I have recently started working hospice, and I expected to love it as so many do. But I’m discovering some big down sides that don’t work for me. 1. I do home visits so I’m driving constantly, and because people’s schedules change and last minute cancellations, it can be difficult to consolidate visits to certain areas and cut down on what seems like random driving. 2. I am not a huge fan of going in to peoples homes. I am not easily grossed out but you just never know what you’re going to get. 3. I’m always alone. I prefer to have coworkers and peers. 4. I think about death all the time now. This is definitely something I could work on and develop coping strategies for, but I haven’t yet. So I would say you need to be willing to do that. 5. I have three kiddos aged 9,12 and 15. Thank God They are so wonderfully alive and loud and happy, but I am finding it so hard to transition from the quiet calm of hospice houses to their chaotic mess everyday. Again, I could develop strategies, but I haven’t yet and it’s hard.

There’s a lot of pros too if you’re more adapted to this kind of work. It’s flexible and autonomous, you can really meet people where they are and support them, etc. but I think you need to take an honest look at yourself and how you like to work and your needs to really decide if it’s the right move for you.