Hills Woman Makes End of Life Easier for Hospice Patients

Clare McAuliffe retired as a paid employee of Angela Hospice 13 years ago, but the 78-year-old Farmington Hills resident has never really left the organization.

Now a volunteer, she has seen the hospice program grow from a basement room at Madonna University to a spacious, 32-room facility on Newburgh Road in Livonia. Founder, president and CEO Sister Mary Giovanni was part of the in-home team that helped McAuliffe and her family when her husband died of lung cancer.

"About a year later, she asked me to come in and address envelopes," McAuliffe said. She moved from clerical work to helping with medical records, then admissions, talking with families in hospitals and homes about what they can expect from their experience with hospice, which provides care for people at the end of their lives.

McAuliffe believes hospice is a "wonderful option. We feel the end of life has as much meaning as any other time in life," she said. "I am amazed at the courage of the patients and their families, so (I do) whatever I can do to help them."

Public relations coordinator Lisa Norton said many of Angela Hospice's programs wouldn't run without volunteers – such as its weekly high teas and ice cream socials, both all-volunteer activities.

"They also free up time ... so our staff can spend more time with each patient," she said. "It's really important for the quality of care."

In addition to outreach, McAuliffe works directly with patients, feeding them, fetching ice water or just sitting with them. Volunteers aren't given medical diagnoses, only information such as whether or not the patient wants to be touched.

The work is simply to "be present for them, for whatever they would like. Sometimes, you just have a great conversation. They love that, when they can tell you about their life."

McAuliffe is part of an interdisciplinary team that includes registered nurses, aides, social workers and ministers of all faiths. Many who volunteer have had a hospice experience, she said.

She said the volunteer experience is "almost like a sheltered workshop," where people look out for and care about each other.

She stays because she firmly believes in the mission to provide "comprehensive, compassionate and Christ-like care" to the adults and, yes, children they serve.

"A lot of people think it may be depressing," McAuliffe said, "but you really gain more from the patients than you give. I think my hospice experience has been one of the best of my life."

Angela Hospice volunteers who work with patients undergo an eight-week training course and then work with a mentor. There are also clerical and fundraising volunteer posts that require less training. Call the volunteer department at 866-464-7810 or visit angelahospice.com.