Hospice nurses are registered nurses (RNs) who provide care for critically ill patients. They work with patients, their families and other healthcare professionals during the final stages of life.
Bereavement care is an essential component of hospice care that includes anticipating grief reactions and providing ongoing support for the bereaved over a period of 13 months. While the terms are often used interchangeably, bereavement refers to the state of loss, and grief is the reaction to loss
The hospice social worker is a certified medical social worker (MSW). Social workers have in-depth knowledge and expertise in working with ethnic, cultural, and economic diversity. They are concerned with enhancing quality of life and promoting well-being for patients, families, and caregivers.
Volunteers fill the gap between loved ones and professional caregivers. Volunteers will be there even when friends and family find it hard to do so. Volunteers don’t have the emotional attachments that family does. They are trained to meet the needs of patients and families. They visit on a schedule, yet are open to change as needed by the patient’s health and interests.
During times of upheaval and change in life, we all may experience seasons of deep doubt and questioning. We may feel uprooted, lonely, and utterly helpless. Sometimes we respond with depression, other times with silence, and still other times with rapid activity and an effort to prove to ourselves that we are still in control. Beliefs that once made sense and no longer seem valid.
In addition to the nurses, doctors, and social workers who care for terminally ill patients, a dietitian can also provide support to the hospice care team. By addressing the eating problems that can be common with hospice patients, including loss of appetite, nausea, and weight loss, a dietitian can be an important source of information for improving overall quality of life.
Hospice aides are essential members of the hospice team. The hospice aide provides personal care and light housekeeping services to your loved one no matter where they live – in their own home, a skilled nursing facility, assisted living facility, in patient units, hospitals, etc. In short, aides perform their services wherever your loved one resides.