Today marks the beginning of National Social Worker’s Month! National Social Work Month, observed throughout March, uplifts the social workers of our country and celebrates their constant contributions to our society. These professionals use psychology and sociology to solve social issues and improve individual lives – and it’s no easy feat! Social work can be emotionally draining, require long hours,…
Did you know that March is National Social Work Month? Our social workers are a vital part of our hospice team, providing emotional support, kindness, and a huge range of resources to help families and patients navigate the details of end of life care. Our social workers help dreams come true (recently one of our patients was able to go…
We love the work we do at hospice. So often people will say to us, “I don’t know how you do what you do!” But if you’ve worked in hospice you know: It’s all a blessing. One things that does help is having our four-footed beloved at home to shower us with love, cuddles, and plenty of requests for treats.…
For many families, the end-of-life journey they make with their loved ones is among the toughest and most sacred times of their entire lives. Having the right team along for support helps not only in managing your loved one’s symptoms effectively but also in finding kind and compassionate care that helps your whole family get the most from the precious…
Greetings, everyone! It’s not “officially” fall yet, but have you noticed that there’s more yellow in the trees and the fields are looking golden? We’ve just finished preparing and mailed out our new fall bereavement newsletter. This issue includes a reflection on grief at the changing of the seasons, a book review of our favorite children’s book on grief, “The…
Last night one of our RNs on call went to visit a new patient who was suddenly experiencing pain. She drove to the patient’s home and quickly got a sense of what was needed, reassuring the family and calming the patient. She knew just which pain medications would help—in which doses, given at what times—and an hour or so later,…
Our chaplains at Suburban Hospice have started a new blog called “A Morning Grace,” sharing each weekday a reflection on living with faith. Also on this blog, we post daily “Shift Prayers” for all healthcare workers responding to the COVID-19 crisis. We invite you to follow our blog and add your inspiration and encouragement to our own!
Many people know that hospice offers a much-needed level of expert and compassionate care for patients who are nearing the end of their lives. But often patients and families–and even medical professionals and staff–get confused as they try to determine when the right time for hospice care may be. The short answer to this question is that patients who are…
“Caregiver” is a big label that can encompass any number of things when you are caring for a loved one at home. According to the two-tiered study, Home Alone, and Home Alone Revisited, funded by the United Hospital Fund and the AARP, caregivers often feel as though they have taken on the labels of both “skilled nurse” and “home manager.”…
During our morning meeting time this morning, several of our team members told stories about people who noticed their hospice name badges out in public and came up to say, “Thank you for what you do!” or to share a story about a loved one in their life who received hospice care. This is something we all share: Once hospice…