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Introducing myself

Started by Plum1

15 Dec 2011, 2:03 AM

I am Plum1 and am looking forward to taking part in these conversations. My life has frequently been filled with seniors, and this has been a blessing. Just now, all the significant persons in my life are older than myself, and I am a senior myself. I care for my parents who are 100 and 90 years old. I belong to a religious community where I am the youngest, and the oldest are 97 years old. This past year, I have visited a group of older women in a nursing home on a regular basis, and I volunteered on a palliative care unit.

It is not always easy to see the diminishment of those I love and whom I have known in their far more active days. And yet, they teach me how to age and face loss in a graceful and wholesome way. Staying keenly interested in life and the world, continuing to care for others in ways that are possible, remaining alert to beauty in their midst, feeling grateful always - these are the qualiities I see and love in them. It is a joy to share my affection and support with them in every way I can imagine. And I hope that as they face their deaths I will walk with them, living together the many feelings of each moment.

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Reply by Tian

15 Dec 2011, 5:18 PM

Your post is beautiful and truly inspiring Plum. There is a great need for people like you. Your loved ones are very fortunate to have you accompanying them on their journey although they did contribute to you being the person you are. I would just caution you that if it should unfold that the final days approach concurrently for several loved ones, that you don't burn out from the great empathy you have.

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Reply by Plum1

16 Dec 2011, 9:31 PM

Thank you Tian for your kind words and care. Should I find myself overwhelmed by concurrent losses, I will have persons like yourself to turn to. That is a comfort. We all need such a caring, listening community.

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Reply by rosaca

08 May 2012, 1:09 AM

Hello everyone,

My name's RC, and I'm delighted to be joining the group. I'm 46 years old, and the mother of three children. I'm a licensed counsellor, and work for both a human services agency as well as providing counselling services for an employee assistance program. I have volunteered as a facilitator of bereavement support groups (adults), as well as one for children and teens. Helping people work through their grief is both a privilege and an honour for me.

Having lost my father when I was twelve years old and not having support underscores, for me, the vital importance of accompanying the bereaved. I have a particular interest in working with children and teens whose loved one has died, because of my personal experience, but also with those who have experienced a perinatal loss as I did twelve years ago. I am hoping to learn more about palliative care and of issues related to end-of-life, and look forward to collaborating with all of you.

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Reply by moderator | modératrice

09 May 2012, 2:08 AM

Welcome Rosaca. Thank you for joining the Virtual Hospice community and sharing your story. You may also like to read the introductions of other members in the thread Come introduce yourself. I think you might like to connect with SusanG who just introduced herself there today.

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