Letting the Light Shine Through with a Passion for Hospice
- Angelic Health Palliative and Hospice Care
- Jul 3
- 3 min read
Colette Dodd has been a social worker for almost half of her life. “I knew I loved it immediately,” she said recalling her time as a social work intern.” I took some time off to raise kids, and I’m so grateful to be back now.” While some by think it taboo, Dodd admits she had an interest in death and dying her whole life. For a short time, she considered becoming a funeral director but fortunately for all the lives she touches in hospice care she instead pursued a master’s degree in social work.
‘I grew up with nurses in my family, so I feel most comfortable being nurse adjacent. I knew nursing was not the right fit for me, but I have the utmost respect for them,” she explained. “My mother became a hospice nurse herself after the death of my dad; she went back to school at age 55 to get her RN and works for a hospice in Delaware.
“As a social worker, I appreciate meeting people in their environment. Meeting a patient in their home, be that a private residence or a facility, is like being given a cheat sheet. To meet a patient and their loved ones on their home turf, affords the social worker so many clues to piece together the puzzle of each human,” explained Dodd, “What decorations have they chosen to display, what hobbies, is there evidence of a religion/ military service, any beloved pets, is family present? And so on….”
Before working in hospice care, Dodd reveals that she did not believe anything she couldn’t see. But through nearly 25 years as a hospice social worker, she has changed her mind and her soul. “Through hospice, I have witnessed and experienced things I cannot explain that clearly point to “life” after death. Regardless of religion and culture, there are common experiences that cannot be explained, she said.” I’m ok with not knowing what comes next. I’m just so grateful to have held the hands of the dying as they take their last breath and tell me:
“Oh my God, it’s so beautiful” or “Oh, I understand” or “My Mom is here now.”
Dodd says she prefers doing hospice social work because of this connection with a patient’s life and lifestyle. “A hospice social worker is usually invited and welcomed into the home,” she said “opposed to other social workers, like child/ adult protective services. Those social workers are usually seen as punitive and can be feared. On the other hand, hospice interactions are some of the most authentic interactions I have witnessed and been a part of.
All the things we think matter: money, status, the car we drive, the fancy clothes/ furniture,
the business connections we have, our good looks, ego……all of that tends to fall away at the end. We are left with love, faith and sometimes regret. That kind of authenticity is addicting.”
At 51, the Ocean County resident is familiar with both the joys and challenges of living and working in the area’s beach towns. “The drive in during the summer is challenging but the scenery sure is worth it,” she explained. “It’s not unusual for terminally ill patients to retreat to their vacation home at the beach. It’s where they feel at peace and often have good family memories there.”
So how does she avoid burning out in this emotionally charged job? Daily yoga is her outlet. “I aim to take this peace with me throughout my day, “she says adding that syncing breath with her poses helps her to go with flow of the natural world, which includes death and dying.
“To prevent burning out in hospice, you must have a positive outlet to process this work. A nurse mentor of mine once told me to try to keep my heart open, allowing the love to flow in and flow out. Allow it in, feel it, process it and release that love back out into the world. Try not to let the channels get clogged up.”
Angelic Health is a premier provider of hospice care. For more information, including contact information for an office near year, visit www.angelic.health
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