| Douglas County VNA And Hospice |
Like a tapestry woven with many different threads, care by Douglas County VNA and
Hospice Care is blending of skills of many different professions. Within Hospice care,
physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, clergy, and volunteers actively
assist each patient and family in resolving the myriad of difficulties surrounding
irreversible illness. It is the "team" approach - comprehensive, coordinated care
without gaps or overlaps - that truly distinguishes Hospice within the health care
system.
Weekly interdisciplinary team conferences resolve problems and plan care for the
patient and family. In this way, team members learn from each other and reinforce
each other’s strengths. Team members also assess and refer patients to other
disciplines as the need arises. Because irreversible illness has many ramifications,
team care also includes the family.
The primary nurse or social worker initially assesses the patient and identifies
problems and needs to be addressed. A custom-designed care plan is developed
and presented to the rest of the interdisciplinary team.
Spiritual Care
Spiritual caregivers provide spiritual support, upon request, with respect for individual
values and beliefs. They work closely with community clergy whenever possible to
assess the patient's and family's religious history and the ability to be supportive at
this time.
Social Work
Social Work is an integral part of the team approach. Hospice social workers help
patients and families bridge communication breakdowns and deal with the reality of
irreversible illness. Social workers also help arrange community and financial
supports. The bereavement program, which offers support to the grieving family for
up to one year, is coordinated by the agency Social Workers.
Bereavement, a non-judgmental supportive set of practices, reminds families that
there is no right or wrong way to grieve. Individual responses to loss are as unique
as fingerprints. Multiple reactions to the multiple challenges faced by families after
the death of a loved one require the most intensive training in education of the
volunteers participating in these plans.
Dietician
The dietician works closely with other members of the team to provide advice and
nutrition consultation to families caring for their loved one at home.
Volunteers
Volunteers have a nobility of character and a gentleness of soul which when
combined with learning all of the nuances of Hospice care through an extensive
orientation program, make them a very important part of the Hospice team. Many
staff have said they could not perform as they do without the volunteers, and many
patients and families have expressed their gratitude for the extreme kindness that
brings so much comfort to those in need. Volunteers participate in both direct patient
care and support functions at Hospice. Lay and professional volunteers provide a
variety of services as part of the interdisciplinary team. They are "someone like me"
to the patient and family - a listening ear, a friendly visitor, a fresh perspective - in a
difficult time.
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Send mail to ericc@vna.lawrence.ks.us with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2006 Douglas County Visiting Nurses Association
Last modified: 04/12/06
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