FAIRHOPE Hospice is as much a family oriented organization and as it is a person focused organization. The obvious reason is that when a family member is terminally ill, the whole family is effected. As such, we are alert to the needs of the family. Any additional disruption to the sometimes nerve racking situation of caring for a terminally ill family member can only complicate matters.
For me, what is so gratifying about being a part of FAIRHOPE is that when somebody throws us a curve ball we respond; we don’t react. A good example of how we respond occurred a few years ago. It looked to be typical. A man was on service, we cared for him at home and his wife was his primary caregiver.
As the weeks went by she developed a medical condition that needed minor surgery. While recuperating she would not be able to give her husband the attention he needed. Both were distraught because to be separated when they needed each other so desperately was unfathomable. FAIRHOPE’s care team discussed how to solve the dilemma. Notice that I said “how” to solve, not “if” it can be solved.
This was one of the many predicaments that fall into the “Now what?” category. The solution turned out to be quite simple. While needing a few days to recuperate she wouldn’t be able to care for the love of her life, so he was brought to the Pickering House. Since she only needed a couple of days to recuperate, our social worker arranged for her to stay overnight with her husband; At the Pickering House, in his room. When she arrived he reached out for her. That evening they held hands until they went to sleep.
FAIRHOPE knows the solution may be as basic as helping a couple be together, just holding hands.
Author Rick Schneider
