Doctor connects with hospice patients

After spending 30 years as an oral surgeon Dr. Rick Hilsabeck could have taken the easy route in retirement.

He could have kicked off his shoes and put his toes in the sand somewhere.

Instead he stepped up his volunteering, and put himself in some of the most difficult, emotional situations — helping people in the final days of their lives.

"I retired but I didn't retire from life," Hilsabeck says simply.

His work as a support person for terminally ill hospice patients so impressed the program's volunteer coordinator that she nominated him for this year's Health Care Volunteer Award, which he has won.

"Rick has spent countless hours providing support to the terminally ill hospice patients in their home environment. He provides the one-on-one connection so critical in supporting all aspects of the hospice philosophy of care" said nominator Mary Betters, volunteer coordinator at ThedaCare At Home Hospice.

She praised Hilsabeck's "gift of humor and nonjudgmental presence," both of which made ill patients and their families at ease during a difficult time of life.

Hilsabeck also volunteers as a surgeon at the Tri-County Community Dental Clinic, a free clinic for those who cannot afford dental care, and donates hours to the South African Medical Project, which sends dental and medical supplies to needy countries.

But his efforts with the hospice are what garnered him the honor.

Hilsabeck underplays his role. "I'm honored to receive the award, but I didn't go into this to gain attention," he said. "If my story propels someone else into volunteering, I'm happy."

He found out about hospice care when his wife, Diane, volunteered in another hospice. "She said they had a big need for men, for starters, but also men who would go into people's homes."

Having life experience, helping raise six sons and taking care of his parents in their declining years gave him a perspective he said he didn't have as a young man.

"I wasn't as sensitive to the needs of the elderly. You become more sensitive when you're older yourself," he said, though he's still only 62. "When you're dealing with a family and a dying person, you can't put on any airs. They know when you're sincere and when you're saying something that comes from the heart."

Hilsabeck said he's honored to share personal time with hospice patients, and is grateful he can make a difference. The impact of the job became clear to him while attending a young hospice patient's funeral recently.

"The mother of the patient who died came up to me and told me my presence was important at the end. She said it made their experience more tolerable," he said. "It was very humbling."

Source:- Doctor connects with hospice patients