The patient's care team consists of visiting team members who provide care to the patient and family. The patient is considered to be the center of the team, and there is always a doctor who oversees the medical aspects of care. The other visiting team members are the nurses, a home health aide, a social worker, a spiritual care provider and volunteers.

Primary Caregiver
Primary caregiver refers to someone who will be available for the patient. This may be family, friends, or a paid caregiver. The caregiver is a part of the team. He/she will receive support services according to needs. He/she may also be included in discussions related to the patient's care.

Primary Care Physician
The primary care physician is the first person we call with any medical concerns. The doctor may visit in the home or refer to other community resources for help with care. The Hospice Home Care medical director can also visit the patient and family and is available for consultation with the primary care physician. The role of the Hospice Medial Director is as follows:

• Oversees all Hospice Home Care medical services
• Certifies patient medical eligibility for hospice care
• Assists in developing the Plan of Care
• Serves as a liaison with the primary care physician
• Provides direct medical care as needed to patients in their homes, nursing homes, and hospitals
• Authorizes inpatient care for Hospice Home Care patients
• Is available for medical education of physicians and nurses in pain and symptom management
• Is on call 24 hours a day for medical consultations

Primary Care Nurses
The primary care nurse will coordinate care in the home. This nurse may give nursing care, teach patient care and health, request other services, arrange supplies and home aides, and provide support to the patient and family. Nursing services include:

• Problem-based treatment using Palliation Protocols
• Primary liaison with attending physician
• Pain management
• Regularly scheduled visits
• 24-hour on-call availability
• Arranging for medical equipment and supplies
• Patient and family education
• Extended hours of care in the home during acute crisis
• Support and preparation for death

Home Health Aides
The home health aide is the person who helps in the home with specific tasks determined by the primary care nurse. These tasks include:

• Regularly scheduled visits
• Personal hygiene assistance
• Light housekeeping
• Meal preparation
• Respite for family

Social Workers
The social worker can assist with concerns or problems that are not medical in nature. Some of the ways in which a social worker may help include addressing family problems, resolving unfinished business, planning options or care, preparation for death, communicating with other care team members, and estate planning.

Spiritual Care
Spiritual care is coordinated in each office area by chaplains who are available upon request to support and encourage both patients and families as they deal with issues around life and death. The chaplains work with patients of all faiths, including those with no religious affiliation. In addition, chaplains are ready to serve as resource and liaisons to patients' choice of a particular faith community.

Volunteers
Volunteers are an important part of the hospice team. They are caring people, from all walks of life, who bring special talents and skills to their volunteer work. All are trained for the tasks and roles they assume within Hospice Home Care.

Bereavement Support
In each office area, HHC chaplains coordinate bereavement support for families after the death of a loved one. These bereavement services are offered to each family for thirteen months. Bereavement support includes assisting with funerals or funeral arrangements; grief cards; packet of grief educational materials; phone calls of support; individual grief counseling if so desired; grief group support; and scheduled memorial services. All of our efforts are to provide a friendly environment for extra support during the grieving and healing process.