No One Dies Alone Program offers patients presence at end of life
By Nick Houser
(SACRAMENTO)
Unfortunately, not every patient who comes through the doors of UC Davis Health has family or friends who can provide comfort, support and their presence during a patient’s final moments.
UC Davis Health’s No One Dies Alone (NODA) program ensures that no patient has to face the end of life alone.
“NODA provides that reassuring presence and companionship to those patients who would otherwise be alone,” said Neelam Chandra, who works in Palliative Care. “This is a deeply meaningful program. It offers patients the most valuable of human gifts: a dignified death.”
It’s all done through the efforts of volunteers – typically members of the community and student volunteers – and with the support of the nursing staff. Volunteers offer their time and presence bedside for patients expected to pass within 48 to 72 hours.
The program would be thrilled to add more volunteers, including staff, faculty, students and retirees.
The program journal allows volunteers to document their experience.
Fazila Shirinzada is a UC Davis Health employee and NODA volunteer since December 2023. She has sat with multiple patients and provided one first-person point-of-view account.
“There's a certain level of preparation that goes through one's head when they know they are about to enter a dying patient's room, carrying the responsibility of being there for them, understanding full well your conversation with them may consist of their last words before time of death is called,” she said.
She said every patient she has supported so far has been unconscious.
“My efforts run on pure hope - hope that they can sense they truly are not alone,” Shirinzada said.
She said she asks patients questions in hopes the questions invoke memories. The questions involve childhood memories, questions about family members, favorite things to do, career, and more. When she runs out of questions, she reads out loud.
“A big thank you to all those who are associated with the implementation of this program, and the wonderful volunteers who allow it to have the impact that it does,” Shirinzada said.
To learn more about the NODA program, or how to request a NODA volunteer for a patient, click here. If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, please reach out to Neelam Chandra.
