One of the greatest feelings as an Ardent Hospice & Palliative Care team member is bringing a patient joy when they’re going through a difficult time. One of the ways we’re able to help patients on a deeper level and bring them this joy is through our No One Should Die Alone Foundation.
We understand that when patients have reached the end of their life, that often comes with difficult times beyond their illness. That’s why we believe that small acts of compassion can alleviate much of the hardships patients and their families face during this part of life’s journey. With NOSDAF, the compassion is spread through three categories of support for patients, family members, caregivers, and loved ones coping with life-limiting illness: Necessities For Life, Life Enhancements, and Wish Fulfillment.
Through NOSDAF’s gifts, we’re able to touch the lives of so many people. Here are just a few examples of the patients we have been able to help over the years.
ONE
When NOSDAF was first founded, we had one hospice patient who had always wanted purple hair and a tattoo. We hired a beautician to go to her home and dye her hair a striking shade of purple and let the patient choose a temporary tattoo to complete her look. Our team will always remember how edgy and beautiful she looked; that simple makeover put a twinkle in her eye we won’t forget any time soon.
TWO
Because we have “boots on the ground,” so to speak, our Ardent nurses and caregivers are able to identify and assess patients’ needs during visits. It became evident that one of our patients’ families was experiencing a huge financial strain—so much so that they were unable to purchase groceries and provide for their family. We were able to offer funds to not only buy groceries, but also take care of their other basic household needs as well.
THREE
We had a patient near our Palm Springs location who told us she wanted to put her toes in the sand just one more time. We hired transport, our medical chaplain and nurse came along for the adventure, and we took the patient to the beach. When we got there, we wheeled her all the way down to the sand and let her put her feet in the sand as she watched the tide come and go. That act of kindness actually made the newspapers and had such an emotional impact on the community (and our team) as well.
FOUR
We asked one of our hospice patients what her last wish would be, and she responded that she had always wanted to drive a Harley Davidson motorcycle. We reached out to our network and found someone who owned one. So, we put this 93-year-old woman on the back of his Harley, and they rode around the block a few times. It was one of simplest requests—and may have seemed quite silly at first—but it really brought her joy and made her life complete.
FIVE
One of our patients had a daughter who lived in New York and was attending NYU. While her father had been on hospice care for a while, his health took a turn, and it didn’t seem like he would make it much longer. Being a college student, she couldn’t afford to fly in to be with him. But because we understand the value of companionship, NOSDAF purchased round-trip tickets for her so she could be at her dad’s bedside as he was dying. Knowing we could bring them together at such a significant time meant so much to family.
SIX
Our patients come from all types of backgrounds and have an array of histories; one patient in particular, had a very profound history. He was German and fought in WWII against the Nazis. This man had never owned a TV before, and he wanted to see his troops storm the beaches of Normandy before he died. We bought him a flip-top DVD player to sit on his bedside table and found a historical D-Day documentary to make his wish come true.
SEVEN
There was a woman who had just moved from Los Angeles to Palm Springs, and while she was on hospice care, we discovered her SSI checks weren’t getting to her. She literally had no money. While we helped her redirect her checks and make sure she was taken care of, we went out and bought more than $300 worth of groceries to hold her over in the meantime.
The smallest gifts can bring a peaceful end of life to patients. While the majority of the lives we touch happen to be under Ardent’s care, NOSDAF gives to any hospice patient in need. If you or someone you know can benefit from the charity provided by the No On Should Die Alone Foundation, please contact us online for more information.
The care and support we provide through NOSDAF is made possible through donations from generous individuals, companies, and community organizations. We invite you to join us in our efforts to fulfill the final needs and dreams of patients in need; your support can make an incredible difference in someone’s life.
Share +