TEAM SUPPORT

The interdisciplinary team coordinates and supervises all care 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. This team is responsible for making sure that all involved services share information. This may include the inpatient facility, the home care agency, the doctor, and other community professionals, such as pharmacists, clergy, and funeral directors. Patients and their caregivers are encouraged to contact hospice team if they are having a problem, any time of the day or night. There is always someone on call to help you with whatever may arise. Hospice care assures patients and their family that they are not alone and help can be reached at any time.

We create individualized plan of care for each patient and family. The plan is designed and managed by a multidisciplinary health care team, which consists of a physician, a registered nurse, home care aides, social workers, counselors, and volunteers. They provide social, emotional, spiritual, and psychological support, as well as medical care. Care is provided in the home, or nursing home except in special circumstances, where hospital in-patient care may be necessary on a temporary basis.

Regularly scheduled family conferences, often led by the hospice nurse or social worker, keep family members informed about patient’s condition and what to expect. Family conferences also give everyone a chance to share feelings, talk about what to expect and what is needed, and learn about death and the process of dying. Family members can find great support and stress relief through family conferences. Daily conferences may also be held informally as the nurse or nursing assistant talks with you and your caregivers during their routine visits.