Bedside Witness: Stories of Hope, Healing, and Humanity

by Kay M. Adams

“When I get out of here, I’m going to hunt you down and chop you up into little pieces!” were the words spoken to Kay Adams by a juvenile offender in the corrections facility where she worked.

Those words became the catalyst for her to wake up to her true being a bedside witness and companion to patients and their caregivers.

In Bedside Witness , Adams shares stories from her twenty-year journey in hospice, geriatric mental health, palliative care, and dementia coaching. Through the intimate lens as a social worker, Kay artfully draws us into these heartfelt tales as if she were sitting with us at our kitchen table, tenderly weaving the laughter, grief, wonder, wisdom, and tragedy of our shared human experience.

290 pages, Paperback

Published July 11, 2022

Reviews

[Amy Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a beautifully written journey into an area that often gets swept under the covers of polite conversation. I loved hearing the stories of Kay’s clients on hospice and those she supported through a dementia diagnosis and caregiving. It helped me reconnect with the the reason I went into the work I do, and the connection I felt to her clients’ stories had me sobbing and laughing, often in the same vignette.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book! Kay beautifully blends the grief, humor, and ambiguous loss that often comes with a dementia diagnosis through her stories. I would highly recommend this book for anyone with a loved one with dementia.

[Sue Ronnenkamp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful, touching, enlightening read. Thanks Kay for putting your stories and experiences down in writing for us to learn from AND to honor your patients and their families. So thankful I was led to this book and to Kay!

[JUANITA M MILHOAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me after her traumatic dealings in a teen facility. It joined my eyes and heart to those suffering with dementia and alzhiemer like my mother did 12 years ago. I wish I had had this book then. It would have been a great help. Very well written 👏

[Polly Letofsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book.

[Babs M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this book for anyone with aging parents or grandparents. A subject that effects us all eventually in some aspect.