The Hospice Team: Who We Are and How We Care

There are many misunderstandings and apprehensions surrounding hospice, but this series of 21 essays from 9 disciplines of hospice care demonstrate that the end of life can be filled with profound comfort and hope. From the experiences of those who work in this field, you will discover what hospice truly is and the many ways in which the care team supports those who are approaching the end of life. The efficacy of hospice care lies in the careful coordination and individual contributions of the interdisciplinary team members. Their deeply personal, compelling, and honest accounts express a unifying theme of working together to lessen pain and suffering—physical, spiritual, emotional, familial—at a very vulnerable time for patients and their loved ones. The essays also dispel common misconceptions about hospice, including the idea that it supports the hastening of death. This book provides an enlightening and comforting read, illuminating how the grief, helplessness, and fear that invariably accompany dying and death are lightened by the boundless compassion and caring of these committed team members. WHO WE ARE: Written from different gender, racial, and cultural backgrounds, these inspiring essays reflect the breadth of expertise in the hospice team, which includes physicians, certified nurse assistants, chaplains, bereavement counselors, nurses, social workers, music therapists, volunteers, and an integrative therapist/volunteer coordinator. HOW WE CARE: Through personal and compelling stories, the team members describe how they explain conditions and what to expect to patients and families; are present to walk family members through the end of life; use faith and/or individual spirituality to honor each person; forge unforgettable relationships with patients and families; chose this career and never want to leave the profession. Read more