Sharing Hope

Sharing Hope

Valerie J Connor, MA CCC-SLP, MS CHES

The holiday season is often filled with wonder and hope.  Most of us enter this season looking forward to family gatherings, fun activities, and plenty of good food.  However, this is also a time of year that is difficult for many individuals – those going through major life changes or facing difficult illness might have trouble embracing the holidays.  While celebrations abound for some, others start to lose hope.

What is hope?  There are actually two different definitions of hope.  One is “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.”  The older, more biblical definition of hope is “trust”.  The word “hope” is often referenced in the bible during times of dire circumstances.  Individuals expressing hope not only have expectations and desires, but they also trust their situation will improve despite evidence otherwise.

As healthcare professionals, we meet patients who are experiencing dire circumstances.  Whether it’s a illness, an unfortunate accident, or an emergency procedure, most individuals would rather not choose to seek our services – especially during the holiday season.  When this happens, we are poised with the unique opportunity of providing hope. 

There are several ways healthcare professionals can provide hope in an ethical manner.  Just a few suggestions include:

1.  Communicate effectively.  The most common concern patients express in both acute and rehab care is frustration with communication.  Taking time to keep patients informed is one way to gain their trust and provide hope.

2.  Commit to sit.  Studies have shown that the simple act of sitting with a patient increases their perception of the length of time the caregiver spent with them.

3.  Focus on safety.  Explain procedures that might seem redundant to remind patients their safety is of utmost importance.   

4.  Focus on the human element.  In healthcare, the numbers and data are important, but it’s just as necessary to remember that we are dealing with human emotions.  Keeping this in mind is crucial if we want to give patients hope.

Of course, it’s important not to provide false promises, but hope is not a promise.  It’s trust and assurance that patients can depend on their healthcare team during the worst of circumstances.  This holiday season, let’s not just focus on providing excellent care for patients, let’s also give them hope.