At Dignity Hospice, we are committed to honoring your comfort and dignity every step of the way. You will be partnered with a nurse case manager who will check in with you as needed, either in person or by phone. In addition, our on‑call nurses are available 24/7, ready to answer questions, provide guidance, and, when necessary, visit you in person.

The central focus of our nursing team is symptom management, ensuring you experience the highest possible quality of life. This care is provided through:

• 🤝 Working together with you, your caregiver, your physician, and the hospice team to align care with your goals.

• 🩺 Evaluating your health needs, monitoring symptoms, and adjusting care as your condition changes.

• 💊 Planning ahead for medications, medical supplies, and equipment to ensure you always have what you need.

• 📚 Teaching and guiding you and your caregiver on comfort strategies, safe medication use, wound care, and other essential procedures.

• 🩹 Delivering specialized nursing care when required to support your well‑being.

• 🌅 Providing education about the illness, its progression, and what to expect, helping you and your loved ones prepare with clarity and compassion.

A social worker is an essential part of your hospice care team. They are available to meet with you in person or by phone, offering guidance and support in the following ways:

• 🌐 Connecting you to resources by identifying community services and arranging referrals for caregiving support, respite care, limited legal assistance, and other needs.

• 📄 Explaining advance directives, such as Living Wills and Durable Powers of Attorney for Health Care, to help you make informed decisions.

• 💵 Assisting with applications for Medicaid and other programs that may help address financial concerns.

• 💙 Providing emotional support for you and your loved ones as you navigate anticipatory grief.

• 🌅 Educating about illness and end-of-life stages, helping you understand the process, explore feelings, and clarify your personal goals of care.

• 👂 Listening with care, whether you wish to share individually or as a family.

At Dignity Hospice, we recognize that spiritual and emotional well‑being are vital parts of your journey. A spiritual counselor is available to visit at your request, either in person or by phone, to provide support in the following ways:

• 💬 Listening with care to you and your family as you share your hopes, fears, and concerns.

• 🌱 Exploring together any spiritual or emotional struggles you may be experiencing.

• 🕊️ Offering a non‑denominational approach, respecting all beliefs and traditions, while complementing, not replacing, your own minister, rabbi, priest, or other faith leader.

• 🙏 Following your lead, and if desired, supporting you through prayer, reflection, or other meaningful rituals.

• 🌹 Assisting with planning funeral or memorial services, as well as other spiritual observances important to you and your loved ones.

• ✨ Helping connect you with clergy or faith representatives from the denomination of your choice, if requested.

At Dignity Hospice, our hospice aides play an important role in supporting your comfort and safety. Typically, aides visit 2–3 times per week, depending on your needs. Each visit usually lasts 30 to 60 minutes and focuses on personal care and caregiver support.

Their role includes:

• 🛁 Personal care assistance such as bathing, shampooing, shaving, dressing, undressing, mouth care, and nail care.

• 👥 Training caregivers and family members in providing personal care, with an emphasis on safety through “the power of two”, working together to protect both you and those assisting you.

• 🩹 Helping with safe practices like transfers and repositioning to reduce risk and maintain comfort.

• 🏡 Supporting household needs with limited tasks such as changing bed linens and tidying your immediate living environment.

Hospice aides are a vital part of your care team, offering both hands‑on support and guidance to ensure you and your loved ones feel confident and cared for.

At Dignity Hospice, volunteers are a valued part of our caregiving team. Each volunteer is carefully screened and specially trained to support the unique needs of individuals living with terminal illness and their families. While volunteers do not replace professional services, they provide meaningful assistance that enhances care and comfort.

Typically, once assigned, a volunteer will visit once a week for up to four hours, depending on availability. If you would like the support of a volunteer, please let your social worker know.

Volunteers may assist with:

• 👥 Providing companionship and emotional support.

• 🕰️ Staying with you so your caregiver can rest, run errands, or take time away.

• 🛒 Running errands, such as grocery shopping.

• ✍️ Helping with personal tasks like writing letters or reading aloud.

It is important to note that volunteers cannot provide personal care or assist with transfers, but their presence offers comfort, connection, and practical support for both patients and families.

The hospice medical director plays a vital role in ensuring the highest quality of care for every patient. Their responsibilities include:

• 🩺 Overseeing clinical aspects of your care to ensure treatment is appropriate and effective.

• 🤝 Consulting with hospice staff and community physicians, offering expertise and guidance to support your care plan.

• 📚 Providing in‑service training for hospice staff to strengthen knowledge and skills.

• ✅ Participating in admission, eligibility, and re‑certification decisions, ensuring care is aligned with hospice standards.

• 👥 Joining interdisciplinary team meetings to collaborate with nurses, social workers, aides, and counselors in planning your care.

It is important to note that the hospice medical director does not replace your personal physician, who continues to oversee your overall medical care. Instead, the director works alongside your physician and the hospice team to provide an added layer of support and expertise.