THE HOSPICE TEAM

The Hospice Medical Director attends hospice team meetings and provides advice and direction for the hospice team. The Medical Director works with your attending physician and RN Case Manager to ensure that the medical care you receive is closely monitored and meets your on-going needs.

Your doctor continues to play an important role in your care while you are a patient at hospice services. Your RN Case Manager will be in regular communication with your physician and will make sure that he/she is aware of any changes in your condition or needs. Your physician will continue to prescribe medications for you and will be responsible for approving any changes in your plan of care.

When you are admitted to Athena Hospice of Rhode Island, you are assigned an RN Case Manager. This nurse will provide skilled nursing visits, support and teaching to your caregiver, and also act as coordinator of your care. Nursing visits are made as necessary to monitor and control your symptoms. The frequency of visits may change throughout the course of your illness. In addition to your RN Case Manager, an on-call nurse is available by phone outside of normal business hours, to answer questions and to respond to problems. If necessary, an on-call nurse will visit you to resolve any problems that may arise outside of normal business hours.

The Social Worker at Athena Hospice of Rhode Island are available to you and your caregivers to discuss the emotional challenges of serious illness. The Social Worker can also assist you with healthcare decisions, advance directives, legal matters, or access to other community resources. Soon after your admission, the Social Worker will visit you and your family to determine how to be most helpful to you during this time.

Spiritual care is provided by a chaplain who is available to visit people of all faiths or of no faith. The chaplain helps discuss spiritual issues such as fear, loss, forgiveness, anger, or spiritual questioning. The chaplain can also help with religious questions or arrange a visit by a local rabbi, priest or minister.

Volunteers provide a variety of services to support our patients and families. The volunteers are caring and compassionate men and women who live in the communities we serve and want to contribute to others in a meaningful way. Athena Hospice of Rhode Island provides and requires a comprehensive orientation and training for all volunteers as well as continuing education, ongoing support and supervision.

Athena Hospice of Rhode Island provide bereavement services including support groups, letters, and calls or visits to support families and caregivers experiencing a loss. We continue to provide support for at least a year, or longer if needed and requested, after the loss of a loved one.

Home health aides are provided to give personal care under the supervision of your RN Case Manager. Home health aides are assigned based on the personal care needs identified in your plan of care.