COVID Tribute Posters | Soren Glassing
During Covid with the sheer amount of people dying, we set up a small hospice in our hospital so patients could die in comfort and peace. With my social workers, we’d contact the family of the dying patient, and gather information, such as their favorite color, their achievements, an image or symbol they loved, and descriptive qualities revealing something about who they were. Putting all this information together, I’d create a 20 x 30-inch Tribute Poster, bring it to the unit and hang it above the patient’s bed.
The profound effect this had on the staff was incredible. The doctors, nurses, NP’s, social workers and chaplains loved learning about who their patients were in life, their hopes, dreams and loves. It humanized them. It also became a major focal point when families were able to visit the last hours of their loved ones life. The posters evoked stories, memories, laughter and sadness; they elicited healing for the family on the first steps into the landscape of grief. A special note: All names have been anonymized for privacy, as well as some personal details.
Soren Glassing works as a Staff Chaplain in a large New York City hospital; he is an artist as well. IG:@Greymonkeymonk