*This post is part of the hospice terminology series. In this series, San Diego Hospice will define terms commonly used in hospice care. Feel free to leave us a comment if there is a term you’d like clarification on.

In general, hospice care in San Diego is provided by an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals trained to assist with physical, emotional, social, spiritual and practical issues of patients and families, as well as their associated fears, expectations, hopes and needs.

Members of the Hospice Team can include:

Certified Home Health Aide:
Certified Home Health Aides are trained professionals that provide personal care to hospice patients in the home. A home health aide visits a patient’s home as determined by the patient’s plan of care and may also teach family members how to care for their loved one between visits. They help with tasks such as showers, tooth brushing, changing bed sheets and dressing the patient.

Hospice Physician:
The hospice physician oversees the symptom management for the patient and works closely with the patient’s personal physician to establish treatment. The hospice physician will also work with all members of the team to ensure that the patient receives the best and most comprehensive medical care possible.

Hospice Nurse:
The hospice nurse assesses the patient’s needs, provides education, administers medications, evaluates changes in the patient’s condition and oversees medical treatments as ordered by the patient’s physician. Nursing visits are provided as needed and as described in the patient’s plan of care, and can be performed by a registered nurse and/or licensed vocational nurse.

Hospice Chaplain/Spiritual Counselor:
A hospice chaplain/spiritual counselor plays a non-denominational role on the hospice team and offers support and guidance to both the hospice patient and their family members. The hospice chaplain/spiritual counselor assesses spiritual needs and provides education and non-judgmental spiritual support, as requested by the patient  and the patient’s loved ones. Spiritual counselors also work with the patient’s own spiritual advisor or clergy.

Hospice Social Worker:
Social Workers address a variety of roles for patients and their families, including advance care planning, financial stress, ethical dilemmas, psychological stress, and grief management. In many cases the social worker will act as an advocate for the family, ensuring they receive the best care possible.

Trained Volunteer:
Most often, trained volunteers provide care for hospice patients so that family members and friends who are caring for that patient can have some free time. This break allows family members time to try and relax, leave the house, or take care of other personal needs.

Bereavement Counselor:
A bereavement counselor is available to provide support and counseling, before and after death. Working with a counselor helps loved ones learn about the grief process and formulate a plan for the emotional and physical changes the family may experience in their grief.

The hospice team provides services to patients in their home or other places of residence. A patient’s “home” can be a house or apartment, residential care facility, board and care, assisted living center, skilled nursing facility, the home of a friend or family member, or wherever the patient is most comfortable. Most health insurance plans including Medicare, unrestricted Medi-Cal, TriCare (Champus), senior health plans and private insurances, offer some level of a hospice benefit to cover the costs of hospice care, including visits by the hospice team.

Call toll-free at 1-866-688-1600 for more information about hospice care services in San Diego or fill out an online form for further assistance.