St. Joseph’s Hospice is more than a bed in a medical facility, it is a home for those on their end-of-life journey. The Heart of Hospice is our team of nurses, personal support workers, doctors, volunteers, community care team and spiritual care staff. They play a critical role in the emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being of our residents from the moment they enter the residence to the moment they take their last breath and beyond. The Heart of Hospice has and will always be our healthcare workers and their relentless care and love that they share with patients and their families at a very difficult time. Meet our frontline staff and volunteers who are at the heart of everything we do at Hospice.  

Donna Nesbitt, Registered Nurse (RN), and Rachel Murray, Registered Practical Nurse (RPN), have passionately served residents and families at St. Joseph’s Hospice since the opening of Hospice. While they both became nurses for different reasons, they share their love of helping those in need. Donna worked in pediatrics for most of her career and has found many similarities to Hospice work. “I have been in the room for hundreds of first breaths, and now I am here for last breaths. It has been such a privilege to be a part of something so deeply personal from birth to death. You never know who is going to be there, but you just hope someone will be,” Donna shared. 

Rachel shared her experience with her patients. “Although we can’t speed it up or slow it down, we can change how someone is feeling while it’s happening,” she said,

“That’s what makes it worth it.”

Rachel shared the experience of someone entering Hospice care; “Some people have struggled at home for so long. They come here and feel a burden lifted, suddenly they are able to enjoy the short time they have left. They’re able to make those memories, spend quality time with their family and feel like themselves again.” These moments are what drive the Care Team, to help people live their final moments to the fullest. 

Palliative care is about living and dying well. The care staff at St. Joseph’s Hospice focus on improving the quality of life for patients while addressing their unique needs. They provide compassionate care and support to patients and families, helping them to cope with the emotional and spiritual challenges that often arise at the end of life.

Resident families create very special bonds with front line workers when their loved one enters Hospice. Care staff are there for families, every step of the way, supporting them through their grief and becoming a trusted member of their inner circle. “It’s an honour to be trusted to love their loved ones as much as they do.” Rachel recalls one family who was beside themselves thinking that they didn’t want to leave their loved one’s side at Hospice, but battling the fatigue that comes from watching a loved one die.

They felt obligated to stay, but needed some rest in order to be their best self for their family member. The care staff banded together to create an overnight schedule where a nurse or support worker was by their side all night long, they took turns staying with the resident so they would never be alone. This simple act allowed the family to go home for the evening, knowing that their loved one would not be alone under any circumstances. They were able to get the rest they needed so they could be present for their loved one’s final days. The family have said this was the best gift they could have ever been given and the care staff were honoured to be entrusted with such an important task.

Many special moments happen at Hospice which make the work rewarding. “It’s nice to be able to do legacy work and create significant and important memories.

It’s something I really enjoy – seeing those times together that they’ll never forget,” Donna shared, “birthdays, anniversaries, it’s so special. We’ve even had a living funeral to provide closure for a family member who was moving overseas. One of the neatest things that we do is offer people time to get together. Unspoken moments and presence are so special.”

Donna and Rachel have shared how all of their experiences have made them who they are…and Hospice is what it is, because of people like them. The care staff bring life to Hospice with their unwavering love and dedication to residents and their families. They are truly the heart of day-to-day care at Hospice.

This is Hospice.

We need your support to ensure that our Nurses, Personal Support Workers and Medical staff can keep the Heart of Hospice alive. It is with that we ask you to consider supporting Hospice. As a Heart of Hospice donor, you will be a vital member of the team, making sure that funds are available today, tomorrow and into the future for all of the day-to-day support that our nurses and medical staff need to continue providing compassionate end-of-life care. Become a monthly donor today!

McCormick is generously matching your donations up to $15,000! Double your gift this spring by making a donation below!