By: Crystal Yang, Finch Centre Social Worker
The Finch Care Team has always been touched by the spiritual resilience and interaction between family caregivers and their loved ones. Recently, we witnessed another touching moment during a “Goal of Care” meeting with Finch resident, Ms. Lee and her daughter Janet.
101-year old Ms. Lee has always been humble, resolute and amiable. Recently, Ms. Lee’s condition has changed and she is experiencing increased frailty. Ms. Lee’s care team met with her and Janet to discuss whether palliative care may be the right approach to support Ms. Lee’s changing needs.
Talking about end-of-life care for a loved one is important, but can be very difficult. While discussing Ms. Lee’s care goals, Janet, a caring and dutiful daughter, shared how her mom’s resilience and life philosophy became her strength to face her own hardships.
“Mom always taught me no matter how difficult life is, be calm and resilient by taking one step at a time. I believe that is why she is always so peaceful and acceptant,” Janet shared, as she looked at the calm and kind face of her mom.
Janet was tearful and full of gratitude as she reminisced on Bai Juyi’s “A Pair of Swallows on the Beam,” a poem about parenthood and life’s journey that she and her mom used to recite together. Hearing the familiar poem, Ms. Lee smiled warmly as she looked at her daughter.
