To help students gain a deeper understanding of the core spirit of hospice care and the true meaning of陪伴 at the end of life, the Department of Long-Term Care in the College of Nursing at Asia University invited Nurse Mei Huimin, who has extensive experience in home hospice and spiritual care, to give a special talk in the course Introduction to Care Services on November 18, 2025. Having worked for many years in home care and community-based hospice services, Nurse Mei has long accompanied terminally ill patients and their families and is well known for her “dream-fulfilling stories” in hospice practice. Under the theme “Hospice Care and End-of-Life Support: Dream-Fulfilling Stories of Terminal Patients,” she used real and moving clinical cases to guide students to see the dignity, hope, and gentleness that can be present in the final stage of life, helping them connect classroom theory and professional values with concrete experiences.

During the session, she brought a handheld sound chime, essential oils, and scented candles that she often uses in hospice care, and demonstrated how the gentle sound of the chime can help terminal patients relax and relieve anxiety, and how essential oils and candles can create a calm and safe atmosphere. Through listening and experiencing the fragrances themselves, students felt the importance of holistic care for body, mind, and spirit, and realized that every seemingly small detail can become important support for patients and families as they face life’s final journey. She also shared real cases of “living farewell ceremonies,” explaining that many terminal patients hope, while still conscious, to personally say goodbye to the important people in their lives, say what they never had the chance to say, and leave the image of themselves they wish to be remembered by. Students came to understand that such ceremonies are not heavy rituals, but precious moments in which patients regain a sense of control and fulfill their final wishes, while caregivers support rather than decide for them.

Students actively participated and later reflected that the lecture broadened their views on life and helped them see that the last stage of life is not only about sadness, but about accompanying patients in the best possible way as they complete their stories. They also realized that care is not only about meeting physical needs, but also about listening, empathy, and respecting the patient’s dignity, comfort, and need to be understood. Through this course, students gained professional knowledge of hospice care and a deeper appreciation of accompaniment, listening, and respect for life. The Department of Long-Term Care at Asia University will continue to plan similar courses and activities to cultivate professionals who combine competence with empathy in the fields of long-term care and hospice, so that more older adults in need of care can pass through every stage of life with concern and dignity and contribute to an inclusive, age-friendly community.