the above. If you see them in the halls or they come up to you then you should offer condolences. Unless you worked with the patient regularly and were pretty close though I would let it be.
 

Kobethegoat24

Full Member
5+ Year Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2017
Messages
222
Reaction score
122
Thank you all for your answers. I did go and everything worked out fine. The son is an amazing person. Hospice is very tough and emotional. Thanks everyone
 

LizzyM

the evil queen of numbers
15+ Year Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2005
Messages
27,463
Reaction score
50,633
I'm glad that you went to see them and that it worked out. The fact that the son called you was a signal that you were important to them and they wanted to share this information with you. Compassion means to suffer with and you are learning that with your hospice volunteering. Thank you for being there for that family.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 users

Kobethegoat24

Full Member
5+ Year Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2017
Messages
222
Reaction score
122
I'm glad that you went to see them and that it worked out. The fact that the son called you was a signal that you were important to them and they wanted to share this information with you. Compassion means to suffer with and you are learning that with your hospice volunteering. Thank you for being there for that family.
Thank you so much
 
6

676188

I volunteer for hospice, and they always have someone go to the visitation or funeral. Sometimes it’s the volunteer (we provide respite care), sometimes the nurse, or both.
 

curbsideconsult

Full Member
5+ Year Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2018
Messages
894
Reaction score
1,764
Was this your first death? Being a hospice volunteer can be very challenging so it's extremely important for you to maintain professional detachment so you don't burn out. Hopefully you weren't too much in shambles internally, but if you were and it continues to happen, I suggest you talk to your volunteer coordinator to ask about ways to cope better. I'm not saying you should be an automaton. I have cried at many a patient's passing. The most difficult try-not-to-lose-it-completely experience I had was when the patient was still alive, the whole family was there, and the primary caretaker took the opportunity to talk about how each person in the room was unique and important to them during that difficult time and included me in that list. It was amazing and wonderful and terrible all at the same time.

I think hospice is a great way to learn about an aspect of medicine that people, including doctors, hate talking about. It's also a great way to grow and learn to be kind and caring without letting your own emotions get in the way. ZDoggMD has a great video on compassion vs empathy in all its formms as a healthcare provider:
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

Kobethegoat24

Full Member
5+ Year Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2017
Messages
222
Reaction score
122
Was this your first death? Being a hospice volunteer can be very challenging so it's extremely important for you to maintain professional detachment so you don't burn out. Hopefully you weren't too much in shambles internally, but if you were and it continues to happen, I suggest you talk to your volunteer coordinator to ask about ways to cope better. I'm not saying you should be an automaton. I have cried at many a patient's passing. The most difficult try-not-to-lose-it-completely experience I had was when the patient was still alive, the whole family was there, and the primary caretaker took the opportunity to talk about how each person in the room was unique and important to them during that difficult time and included me in that list. It was amazing and wonderful and terrible all at the same time.

I think hospice is a great way to learn about an aspect of medicine that people, including doctors, hate talking about. It's also a great way to grow and learn to be kind and caring without letting your own emotions get in the way. ZDoggMD has a great video on compassion vs empathy in all its formms as a healthcare provider:

Thank you so much for sharing that
 
Top