One of the cruelest parts of the coronavirus pandemic is the extreme isolation being experienced by those suffering during the last phase of their lives and the families and friends that love them.
Separated by shelter in place orders, bans on travel, or other policies that separate loved ones, the two regional hospice centers for the Mid-Shore, Compass and Talbot Hospice, are having to change how they provide services to their clients dramatically.
As part of the Spy’s COVID-19 coverage, we talked to grief experts Rhonda Knotts from Compass Regional Hospice and Becky DeMattia at Talbot Hospice over the last few days about the challenges they face and the strategies they are now using to cope with this unprecedented moment in our culture.
We continue today with Rhonda.
This video is approximately seven minutes in length. For more information about Compass Hospice please go here.
Suzi Peel says
Thank you for addressing the sadness in families and in hospices (and hospitals) of people dying alone and loved ones unable to accompany their last hours.
And the wider sense that grief is loss – and we are all experiencing loss of routine, of friends, of culture and worship, and work with income – not to mention all the resulting hardships.
Best wishes to all working to provide care and solace.
Elaine Sefton says
Listening to Rhonda Knotts was a great help in understanding all that is included in grief and the difficulty that all those that have suffered a loss are facing now with Covid 19. She was so gentle and compassionate and smart in describing those difficulties and kind when she spoke of lack of control and no immediate solace now because of the virus. Also it sounds like Compass Regional is teaching out in many ways to those they help which is wonderful.
Thank you for this excellent and helpful interview.