Similar to Veronica we have done likewise to include private caregivers as bereaved, if they wish to be listed as such. We assess both their risk level and their preferences for what kinds of services they'd like which thereby shapes the careplan thereafter. Some appreciate being included in mailings only, while others, perhaps because their relationship was longer with the patient for instance, they are interested in a few telephone calls or counseling sessions with one of our staff. Typically we have not had them interested in group to my memory – unless they have also experienced personal losses and it's the multiple loss experience that brings them to work with us in that way as well.
For those patients that have died in facilities, also like Veronica, we send a card. Depending on the facility's experience, there are times they have ask our staff to come in and hold open office hours for staff to drop in to visit and talk with a bereavement professional about the grief process and to offer information and support for coping. That has been more common if it was perhaps a newer set of staff with little experience, or if a patient died suddenly or in a way that may have been experienced as more difficult by the staff. We have also assisted in some residential homes where a patient was a resident for potentially decades, and partnered to create and facilitate a memorial of sorts for the residents and staff who may not go to what kind of service a family may or may not hold for the person who died. Finally, there have been some facilities we have built relationships with that inquire about our partnering with them to create special annual memorials for their staff and residents to participate in that honor and remember those residents who died in the year. There are some activities directors whom I have really enjoyed working with to create some special ways of approaching this together.
Joelle Osterhaus, MSW, LCSW, LICSW, ACHP-SW (she/her)
KPNW Hospice & Palliative Care Psychosocial Services Manager
"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming it." - Helen Keller
Kaiser Permanente Northwest
Continuing Care Services 2701 NW Vaughn St., Ste. 140, Portland, OR 97210-5344
Cell Phone: (503) 312-0819
Main Office: (503) 499-5200
Fax: (503) 499-5535
Bereavement Program Sharepoint Site: https://sp-cloud.kp.org/sites/teams-nwreg-NWAmbulatoryCare/CCS/Hospice/SitePages/BS.aspx
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