Who We Are
For Christine Meade, Hospice Work is "a Gift"
Christine Meade has had 24 years of experience as a social worker, 18 of those have been with hospice. She says that for herself personally, hospice work is a gift that has helped her to diminish her own fear of death.
“I’ve grown tremendously during my time here at hospice, and I feel privileged to be working with such amazing people.”
She says: “I never lose sight of the fact that I’m a guest in someone’s home. And at the same time, I’m there to help patients and families with end-of-life needs.”
"I've shared both incredible joy and sorrow with hospice patients I've served, and with their family members."
Some People are Completely at Peace
She recalls a number of patients who were completely at peace about the idea of dying, right from the beginning of the process —patients who told her essentially that they’re ready to go. Meade says: “It’s always enlightening to be around these kinds of patients. We have so much to learn from them.”
Not Everyone Is the Same 
Meade goes on to say that not all patients are at peace with the process. Some, she says, are difficult to reach when they first come onto hospice. “Some people are angry, others are afraid, others are in denial. It takes time to reach these people, which is why we like to get early referrals to hospice. But we keep working at it, for however long it takes, to help people feel comfortable about surrendering into the process of dying.”
We Care No Matter What
Insurances often do not cover the total cost of this kind of care. “We provide this kind of care regardless of the compensation we receive, because it’s every bit as important as the medical care we provide.”
The Saddest Cases
Meade continues by saying that the saddest cases she’s dealt with are cases where a parent dies. “Unlike children who sometimes seem to have an easier time of letting go, parents of young children tend to fight until the very end.”
She recalls a mother who had two teenage daughters. “As a mother myself, I can understand how she felt.” The patient wanted to be sure her children would be okay, and she did everything possible to protect them from what was happening to her. Finally, as the end began to draw nearer, she couldn’t protect them any longer.
Meade says: “My role in this case was to help her feel comfortable enough to talk with her children, to encourage her to say her final words. Ultimately, she did.
We had a lovely ritual for her, where family members held hands and talked about their feelings for each other. After that, she felt at peace, slipped into a coma, and was gone in a couple of days.”
