An Alarming Exit...

Just as we form different levels of friendships in our lives, in hospice work we sometimes develop special attachments to certain patients.  Earlier today we lost one of these extra special patients.

To say this patient could be feisty is putting it mildly, and the staff had to come up with very creative ways to provide her basic care at times.  Resistive one moment, the switch would flip and she would be sweet and loving the very next moment. 

Having dementia she lived at a facility so she could get the required 24/7 care, and her favorite activity was to walk, for hours on end, round and around the hallways.  For her safety she wore an ankle alarm to alert the staff if she wandered somewhere she shouldn't.

After someone passes it is customary to clean the body, dress them in clean clothes, and arrange to appear comfortable.  The nurse completed these tasks and assisted the person removing the body in getting her loaded and ready for transport. 

As the patient was making her last trip down the hall there was more than one tear being shed by the staff that had loved and cared for this woman.  A very serious, respectful quiet and then the mortuary worker pushed her through the first of a series of doors and set off the alarm.  They had forgotten to remove the ankle alarm!  Of course the sounding of the alarm brought a huge number of staff running and once they realized who was setting off the alarm the somber tone turned to one of great humor.  Not a lot to be done now except keep going through the remaining series of doors, each time setting off not only the alarm but another round of laughter from the staff.

What a perfect exit.  Sort of one last parting gift from the patient if you will.  This "gift" not only left smiles on the staff's faces but leaves them with a great story to remember the patient by.

Can you think of a better exit???