Created through a partnership with Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Anne Arundel Department of Heath and Leadership Anne Arundel, Lifetime Chronicles has become a highly valued service of Hospice of the Chesapeake's volunteer program.

Lifetime Chronicles is a unique program that pairs volunteers with selected hospice patients who wish to share some of their life stories with eager listeners. Their stories become a journal that is given as a gift to the patients and families.

 A Life Review
As patients are nearing the end of life, they may find it helpful to reflect upon their lives. Through a written journal, audio or video interview or photo album, many find the opportunity to preserve some of their experiences and look back upon cherished memories as a valuable part of their end-of-life journey.

An Enriching Experience

• A hospice staff member arranges a visit with the patient at a specific time and place, based on the patient's comfort.
  
• The volunteer completes the interview in approximately two hours.
  
• Session lengths are monitored to avoid tiring patients, and interviews may be conducted in more than one session.

In creating a Lifetime Chronicle, different types of reviews may be developed depending on the patient:

WRITTEN JOURNAL
Using questions from a life review form, volunteers interview the patient, allowing the patient to determine the pace and direction of the interview.

PHOTO MEMORY ALBUM
In these cases, the patient and family are asked to prepare by selecting a few photos or other memorabilia to include in the album prior to the volunteer's visit.

A LIFE STORY
After completing the interviews, volunteers compile the interview results into a journal or album that is presented to the family.

For more information about our Lifetime Chronicles program, call 410.987.2003.