Use of grief counselors in Hospice

[philosophical]

This is a question for all of the hospice nurses out there. Does your facility/ company offer grief counseling or death counseling to patients and familes? If so, is this usually the job of a Social Worker, Psychologist or Counselor? Does this counseling seem to help people accept their impending death? Does it help families with their grieving?

Thanks!:balloons:

Rhonda

[Sue Damonas, BSN]

We have a grief counselor. He sees patients on admission and as needed. We call him with an impending death and he goes to the house and counsels the family. He also follows up with them for a year after the death. Most families really appreciate it. Some don't want it. The grief counselor was a big help to me when my mother was on hospice.