My Journey to Hospice
Written By Lisa Pahl, LCSW, APHSW-C
Growing up on a farm in a small Northern Michigan village, I always knew I wanted to help people. Through 4-H,Girl Scouts and small-town life, I learned the importance of community and a strong support system.
I pursued my social work education earning my bachelor’s from Michigan State and receiving my master’s in social work from the University of Michigan in 1999.
While studying, my father was diagnosed with leukemia, forcing him to confront his mortality and reshape his priorities. This experience sparked my interest in “mortality awareness” and how living with the knowledge our time is finite can improve our lives.
Eighteen years ago, I began my career in end-of-life care as a hospice social worker in Los Angeles. From the start, I felt a deep passion for guiding people and their families through life’s final stage. Additionally, I have seven years of experience in emergency medicine, where I observed how fearful and unprepared people are when it comes to discussing death.
When people avoid thinking or talking about death, they often neglect to make end-of-life preparations. This can leave families facing conflict and uncertainty when making medical decisions and settling affairs after their loved one's passing.
A few years into my career as a hospice social worker, I met Joe, a patient in his early 40s with two young children, battling pancreatic cancer. He was on hospice with us for just over two weeks. From the start, he was in the final stages of life, unable to communicate, leaving his wife Lori with difficult decisions. Lori did her best, but after Joe's death, she grappled with whether she had honored his wishes. In supporting Lori through her grief, we discussed the fear people have around talking about death. This experience inspired me to make it my mission to normalize conversations about death and help people prepare for the end of life.
I feel privileged to support families through their hospice journeys and provide the tools to better prepare for this final stage.
Hospice Care: Compassion and Dignity in Life’s Final Stage
Torrance Memorial Hospice embraces a philosophy that emphasizes quality of life, comfort, and family support during a patient’s final stage of life. Hospice care is not about hastening or postponing death; it’s about affirming life and supporting patients to live their last days with dignity, surrounded by loved ones. Our Hospice team provides patient-centered care, involving families and caregivers in decision-making, offering emotional and spiritual support, and honoring the patient’s wishes.
Hospice also includes invaluable support for families, including companionship from dedicated volunteers, respite care, and bereavement counseling for loved ones after a patient’s passing. For patients with a life expectancy of six months or less, hospice care focuses on comfort and provides a supportive space to address both physical and emotional needs.
This November, as we celebrate National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, we want to acknowledge the remarkable work of our Hospice and Palliative Care teams at Torrance Memorial. Both teams bring extraordinary compassion and expertise to their roles, supporting patients and their families through some of life’s most challenging moments.
Hospice Care: Compassion and Dignity in Life’s Final Stage
Torrance Memorial Hospice embraces a philosophy that emphasizes quality of life, comfort, and family support during a patient’s final stage of life. Hospice care is not about hastening or postponing death; it’s about affirming life and supporting patients to live their last days with dignity, surrounded by loved ones. Our Hospice team provides patient-centered care, involving families and caregivers in decision-making, offering emotional and spiritual support, and honoring the patient’s wishes.
Hospice also includes invaluable support for families, including companionship from dedicated volunteers, respite care, and bereavement counseling for loved ones after a patient’s passing. For patients with a life expectancy of six months or less, hospice care focuses on comfort and provides a supportive space to address both physical and emotional needs.
Learn more by visiting www.torrancememorial.org/medical-services/hospice/
