Customer Reviews

When Evening Comes: The Education of a Hospice Volunteer

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is an excellent book for anyone interested in hospice work. But beyond that, I would recommend it to anyone who is facing the death of someone close to them, or ever will, or anyone who just wants to understand better before facing their own end of life. Christine Andreae, writing about her own experiences as a hospice volunteer, shows us that there are no hard and fast rules about what you should or shouldn't do when helping people face the end of a life. Tears are okay, but so is laughter. Questions are okay, even if no one knows the answer.

Sooner or later, we all lose someone very important to us. Reading this book won't make that process easier, but it will help you develop a deeper understand of the process of dying--and how it affects all those who know the dying person differently.

This book provides an extremely personal insight of how, even as a stranger, one can be supportive of someone who is dying. It's a sad story, of course, but one that is rich in uncovering the meaning of life.

It really makes you stop and recognize what's important--and what isn't and remember just how precious and short life really is.

Christine Andreae has done a masterful job of letting us in on the details of life as a hospice worker. We see the mundane routines and the difficult relationships as well as the deep stirrings evoked by connections with souls at a turning point. The book's rhythms keep the reader thoroughly engaged. There is no sugar coating here. There is an abundance of honesty and soul. Anyone involved with death and dying (isn't this all of us?) should read this book

This book provides the reader with an poignant story of the author's experience as a hospice volunteer. Christine Andreae provides the reader with a real look at end of life care. I think it would be a great resource for anyone wanting to volunteer with hospice patients and for anyone who has had to deal with someone with a terminal illness

I have read many excellent books on the subjects of death, dying and hospice. This was not among them. The beginning was interesting and compassionate (Bivie), however I felt the long pages documenting the dying process of one patient in particular (Amber) were needlessly judgmental and unkind. The author obviously was not able to make a human connection with her patient. Perhaps the facts were accurate, but I would not appreciate having the author as my hospice volunteer. A real downer.

This was a great book given to a adult home caregiver to understand the loss process

This book was interesting to read as I am a new hospice volunteer, but I really didn't get any real direction from it. It simply revealed the author's experience with some dying patients. I was hoping for some enlightenment as to how to talk to patients under hospice care and how to initiate a meaningful relationship.

I got mislead by all those great reviews about this book and bought it. Big mistake!!!! This book is painstakingly boring to read, didn't really contribute to my knowledge and has very little to offer from the scientific point of view. I do agree with those who rate the book as being compassionate, heart-felt and inspiring, but they didn't mention how incredibly boring it is to read. I've read several books on death, dying and hospice care, and Mrs. Andreae's title is absolutely the worst, bar none. I recommend reading The private worlds of dying children, Facing death finding hope, The needs of the dying, any book by E. Kubler Ross (Life lessons in particular), Healing the dying and Final gifts.