What Are The Final Days Before Death Like? | Hidden Hustles

At the twilight of their lives, the elderly of HCA Hospice are met with a group of Vigil Angels, who offer comforting words and a gentle shower - all in hopes of making their last days easier to bear.

Wendy volunteers for a day with them to see how it’s like working in such an emotionally-challenging role.

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[susanfifer]

Hospice nurses are angels, I remember my daddy when we took him to hospice, the next day the nurses decided to give my dad a bubble bath, shave after not been able to for months, just shower/ sponge bath etc when he was at home, I have never seen my dad so at peace when they brought him back to his room… Wow it was the most loving wonderful that they did for him and I will always be grateful for that moment seeing my dad feel at peace ❤️❤️❤️❤️thank you all for what you are doing

[renae]

I have never seen anyone that is so kind and respectful to the elderly at their last days. You brought me to tears, thank you for you kindness and support for the elderly people.

[nsumkqi]

I'm crying. I lost my grandma last summer in a similar way. She was 96 and in hospice care, where she passed away peacefully under fantastic care. She survived Auschwitz (where most of her family perished), lost her surviving brother, lost her son to cancer, and lost her husband. Despite all her loss and trauma, she was still so loving. I miss her so much and want nothing more than to give her a hug and tell her I love her. 😢

[fid]

thanks wendy and the teams.. And not forget for the Nurse Amy and assistant with the volunteer, Cassandra frm Vigil Angel (Hospice) for the lovely spa for my mum. And not forget to Nurse Liew (Hospice) who was regularly came down for daily check up and care due to her difficult movement for normal appt at hospital. She was the one who suggested me to let my mum to have a special spa treatment. She had a very peacefully moment that I can see thru her. I am glad that I managed to take care of her after we lost our dearly late father in 2019 and my late sister in 2021 that was quite close gap. She was with them during their present since I married. She stayed with them only and not forget our helper, that was very long take care since my late father was alive. As the youngest sibling and only daughter left in the family member, I was feeling more responsible to take care of her after both of them passed on. I am also glad to have a support husband who also want my mum in our supervision as my two brothers are staying in Malaysia, and lucky the border is open and they at times visit my mum. As my brother who is working shift in Singapore but he came down with his family during his off day. I understand about it. Thanks to my colleague that they understand about my sistuation that I regularly take off frm work. Last no least, thanks to all my relatives from Singapore and Malaysia, my mum's friends and neighbour, and also to my late sister's friends that still contact my mum after my sister passed on. Thanks for visited her during her last moment and also those who sent her off. I am really appreciated it very much.
My mum was a great mother, also aunty to my cousins and the rest of the people who know her especially for her cook. She was a very generous to donate or share her food that she cooked for them.
I have this video as my memory about my mum.
Al fatehah for my mum, Jinap Bt Said and both my late father and sister.
Missed them..

[tashaboazman]

I'm only 22 and I was having to do this in October 2022 while my 65 year old mom was dying. It's very humbling that the smallest of things that we take for granted can bring so much comfort, even as much as just brushing her hair or washing her face my mother would smile. Pallative care givers is the kindest gift you can provide anyone's grieving family 🙏🏻

[Teamedward-btw]

I remember one patient I had, she started chemo...
Each morning I would comb her hair and she was so worried her hair would fall out...she was so proud of her long, thick hair.
So I never showed her the bundle of hair that the brush would get.
I would take it off the brush, put the hair in my pocket and showed her the brush...I would tell her, no sweetheart, you still have your beautiful hair..
And that would make her smile..

[wendygreen]

To spend the final day or days with a dying patient is an honour. Just watching the gentle and caring attention given to this woman assures me that her death will be loving and peaceful and dignified. These women need to be admired and respected and loved for the very important task they undertake. 💖

[andafterallthistime]

"I am seasoned, but I feel you."
There is so much that comes with an empathetic person that no one can understand unless they are the same way. This is incredibly strong of you to experience - I could not do this day to day or it would break my soul. It's a special person that takes on this position. Incredible. I could feel the energy through the screen. Bless everyone involved.

