One of the hospice home health aides (HHA) went to a patient’s home. Among other things, she gave him a bath. Let’s call our HHA by the name of Jane.

“About how much longer will this take?” the patient—let’s call him Arturo—asked.

I don’t know if this was the first bath for Arturo, or if Jane had given him a number of baths over the prior weeks. In hospice, the aides are a critical part of a patient’s care. They do the grunt work of supporting the patient when he or she is most vulnerable: showering or bathing, brushing teeth, commode duties, and helping ensure there is safe movement from a wheelchair to a bed.

Maybe a patient is incontinent with bowel or bladder. Some patients complain often, others make every visit a delight. In certain homes, the caregiver—perhaps the patient’s spouse or daughter—fears making a mistake and the HHA will teach—a literal show and tell—some of the better ways to help with the “simple” tasks for a loved one.

When a patient takes a bath, naked as a newborn, he is vulnerable. When a patient begins to trust the HHA with her failing, fragile body, she’ll reveal fears about living or dying. He might share childhood tales or family memories. She might talk about an ancient guilt or a recent regret.

And many times, patients will ask questions . . . Read More →

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