Nurse
You will be assigned a nurse case manager who will visit with you as needed (in-person and/or by phone). In addition, on-call nurses are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer your questions and concerns over the phone, and if needed, in person. Our nurses's chief role is assisting with symptom management to improve your comfort and quality of life. This is facilitated in the following ways:
Social Worker
A social worker is also a vital member of your hospice team. He/she is available to visit in-person or by phone to assist you in the following ways:
Chaplain
A hospice spiritual counselor will visit at your request to provide spiritual, mental, and/or emotional support which includes:
Hospice Aide
The hospice aide typically visits 2-3 times per week depending on the patient’s needs. The length of an average visit is 30 to 60 minutes. The role of the hospice aide is to assist with personal care and help train family members and caregivers on how to provide your personal care. Personal care is best provided in pairs (“the power of two”), to help maintain your safety and of those providing care.
Volunteer
Volunteers are an important part of caregiving team. They are screened and specially trained to support the needs of terminally ill individuals and their families. A volunteer may perform duties which supplement (but do not substitute for) professional services. Generally, a volunteer, once assigned, will visit once a week for up to four hours. Volunteer assignments are based on availability. Please let your social worker know if you would like the assistance of a volunteer. Typically, a volunteer may be asked to:
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Collaborating with you, your caregiver, your physician and other team members to meet your goals of care.
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Assessing your medical needs and symptoms.
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Assessing current and future needs for medications, medical equipment and supplies.
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Teaching you and your caregiver about strategies for maintaining comfort, medication use, wound care, and other necessary procedures.
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Providing special nursing procedures as necessary.
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Educating about the effects of the illness and what to expect as it progresses.
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Identifying community resources as well as facilitating referrals to meet your needs related to care-giving, respite, limited legal assistance, etc...
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Providing information about advance directives (such as a Living Will and/or Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care).
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Providing assistance in completing and submitting applications for Medicaid and/or other programs to address financial needs.
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Supporting you and your loved ones through the process of anticipatory grief.
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Providing information and education related to the disease process and end-of-life stages, helping with awareness of feelings and identifying end-of-life goals.
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Listening to your concerns, either individually or as a family.
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• Meeting with you and your family to listen to your hopes, fears, and concerns.
• Exploring with you and your family any struggles with spiritual or emotional issues.
• Using a non-denominational approach (not promoting specific religious beliefs and not replacing your minister, rabbi, or priest).
• Following your lead and, if desired, supporting you through prayer and other rituals.
• Assisting you in planning funeral/memorial services as well as other spiritual observances.
• At your request, helping obtain clergy services from the denomination of your choice.
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Hospice aides are great assets when it comes to personal care such as:
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• Bathing, shampooing, and shaving
• Dressing and undressing
• Mouth care
• Cleaning and filing nails
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Their help also becomes essential with practices that require maintaining safety such as transfers and re-positioning.
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Our aides also help with limited household chores, such as changing bed linens and cleaning the patients immediate living environment.
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Medical Director
The hospice medical director has many responsibilities including:
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• Overseeing clinical aspects of the patient's care
• Providing consultation to hospice staff and community physicians.
• In-service training for hospice staff.
• Active participation in admission, eligibility, and re-certification decisions.
• Participating in interdisciplinary team meetings.
• The hospice medical director does not take the place of your personal physician who oversees your care.
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