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Typically a family member
serves as the primary caregiver and
when appropriate helps make decisions for the terminally ill
individual. The Loving Hands Hospice Team develops a
care plan that meets each patients needs for pain management
and control of symptoms.
A Registered Nurse with Hospice Experience will
continually assess the ill person’s condition and keep in close
touch with the patients treating physician and the hospice
medical director about any symptoms of pain, nausea, depression,
or any other medical conditions that need treatment. Often
the ill person’s symptoms can be improved significantly even
though the basic illness cannot be cured.
Other key staff members include the following:
A Social Worker will assess any issues affecting
the ability of the ill person’s family to deal with the illness
or with any other social problems arising during the illness.
A Chaplain will help the family deal with
spiritual issues around death and dying. Occasionally, the
chaplain officiates at the patient's funeral service upon request.
The Chaplain will also keep in touch with the family, and monitor
the grieving process for 12 months or longer if necessary.
A Home Health Aide, also called a CNA, provides
basic bedside care for the patient. The Home Health Aide
will often be the team member who actually spends the most
time with the hospice patient and family, because they are
providing the basic care in the home (or facility) and helping
the patient with the routine activities of daily living. The
home health aide reports directly to the Nurse who is managing
the patients care. The Home Health Aide will make regular
visits to the patient and family; provide help as needed for
bathing, dressing, and eating, for example. The Home Health
Aide will also check the patient’s vital signs and report immediately
to the Nurse if there are any significant changes in the patient’s
condition.
A Music Therapist uses music to enhance patients’
quality of life through the use of live music and personal interaction.
Medical music therapists use patient-preferred live music (country,
gospel, rock, jazz, etc.) to meet a variety of needs which include
but are not limited to Reducing or decreasing pain, anxiety,
confusion, agitation, depression, and isolation. Also to improve
communication, socialization, mood, quality of life, relaxation,
coping skills, and spiritual comfort.
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