Melissa Plourde, community outreach coordinator, Evercare Hospice and Palliative Care
Plourde
Melissa Plourde has worked in human services for 20 years and led several home care and hospice agencies. Evercare Hospice recently hired her to work with patients and their families in Central Massachusetts and to educate health care staff about hospice. In this Q&A she talks about the challenges and rewards of working with people at the end of life.
Age: 39
Residence: Auburn
Family: Married, two children
Education: Bachelor's in psychology, UMass Boston; also licensed social worker
Previous job: Director of community relations at Senior Comfort Services
Start date at new job: Jan. 11, 2010
Q. How are you settling in at your new office?
A. I have felt at home and part of the "family" since the day I walked in. I am grateful that I have already been able to travel with my clinical team, and have watched firsthand provide such compassionate, end of life care.
Q. What's the biggest surprise you've had in starting the job?
A. I have worked in hospice before, but there is so much more to learn.
Q. What challenges do you see in your new position?
A. I spend time with grieving families and actively dying patients, and it's challenging to maintain professional boundaries when I feel so much for them. I just have to hold onto them and share those emotions with my husband when I get home.
Q. How different is this job from your previous position?
A. Both involve providing care to elders, but in this role, I do a lot of in-services, CEU programs, and family support groups. I love educating staff in facilities and loved ones about the benefits of hospice, among other topics. I feel honored to be able to offer the best end of life experience possible.
Q. How close is this to what you imagined in high school you'd end up doing?
A. Very far. I knew I wanted to commit my life to helping others improve theirs. I went to school for psychology, and started in substance abuse treatment with adolescents. Somehow, as I've aged, the population I serve has, too. I believe that I didn't find hospice...it found me.
Q. Where's the best place to get lunch near your new location?
A. I took two of our hospice aides to lunch one day and they suggested the chicken caesar salad pizza at the Corner Grille in the Tatnuck area. I strongly recommend it...Who knew there could be such a great combination?
Q. What do you hope to be doing 10 years from now?
A. I plan to continue to work on myself, personally and professionally. I would hope that I would still be giving back to the community, loving my job with Evercare Hospice/United Healthcare, and having a happy, healthy family.
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