Hospice Patients Grateful for Last Wishes Large and Small

While you might think of a trip to Paris or Disneyland when you imagine a last wish of someone on hospice, according to Jean Rosenbaum of the Oregon-based nonprofit “Gifted Wishes,” a simple gift of a robe, nightgown, or even food is met with tremendous gratitude from the hospice patients her group serves.

For 15 years, Gifted Wishes has been fulfilling the last wishes of patients on hospice. They are nominated by hospice staff, and the organization does what it can to almost always say “yes.” They rely on charitable contributions to fund their work and serve the whole country, though most of their requests come from the Northwest.

Bikes, Birthdays, Music and a Miniature Horse

Among some of the wishes granted by the group include Ron’s request for music, Mary’s hope for a recumbent bike, and Sue’s desire for a 100th birthday party.

One of Rosenbaum’s favorite stories, though, is about 85-year-old Charlotte, who wanted to ride a horse, a request made by a hospice social worker. While her physical condition wasn’t up to a ride, the group and social worker decided to arrange a visit from a miniature horse. Though everyone had assumed Charlotte was an experienced rider, it turned out that the octogenarian had never ridden a horse before, though she’d had a full life that included having six children and plenty of time camping and outdoors. The visit by “Sweetie” delighted not only her but many others in her assisted living facility. The only thing that enchanted her more than Sweetie was the offer of ice cream, which quickly ended the visit.

Heartfelt Gratitude from Those Who Have ‘Nothing’

But Rosenbaum says she’s seen so much gratitude from the simplest requests. “We get some amazing heartfelt thank yous. Some people are just blown away by the fact that someone would help them because they have nothing.” She says the group sometimes works to prevent food insecurity or to find housing for the unhoused. They hope to devote more resources to the homeless issue in the future.

Bringing People Together One Last Time

Gifted Wishes has sent mothers to see their sons in prison and brought relatives to visit hospice patients one last time. Some requests are for a small vacation nearby or dinner out with a loved one. Since their patients are in hospice, they sometimes pass before their wish is granted, but they are still joyful in the days of planning and preparation.

Rosenbaum says the wishes are an attempt to bring joy into the final days. “What we try to provide is joy, a little bit of happiness in the last days.” Rosenbaum started to cry when she shared her gratitude for being able to grant these wishes. “It’s the greatest honor to be affecting somebody’s final hours in a positive way,” she said with emotion. 

How You Can Give or Receive Help

Rosenbaum says charitable giving has been down recently, so their group works to ensure they can negotiate wishes that meet patients' needs without being too expensive to fund.

Gifted Wishes relies on donations for the work they do. You can find information about how to donate on the group’s website. To receive help, the patient must be referred by a hospice. They help to vet the requests, and the group does what they can to almost always approve them. Hospice workers can find the application form here.

Planning for End-of-Life

Programs like Gifted Wishes aim to improve the lives of hospice patients. Planning ahead for what comes next can also give peace of mind and lift the burden off other family members. Our website offers many tips on how to get your affairs in order.