As we all know, death is a part of life. When a loved one passes, it becomes a sacred time of mourning and remembrance for the family members.

Something we may not realize, though, is this is also a time of sadness for the care team; those doctors, nurses, and others on staff who cared for the patient day in and day out. By the very nature of their work, they devleop strong bonds and deep connections with the patient and their families.

I challenge you to watch this beautiful video from our friends at Patriots Colony and Riverside Health and not be moved. It’s an extraordinary video that shows their entire care team quite literally surrounding the family of the departed with love and support in a touching ceremony which they call a “Final Farewell.”

The video is around five minutes. I promise it’s worth your time.

Take special note of the people standing alongside the family members: doctors, nurses, aides. But there are also non-medical personnel including secretaries and security officers. Each member of the care team – medical and non-medical employees – formed a bond with their patient.

The part that moved me the most was hearing from the husband of the deceased woman who said, while holding back tears,

“If I had to arrange my own thing, I couldn’t have done it.
This was just so perfect … just what we needed at that time. It meant an awful lot to all of us.
The love that it showed and the care that my wife had gotten … it was all evident in the way it was done.”

Well done, Patriots Colony and Riverside Health. May we all have this level of care and compassion for ourselves and our loved ones.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if every healthcare facility had a similar “Final Farewell” in place to honor their patients and their families? I know it may not always be practical, but imagine the impact it could have on the families.