This week I could not go to the Bayside Center due to personal reasons. It was apparently a very fun time for the rest of my peers, they had a blast dancing Zumba with elderly people, some of whom outdanced even my younger friends! One of my peers was telling me that it was the nicest place they had been to thus far; the very fact that these older folks were dancing meant that they were actually in shape in the first place! I thought that this was in stark contrast to the types of folks we had seen downtown, where many of them were wheelchair bound, had troubled postures, and had bodies that generally were not the most active.
Although I did not visit the Bayside Center, I wanted to draw upon my recent experience visiting a hospice patient (all information kept anonymous). Throughout my time serving as a hospice volunteer, I have visited elderly patients living in their homes, living in nursing homes, and living even in transitional housing. Recently, I have begun visiting a patient, whom his family opted to situate him in a fairly wealthy area. The difference in the level of treatment and care was staggering- they had a barista run café, vitality smoothie corners on all levels of the care center, karaoke and movie activities, a gourmet style dining hall, and many more details. My patient had his own personal room where he was attended to by many nurses and hospice staff, and he was wheeled to many social activities. I have seen the personal toll that this type of care takes, and yet, I did not detect that particular bone-deep weariness that comes with catering to every whim of a dying individual in this family (apart from the “normal” amounts of anxiety and grief). He had been in this facility for 3 years, well attended to and cared for. To give a standard estimate, hospice patients are typically expected to die within 6 months to a year. The fact that he had survived this long is a testament to the obvious, that providing an individual with essentials beyond the bare minimum allows someone to keep living.
My patient seems actually pretty happy. I’m sure the folks at the Bayside Center share similar feelings.
Although I did not visit the Bayside Center, I wanted to draw upon my recent experience visiting a hospice patient (all information kept anonymous). Throughout my time serving as a hospice volunteer, I have visited elderly patients living in their homes, living in nursing homes, and living even in transitional housing. Recently, I have begun visiting a patient, whom his family opted to situate him in a fairly wealthy area. The difference in the level of treatment and care was staggering- they had a barista run café, vitality smoothie corners on all levels of the care center, karaoke and movie activities, a gourmet style dining hall, and many more details. My patient had his own personal room where he was attended to by many nurses and hospice staff, and he was wheeled to many social activities. I have seen the personal toll that this type of care takes, and yet, I did not detect that particular bone-deep weariness that comes with catering to every whim of a dying individual in this family (apart from the “normal” amounts of anxiety and grief). He had been in this facility for 3 years, well attended to and cared for. To give a standard estimate, hospice patients are typically expected to die within 6 months to a year. The fact that he had survived this long is a testament to the obvious, that providing an individual with essentials beyond the bare minimum allows someone to keep living.
My patient seems actually pretty happy. I’m sure the folks at the Bayside Center share similar feelings.