Gary Lester

I have the opportunity to sit in on the Interdisciplinary Team meeting for Hospice of Warren County. The typical group includes a doctor, a nurse practitioner, a pharmacist, a dietitian, several RN’s, social workers, counselors, chaplains, and administrative staff members including bereavement and volunteer coordinators.

The case of each and every person who is under Hospice care is reviewed every week. The goal is to familiarize all the staff with all the people being cared for. The doctor and the pharmacist review the medication. The RN’s, who take turns visiting the clients, tell what they saw. Several pairs of eyes are better when changes are happening so quickly. The social workers report on family issues and insurance issues. The dietitian monitors eating habits and weight issues. Chaplains report on spiritual issues. The bereavement and volunteer coordinators take notes and assign counselors and volunteers to help where needed.

This team performs at the highest level and it takes its work very seriously. There are light-hearted moments, too. One volunteer went so far as to compile these into a presentation called: “The Grim Reaper Giggled.” It was a collection of stories from her long years as a volunteer and the laughter shared with people under Hospice Care. Amazing, isn’t it, that Hospice brings joy to people even during their last days and it can be downright light-hearted for Hospice staff and volunteers? That’s quite a blessing.

At a recent “IDT” meeting, a term new to me was brought up. A nurse was referring to a Hospice client who was “pleasantly confused.” I had never heard the term before, but I’ve seen the condition on many occasions. Heck, I EXHIBIT the condition myself from time to time. But what does it really mean?

In Hospice-speak, it’s something that happens as people go into intellectual decline. They’re not tracking like they should. Memory may be failing. Health is certainly failing. Regular visitors, even family members may not be recognized. But their lighter side is still with them. They are pleasant people.

Know what, it sounds like a blessing to me. Anytime “pleasantly” can be used as an adjective, it’s a good thing.

Blessings flow around the Hospice IDT meeting table. They flow among the staff members. They flow between staff and patients and their families. Sure, there are tears, too, but when they flow, the person crying is instantly touched or hugged and spoken to in the most gentle way imaginable.

People who haven’t had a Hospice experience often say: “How can you deal with all the sadness, it must be SO depressing.” Actually, it’s just the opposite. It is uplifting and strengthening to “get real” with Hospice patients and their families. Sure, there are difficult dynamics, but in almost every case, the right staff and volunteers are in the right place at the right time. They are so good at what they do that patients and families feel a huge load lifted. The sense of relief can make what seems like an impossible situation (it is about death, after all) manageable at least to some degree.

There’s no way to know who among us will want or need Hospice of Warren County one day, but isn’t it comforting to know that there are about 100 staff members and volunteers standing by to help? I know I’ll take advantage of the services when my time comes, if I can. And if they refer to me as “pleasantly confused,” I’ll take it as a compliment. (Who knows, they may already be referring to me that way….)