[ab-]

I lost my grandma on the last day of my university final exam. Every siblings were beside her death bed except for me. Knowing she's getting out of breath, she asked everyone "Where's my grandson Alvin"... My father (who doesn't tear up easily kind of person) hugged his mother in law and told her I'll be back by tomorrow early in the morning by flight.

I remember that night knowing my grandma catching her last breath apatiently waiting for my return, i cried and did not study at all (which i failed the paper in the end without telling my parent where I'll have to resit on the next semester). While trying to calm myself down and get back to my track of studying, i got a call from my mother two hours later saying that my grandma had passed.. I totally broke down and this "regrets" of mine had stucked with me ever since that day.

To my grandma, Im sorry for not being able to lay by your side and let you see me for the final time but I love you and always will.

[Ramy-qltr]

Every teenage student should be made to attend these sessions as part of their national education.

[frankferrandiz]

In 2000 i was diagnosed with hydrocephalus at 46 years old. I went through 9 brain surgeries, I was in a COMA on my 7th surgery. As i was told i was near brain dead. During that time i was in the coma, I felt as if i was in a room. I was drawn into this room deeper. i did not walk as i can remember, i floated. (if you close your eyes really tight, you will see speckles of flashing light.) The further i went into this room, I became more at peace. I though about my 4 kids who were very young. But I was at peace knowing they will be fine and i would see them soon. As i went deeper into this room the speckles of like faded away, and it was very very peaceful. When I was in this room I had no worries at all. Nothing bothered me at all. Its very hard to explain., , , , Then my father who passed away 20 years ago, stepped in front of me. We had a very long talk, at the end of this talk, he said to me, "Sonny you have to turn around, this is not your time." I said to him "yes dad." and i turned away from him and floated, as I went back the speckles of light came back slowly. I woke up to see my sister holding my hand, I had a oxygen tube in my mouth. I pulled the tube from my mouth and said to my sister, "I just got done talking to daddy", she looked at me as if I had 2 heads. she was in disbelief. I know what I saw and experienced. It was real. I tell my experience to people but no one believes me. People think it was the drugs.

[darcye]

My mom just died 2 months ago. I'm still grieving badly. This video made me cry so hard. Memories of caring for my mom. I was her caregiver for over 10 yrs. This was beautiful 😢❤

[Lulabella]

My father passed away in 2017 from colorectal cancer and vascular dementia. He was blessed to be in a wonderful palliative care home, although he was only there for a very short time, they treated him with so much dignity, grace and care, I couldn’t have asked for more. ❤

[qqyytlga]

This is one of those jobs that not everyone can do. I can't express how I felt watching this video but my heart is full. Thank you to all the workers and volunteers ❤️

[aveaam]

This is why i got out of nursing. I got attached to my patients/ family and i would get to emotional as they left this earth.. i could not comprehend that their end was inevitable. Ty to the nurses out there that go thru this every day.. this ain’t no easy job🙏🏻♥️

[mrxmjje]

I remember the last bath my mom received in hospice. The caregiver bathed her with such gentle hands and with such tender touches, that it brought me such an immeasurable amount of peace that nothing else could at the time. It was the last time my mom ever opened her eyes, and she opened them only for me.

[Christian-quml]

Asian cultures have much more respect for the elderly, and the dying process. In the West the care is dreadful. My grandfather died with very little care in Australia. He was just a number in our broken health system. Thanks for the upload.

[pegs]

To the wonderful lady who feels like she's making amends by taking care of end of life patients because she couldn't be there for her grandfather: the reason you couldn't be there for your grandfather was to lead you to be there for many others. Your grandfather is with you and very proud of you. You have a beautiful soul.

[OGS.Official]

Thank you to the team behind Vigil Angels and to Mdm Jinap's family, for allowing us to tell your story. This was an eye-opening experience for us, and it's times like these that remind us how lucky we are to work on projects that feature these amazing people who love others so selflessly.

[jimtalor]

There was a story a few years about a cat that wandered into hospice and soon the nurses noticed that this cat would lay on the patients bed and within the hour they would pass. The nurses caught on and would call the relatives that their love ones was nearing the death when the cat was on their bed. What I read that cat was pretty accurate.