At New England Hospice, we use an interdisciplinary team approach to provide both patients and families with the best care possible. Physicians, nurses (RNs and LPNs), Home Health Aides (HHA), social workers, bereavement counselors, chaplains and volunteers all work together with you to create and implement a plan of physical, emotional and spiritual care that will meet your needs.

Roles and Responsibilities of the New England Hospice Team

Each team member has a special area of focus and expertise so that by working together they can address the full spectrum of medical, nursing, emotional, spiritual, or nutritional needs and goals you may have. Think of yourself as a member of this team and feel free to speak openly and honestly with any team member at any time. Sharing your thoughts and wishes with them will help achieve the best possible results for yourself and your loved one.

Depending on your personal needs and desires, you may see some team members more often than others. Below are the roles and responsibilities of the professionals assigned to your team so that you know what to expect.

The Nursing Team

Nurse Case Manager:

·   Acts as the liaison between the doctor and other team members so everyone is aware of any special patient-care needs

·   Ensures that the plan of care is well coordinated and best meets patient and family goals

·   Creates an environment where patients and families can express themselves freely

·   Offers comfort and support

·   Educates and informs patients and families about the patient’s illness and the dying process

·   Explores medical and non-medical options to relieve pain and other symptoms

A registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN):

·   Monitors pain and other symptoms and provide interventions

·   Administers medication and treatments

·   Provides teaching and information about the dying process

·   Offers ongoing support to both patient and family

·   Encourages patients and families to ask questions and to verbalize concerns

Working together with a nurse, a Home Health Aide (HHA):

·   Provides personal care such as bathing and grooming

·   Assists with eating and drinking

·   Reports any significant changes or symptoms to the nurse

Medical Director:

·   Treats the physical symptoms that are common at the end of life

·   Treats other ordinary medical problems that may be encountered

·   Explains the disease and the dying process

·   Answers medical questions

·   Helps patients and family members understand what is happening and what to expect as the illness progresses

·   Helps patients live their lives to the fullest extent possible in as much comfort as possible

Social Worker:

·   Identifies and communicates the patient’s preferences concerning sharing time with family and visitors, accomplishing goals, planning a funeral or memorial service, healing relationships and realizing hopes for a meaningful end-of-life experience

·   Provides supportive counseling based on the combined needs of patient and their family members

·   Assists the patient and family to communicate effectively

·   Supports patients and families as they find ways to visit and say good-bye

·   Plans and coordinates discharges or referrals to home or to another care facility

·   Educates patients and families about the patient’s illness

·   Explores non-medical ways to relieve pain and anxiety

·   Helps you communicate with younger family members about the patient’s illness and impending death

·   Assists with financial planning and applications for services or benefits

·   Assists with advance directives and other legal documents

Bereavement Counselor:

·   Explores what death means to each patient and family member.

·   Promotes understanding of the grief process.

·   Identifies emotional “stumbling blocks” that interfere with communications.

The Volunteer Coordinator arranges for volunteers to:

·   Provide companionship to patients for reading, writing letters, listening to music together and other activities

·   Run errands.

·   Provide a break for the caregiver to visit friends, go to appointments, take a nap

Chaplain:

·   Serves in a nondenominational and interfaith capacity to assist with spiritual matters without regard to religious affiliation.

·   Contacts the patient’s or family’s faith community leaders or clergy as requested.

·   Helps facilitate family discussions.

·   Talks with patients and family members about spiritual and religious concerns.

·   Talks about the readiness to die and beliefs in an afterlife.

·   Helps with funeral or memorial service planning. 

·   Addresses fears, doubts, anger and other emotions, including issues of guilt and forgiveness.

·   Discusses religious differences within your family.

Nutritionist-Dietician:

·   Helps patients find foods that are appealing and nutritious, and that are easy to chew, swallow and digest.

·   Talks to family members about changes in the patient’s appetite and nutritional needs.

·   Helps patients and their family members to use mealtimes as a way to strengthen relationships.

·   Identifies foods to ease constipation or diarrhea.