As the world marks two years since the COVID-19 outbreak, many may be looking to 2022 with apprehension. The pandemic has changed the way we do almost everything — and that’s especially true for healthcare providers. Unsurprisingly, 2022 may look very similar to 2021 in the palliative and hospice care industry as the pandemic continues.
“A poster child” for the volunteer companion position is how Volunteer Manager Tiffany Fuller of Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care in Oklahoma City describes Jinx Hudson.
Anyone experiencing grief this time of year can tell you that the holidays are especially hard. They come with expectations of happiness, pleasant gatherings with family and friends, decorations, and special food. Now, through a choice no one made, the holidays are missing someone integral to those celebrations.
The holiday season is generally thought of as a time of friends and family gathering together in celebration. But loneliness during holidays is a common experience for many people. This can occur because you are separated from your family due to distance, circumstances like COVID-19 restrictions, or interpersonal conflict.
The holidays are a time for gathering with family. With many families dealing with long separations throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be startling to see how much a loved one has changed since your last visit. It is important to take note of physical, behavioral, or cognitive changes and take steps to ensure your loved one is getting the care they need.
“This is something I was meant to do,” Diana Searls said. “I just knew it.” Diana volunteers as a companion to four patients receiving end-of-life care from Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care in Dayton. She visits with each patient three times a month and sees a fifth patient in an as-needed, respite capacity.
