From a Distance

In the 3 1/2 years since The Heart of Hospice website launched, we’ve never missed writing to you on the weekly blog. This past week, I broke that rule. It’s not that I’m suffering from writer’s block. I had millions of thoughts on what to write. We’ve all been exposed to a swirling storm of articles, news, and social media postings about what’s going on in our COVID-19 world. There’s plenty to think and write about.

I’ve been feeling paralyzed. The social distancing makes that worse. I find myself immersed in news reports. I haven’t watched or read this much news since the attacks on 9/11. I search for the latest information. I feel distracted and unfocused.

There are a lot of descriptive words that can be used to talk about what we’re experiencing – disconnected, anxious, isolated, strapped, misinformed, suspicious, uncertain, fearful. And then there are the BIG words – symptomatic, sick.

We’re watching our friends and colleagues in the end of life industry stepping up to meet the needs of seriously ill patients, just like they always do. Using whatever means they can to keep patients safe and well cared for, hospice teams are being smart about how they protect themselves and utilizing telehealth wherever it might fit into patients’ plans of care. Hospice professionals are tired. They were already doing work that exhausts resources of mind, body, and spirit. And now this.

But here’s what Jerry and I know today.

1. Hospice teams will not stop taking care of terminally ill patients.

2. We’re not going to water down our care.

3. Patients will get the best we have to give, within the restrictions that will keep us all safe.

4. Your journey is still important.

5. We’re going to come through this.

6. We’re in it together.

7. We need each other.

Remember that The Heart of Hospice was created to support and encourage, to educate and connect you with things and people that will make your hospice journey easier. It doesn’t matter whether you’re providing the care or receiving it. We want you to know that a pandemic won’t distract The Heart of Hospice from caring for you and supporting you.

To help you stay connected, Jerry and I will be posting more frequently in easy-to-find places like Facebook and Instagram, and creating some podcast playlists for you in Spotify to help you get through the times when you feel the social distancing the most. Keep in touch with us – send an email to tell us how you’re doing. We’re going to reply to you. We want to support your work and remind you of your “why”.

Wherever you are in your hospice journey, we’re walking alongside you. Your work, your journey and all that goes with it, is not forgotten.

Sawubona. Namaste. We see you.

You are The Heart of Hospice.

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