U.P. Hospice Care, Part 2

In hospice care, registered nurses often serve as a case manager.

They have a set of patients that they see regularly.

And they coordinate care between the patient’s own physician, other hospice staff and volunteers.

Kayla Peltin, an RN case manager with Lake Superior Hospice, says she and other RNs visit patients in their homes, whether that’s their own house or apartment or an assisted living facility.

Social workers are involved in hospice to lend emotional support.

They also help the patient and family obtain other kinds of assistance that they may need.

Lake Superior Hospice social worker Tiffany Johnson says they assess the patient’s and family’s needs and can arrange for service from Meals On Wheels and many other community programs.

But some needs are of a more deeply personal nature.

Hospice groups can also address those.

Nadine Reller, clinical services director with Lake Superior Hospice, says they also have trained chaplains that can help address spiritual needs.

Of course, health issues can often bring a great deal of financial stress.

hospice organizations can assist with medical–related finances as well.

Jeff Nyquist, CEO of U.P. Home Health, Hospice and Private Duty, says suffering can take many different forms, so it’s imperative that they have many types of assistance.

But he says volunteers are the heart of the entire hospice movement, and we’ll have a look at their role in part 3 Wednesday night.