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Nurses help assess patient and family needs and coordinate patient care with other members of the interdisciplinary group. The hospice nurse will also make certain that necessary medical supplies and equipment are ordered. The nurse assists with symptom control and pain management and monitoring medications.

Regular communication between the nurse and the patient's regular physician will ensure that the physician is aware of the patient's status and that orders are being followed. Our hospice nurses anticipate needs and assist the patient and their family to better understand the natural progression of the illness, thus encouraging them to make a decision regarding the hospice care.

Home health aides are provided under the supervision of a nurse to hospice patients who have a need for personal care on a part-time basis. Home health aide visits are scheduled by the hospice nurse to meet the patient needs. Our hospice aides are experienced in caring for people with end-of-life care needs and have been carefully chosen to provide direct personal care.

Personal care provided by the hospice aide may include bathing, hair care, shaving, skin care, linen changes, catheter care and straightening the patient's immediate surroundings. Our home health aides help with providing comfort measures and emotional support. They also help identify patient and family needs and report any changes in the patient's condition to the appropriate team member.

Facing a serious illness can be a time of tremendous pain and confusion for the patient and their family as they continually deal with emotions challenges throughout the time of the illness. A social worker is available to both the patient and family.

Our hospice social workers assess emotional, social, spiritual and financial needs of the patient and their family. They coordinate care with other members of the interdisciplinary group. Direct counseling and/or a referral to appropriate community resources are provided. Services that may be provided by the hospice social worker include:

• Providing emotional support, counseling and guidance to the patient and family in coping with stress related to the illness
• Identifying community resources available to help
• Assisting the patient and family with planning nursing home placement, funeral arrangements, etc.
• Offering information about Advance Care Planning
• Providing bereavement counseling to families, including up to 13 months of counseling after the passing of a loved on

Hospice spiritual care is based on a high respect for the patients' and caregivers' personal faith and belief. Sentara hospice pastoral care staff is available to assist patients and families cope with the significant spiritual issues that often arise during end-of-life care. Our hospice pastoral care staff does not impose their personal belief systems or seek to change the beliefs of others.

Pastoral care includes:

• Regular pastoral care visits and direct counseling to patients and/or their families
• Being on-call and available for crisis intervention
• Assisting with memorial service preparations
• Conducting funeral and memorial services as requested and contacting a patient's own minister for additional support if desired
• Bereavement support

A vital part of hospice is the carefully selected and well-trained volunteers working alongside our professional staff to share their skills, compassion and empathy with patients facing life-limiting illnesses and their families.

These special people provide many different types of non-medical care support for the hospice program and for those coping with life-limiting illnesses, grief, and loss. From non-medical direct patient care and family bereavement support to administrative and specialty support, volunteers are an integral part of our hospice program. They are good listeners, non-judgmental, adaptable and have a strong desire to reach out with love and concern for others.

Sentara Hospice volunteer non-medical services may include:

• Companionship and support to patients and families
• Letter writing
• Errands
• Respite time for the family
• Vigil volunteers
• Bereavement volunteers
• Special event volunteers
• Chaplaincy volunteers
• Administrative volunteers
• Specialty volunteers - pet therapy, massage therapy, music therapy
• Sewing, quilting, crocheting and knitting lap blankets, pillows and Remember Me Bears clothing

If you are interested in volunteering, please call 1-800-HOMECARE and ask to be connected with the volunteer coordinator for your area. You can also fill out the online hospice volunteer interest form, and a volunteer coordinator will be in touch with next steps, including interviews, training and background checks. We recommend that people who have lost a loved one wait one year before becoming a hospice volunteer.