Bereavement Professional

With the holidays upon us, I would like to encourage you all to be mindful and heart-full of the needs of your own staff.  Holidays are a time when it is much easier for hospice staff members to become overwhelmed with the many extra holiday chores, celebrations, expenses -- and even their own grief issues.  How does your hospice take care of its own staff?

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Cynthia Danals
Chaplain
Guardian Angel Home Care & Hospice Services, Inc.
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Hi Cynthia - 

We offer support to our staff in a variety of ways throughout the year. This past November/December we asked the team leaders if they wanted something on coping with the holidays and personal loss and we would tailor it for their specific team. Two team leaders took us up on that and it was received very well by team members.  I agree with you - it is a hard time of the year not only for patients and families but for staff as well.

Take care,

Diane

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Diane Snyder Cowan, MA, MT-BC, CHPCA
Director of Bereavement Center
Hospice of the Western Reserve, Inc

Original Message:
Sent: 12-17-2015 09:52
From: Cynthia Danals
Subject: Care of Bereavement and Social Work Staff

With the holidays upon us, I would like to encourage you all to be mindful and heart-full of the needs of your own staff.  Holidays are a time when it is much easier for hospice staff members to become overwhelmed with the many extra holiday chores, celebrations, expenses -- and even their own grief issues.  How does your hospice take care of its own staff?

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Cynthia Danals
Chaplain
Guardian Angel Home Care & Hospice Services, Inc.
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Original Message------

With the holidays upon us, I would like to encourage you all to be mindful and heart-full of the needs of your own staff.  Holidays are a time when it is much easier for hospice staff members to become overwhelmed with the many extra holiday chores, celebrations, expenses -- and even their own grief issues.  How does your hospice take care of its own staff?

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Cynthia Danals
Chaplain
Guardian Angel Home Care & Hospice Services, Inc.
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I will be following this discussion. When I first started working for Hospice, our CRNP would hold a little memorial service for the staff members. She would have soft music playing, lights dimmed, and would do a roll call of all the patients who passed over the past few months. If a staff member chose to do so, they could light a candle in memory of the patient. That stopped after our CRNP moved out of the area. Recently we have had a siginificant number of patients who are young. (Ages ranging from 8-40's). To say it has been tough on our staff is an understatement. Our Social Worker has decided we need to have a little service/ceremony/time of remembrance (title to be determined :)) quarterly for staff members. I would be interested in hearing what and how others do a remembrance service for their staff...

Thanks!

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Renee Gibson
Volunteer/Bereavement Coordinator
WMHS Hospice Services

Original Message:
Sent: 12-21-2015 12:48
From: David Houtchens
Subject: Care of Bereavement and Social Work Staff

Good reminder, Cynthia. Thank You.

 

And for EVERYONE, remember, YOU are part of the staff, too.

 

David Houtchens, MSW, CSWA

Medical Social Worker

 

mailto:dhoutchens@klamathhospice.org

(541) 882-2902

Klamath Hospice, Inc

4745 S. 6^th Street

Klamath Falls, Oregon  97603

 

Relationships * Teamwork * Excellence