I work for a very small, rural Hospice. We usually have anywhere from 135 - 160ish families on bereavement services at any given time. On admission, I complete a pre-bereavement assessment on the primary caregiver (next of kin, if the patient is in a facility). We inform the patient/family on admission that bereavement services are available for a year following the patient's death and ask them to identify who they feel would benefit the most from the material and contacts. We encourage family members to share the material with others and at times, they call to switch the contact or decline further contacts. Because I am both the SW and the bereavement coordinator, I know all the people we care for. Our bereavement program is set up as follows:
Upon the death, I call the contact person, offer condolences, and explain the bereavement program
2 weeks after the death, the contact receives a call from a nurse that has been involved with the care
1-2 weeks after the death, an initial packet is mailed with grief information including grief-specific material (death of a child, spouse, parent, etc.)
Within 4 -6 weeks after the death, I call the contact person and complete a bereavement assessment
2 months - call from bereavement volunteer
3 months - flyer
4 months - flyers
5 months - call from bereavement volunteer
6 months - flyer
7 months - flyer
8 months - call from bereavement volunteer
9 months - flyer
10 months - flyer
11 months - call from bereavement volunteer
1 year - flyer
We also mail out a booklet on coping with the holidays to each contact and prior to COVID we would have an in-person Memorial Service two times a year.
Please note my new email address below and update your records. Thanks!
Myrna Jordan, LMSW - AHPC-SW
Social Worker, Hospice
The University of Kansas Health System
HaysMed
Phone 785-623-6200 | Fax 785-623-5465 | mjordan5@kumc.edu
2220 Canterbury Drive, PO BOX 8100, Hays, Kansas 67601
Original Message:
Sent: 9/24/2021 2:17:00 PM
From: Peter Tripp
Subject: RE: How do you gather contact preferences?
We were having similar issues to yours until we made this the standard/required practice for the person doing the admission and the Bereavement Coordinator doing the condolence calls that way you can guarantee your within compliant amount of days for contact. We add the other family members, etc that need bereavement at a different address at the time of the Condolence Call because some may decline bereavement services then you would have multiple names to remove.
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PeterTripp, DD Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator-COMPASSUS HOSPICE Upstate Progarm(Greenville/Gaffney)SCUnited States
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-24-2021 01:56 PM
From: Merrin Bethel
Subject: How do you gather contact preferences?
Thanks for your reply Peter, I think that gathering contact preferences for the family at or near admission might also help us with meeting anticipatory grief needs. Love the David Kessler videos that people can opt into!
Original Message:
Sent: 09-24-2021 01:54 PM
From: Peter Tripp
Subject: How do you gather contact preferences?
Upon the initial assessment of the patient. Whomever does the assessment enters the information into our bereavement module then we have the information if needed for pre-bereavement needs as well. We now also within our organization have an email videos by David Kessler that the bereaved can opt in at the time of death for another layer of support. Our SW does the initial Risk Assessment of the pcg at same time as doing the initial SW assessment for the patient, as well. I send out a Sympathy Card the moment I first hear about the passing of the patient and start attempting to reach the bereaved for the condolence call. I hope this helps somewhat. to your question about gathering contact preferences. On the condolence call, I will ask if there are any others that should be added to the bereavement calendar of mailings/calls.
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PeterTripp , DD COMPASSUS HOSPICE, GreenvilleSCUnited States
Original Message:
Sent: 09-23-2021 03:05 PM
From: Merrin Bethel
Subject: How do you gather contact preferences?
Hello all,
Here's my question for today:
I'm primarily concerned with bereaved individuals "falling through the cracks" of our system - specifically those whose loved ones utilized our hospice services and thus are a part the 13 month follow up plan.
How and when do you gather contact preferences for the bereaved in your organization?
For context: In my organization, when a patient dies, the social worker on that patient's care team makes a condolence call within 5 days of the death, and during that call asks the family for contact preferences, i.e. who wishes to receive calls and/or mailings? From that point we determine who will receive a 2 week call from bereavement, and who will receive our mailings. Calls are also provided at the 4 and 7 month mark, during which the bereaved person is asked to update their contact preferences.
I feel that our way of gathering contact preferences is far from ideal, because when the condolence call is made after death, we could be asking one family member to speak for the preferences of all, resulting in error in preference, and potentially key family members or friends not receiving contact from Grief Support.
Thanks in advance for your support and wisdom!
-Merrin Bethel
Bereavement Coordinator
Emmanuel Hospice
mbethel@emmanuelhospice.org