Team approach to hospice care

It takes a team of trained professionals and volunteers to deliver quality hospice care.

The non-profit hospice model is a family-centered approach. A team of doctors, nurses, social workers, counselors, and trained volunteers focuses on the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the patient through individual and family visits, support groups, and educational materials.

This includes providing prescribed medicines and supplies, such as beds, oxygen, and bandages. It may entail physical or speech therapy, dietary counseling, or bereavement support for those struggling to cope with some of the most stressful times of their lives.

Meet the hospice team

Medical Director: trained as a consultant for pain and symptom management, providing medical supervision to patient, family, and the hospice team. An Attending Physician directs the patient's medical care.

Primary Nurse: provides skilled assessment of each patient's condition on a 24-hour/7-days-a-week basis, on-call for pain and symptom control, or to address the need for emotional support.

Social Worker: offers guidance on end-of-life issues, advanced directives, and assistance to help families get their affairs in order, plug into community resources, and provide emotional support. When requested, many offer assistance to make funeral arrangements.

Chaplain: available for spiritual support for the patient and family, and functions as liaison to make contacts with the requested religious community.

Home Care Aides: provide personal hygiene and grooming needs, and emotional support.

Trained Volunteers: provide dependable companionship and temporary respite for the patient's family. Often, they perform simple household chores.

Bereavement Coordinators: licensed mental health professionals specializing in individual and group grief counseling.

Administrative Support: updates legal documents and maintains reimbursement relationships with Medicare, Medicaid, and other managed care providers.