Reviews
“The Final
Journey—Complete Hospice Care for Departing Vaisnavas
provides the
reader with extensive, palliative guidelines for the delivery of care to
devotees in the last stages of life. This book is a textbook template for
caring for the dying. Using comfortable vocabulary and real examples
from
her own life, the author provides us with a sense of confidence to take on
this most glorious service—
attending to Vaisnavas during the most important phase of their lives. As
a nurse, I found this manual can serve as a resource for any person,
regardless of skill set. As a devotee, I see that this can cross
denominations and be applied to any soul preparing to leave his body.”
—Bhaktavatsala dasa,
President of ISKCON San Jose
(Brian O’Dea RN, Certified Case Manager,
Director of Case Management, One Health Plan)
It was a delight to read The Final
Journey—Complete Hospice Care for
Departing Vaisnavas by Susan
Pattinson, RN (Sangita devi dasi) for three reasons. First, her obvious
professional knowledge and experience in hospice care make this book a
serious presentation on the subject. Thus it will serve as a practical
tool for all concerned, as well as a reminder of how sensitive and
qualified one should be for this service. Then, departing spiritualists
can derive great benefit from modern medicine as it is applied to hospice
care. As a spiritualist herself, the author also gives us inspiring and
useful insights on the importance of a good death. She goes deep into
subjects like compassion toward spiritual pain, respect for one’s
spiritual desires and convictions, importance of prayers and holy
association, and relevant scriptural quotes. Finally, this book offers
great hope to the aging Vaisnavas and will inspire members of our society
to cooperate for this noble service of caring for others.
—Gopaswami dasa (M.D., Qualified in
Hospice Care)
-C.A.R.E.
