The Hospice Team

Patient Care

Family Support

Community Educational Programs
 
 

• Nursing Facilities
• Assisted Living Communities
• Churches, Synagogues, Houses of Worship and Faith Groups
• Civic Organizations
• Hospitals and Medical Clinics

In-service hours are available for these programs for medical and nursing facilities. Please call to request more information at 776-0198

Topics Available:

General Topics

• Hospice 101
  A brief overview of what hospice is, who is eligible for hospice services, how to find the right hospice, who pays for services and much more.

• The Hospice Team in Facilities
  Explores the partnerships that can be formed between hospice and nursing homes to develop a comprehensive plan of care that will allow a terminally ill patient to be given the best possible care and comfort measures.
• Caregivers: Taking Care of Yourself
  Identifies common pitfalls in care giving and offers helpful suggestions on how to care for yourself when you are providing care for someone else. 

Nursing Topics

• As Death Nears: What to Expect and How to Respond
  Explores the changes that we usually see as death draws near, as well as the appropriate responses to these changes.
• Dehydration
  Discusses the effects of dehydration on patients near death, as well as appropriate actions to take for patient comfort.
• Pain Management/Assessment Skills
  An in-depth look at the importance of a good pain assessment, what it should consist of and what can be used to control pain.
• Comfort Measures Offered During Imminent Death
  Offers suggestions on what can be done to help a dying patient be more comfortable - from ice chips to skin care.
• Alternatives to the Emergency Room: Family Education BEFORE a Crisis
  A brief look at what terminally ill patients can expect if admitted to an emergency room  versus what can be provided in the patient’s home or a nursing facility when a terminally ill patient faces and emergency situation.
• End of Life Decisions/Competency
  A look at advanced directives, including explanations of “power of attorney” (POAs) and “do not resuscitate” (DNR) orders.
• Who Should Do an Advanced Directive

Psycho-Social Topics

• What Children Can Teach Us About Grief
  Addresses recent research about children’s responses to loss and how children tend to move through their grief. Also gives helpful pointers on supporting children during and after the death of a loved one.
• Aging and Depression
  Identifies significant changes in the aging adult, not only on a biological level, but on an emotional and spiritual basis as well. Looks at differences between the normal response to change in life and clinical depression. 
• Living With Loss
  Discusses the process of grief, including how grief manifests itself physically, emotionally and spiritually, as well as the tasks of grief and how to expand your coping range.
• Emotional Aspects of Death and Dying
  Explores various aspects of the mental, emotional and spiritual transition that occurs at the end of life. Looks at opportunities for growth as well as challenges to inner peace. 
• Staying in Touch: Communication and Relationship Skills with Those Coping with a Life-limiting Illness
  Offers insight and suggestions for staying connected when life-limiting illness touches those we care for personally or professionally. 
• Dealing with the “Difficult” Individual or Family
  Encourages one to think about stressful relationships in more creative, flexible ways that get us “unstuck” and foster health. 
• Stress Management
  Explores ways that we tend to "shrink" our coping range and ways that we can "expand" our coping range.

Spiritual Care Topics

• Praying with People who have Life-limiting Illnesses
  A look at the emotional and spiritual comfort prayer can bring and how to strike a balance between praying for a physical cure and spiritual healing in the face of death.
• Life Review and Reminiscence: Finding Meaning in Life’s Journey
  Guidelines for helping people review life’s journey and a look at how to assist them in discovering the meaningful events and people who have been a part of their life.
• Spiritual Growth in the Midst of Grief and Bereavement
  A discussion of how grief and bereavement can “birth” spiritual growth for those who struggle to cope with death. 
• Spiritual Perspectives on Advanced Directives
  A look at the ethical and spiritual issues around the use of artificial feeding and hydration for the elderly and for the terminally-ill person.
• The Role of Faith Communities in Hospice
  A discussion of how faith communities can confront the issues of death and dying, assist people in getting the care they need and become an active participant in hospice care.