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Our Staff at Palliative CareCenter and Hospice
"The folks at Palliative CareCenter and Hospice have been wonderful. They are all so caring and kind. And they really know their stuff. They were right on it when Pop was having trouble breathing. They got him set up with the equipment he needed and were very thorough in their explanation of what was happening and what we needed to do."
At Palliative CareCenter and Hospice we make it a point to hire individuals from the Catawba Valley and beyond who not only meet high professional standards, but who are also gentle and compassionate. They all have special training for working with the seriously ill and understand that our care extends beyond the client to his or her family members as well.
Caring for the seriously ill involves more than just the physical aspect. We recognize that this is a time of deep emotional and spiritual significance for everyone involved. Therefore, we work as a team, with a medical staff, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers. Everyone contributes their expertise so we can deliver a plan of care that is responsive to the needs of each individual and his or her family.
- Our Medical Director
- Our Nurses
- Our Nurses' Aides
- Our Social Worker
- Our Spiritual Support Staff: The Chaplain
- Our Telephone Staff
- Our Volunteers
Our Medical Director
Hospice patients remain under the care of their primary physician and any specialists they have been seeing. In addition, they have the benefit of our medical director, Dr. William Thompson, who has special training in treatments designed to keep patients comfortable and pain free. Dr. Thompson works closely with our nurses. For instance, if on a home visit a nurse feels that a change in medication is advisable, he or she can call Dr. Thompson and get a prescription that day.
(Return to list)Our Nurses
Every patient receives periodic home visits from a nurse. Our nurses develop close relationships with patients and families. They learn about your concerns and are quick to respond to questions and symptoms. We even have nurses on call by telephone 24 hours a day.
(Return to list)Our Nurses' Aides
There's nothing like a bath or shower to boost one's sense of well-being! Our Certified Nurse Assistants (also called CNA's, nurse aides, or homecare aides) come to the home. Even if your loved one is unable to leave the bed, they will give him or her a sponge bath, shampoo, shave, help with makeup, put on fresh clothes, change the sheets, etc. Their cheerful presence often provides relief for family caregivers as well as for the patient.
(Return to list)Our Social Worker
Part of our team approach includes the services of a licensed social worker. Social workers are especially knowledgeable about insurance, financial aid programs, and other community services that can prove invaluable when caring for a seriously ill family member. In addition, they have training to help you, your loved one, or other family members cope with difficult emotional issues that often come up in the context of serious illness.
(Return to list)Our Spiritual Support Staff: The Chaplain
Many people experience a crisis of faith during the course of a serious illness. Even family members find themselves facing tough ethical and spiritual questions. Our chaplains are especially skilled at helping people look within and find their own answers. Chaplains do not push any one religion. They simply have experience helping people find their own sense of meaning and purpose in a situation that may bring up strong feelings and challenge deeply held beliefs.
(Return to list)Our Telephone Staff
If you call during the day you will likely talk to our knowledgeable intake staff, who will route you to the specialist in the office best able to address your question or problem. You may talk with our referral coordinator, who has special training in assessing the needs of families and matching them to the capabilities of our interdisciplinary team. If you call after hours, our staff will respond to your needs or connect you with our on-call nurse, who is available to answer your questions and make suggestions to help you immediately address the issue at hand.
(Return to list)Our Volunteers
Our hospice is blessed with kind and caring members of the community who have participated in our extensive volunteer training program. Frequently they have cared for a seriously ill friend or relative, so they know what you are going through. They can offer a sympathetic ear, lend a hand with daily tasks, and provide an opportunity for the person you care for to visit with someone new. Many of our volunteers are trained in the art of life reminiscence. Patients often find it helpful to reflect upon their past and acknowledge achievements and perhaps even regrets. Talking with a virtual stranger, someone who has no history with the patient’s family and no judgments, can be a very meaningful experience. Even if the patient spends all of his or her time sleeping, a volunteer affords family caregivers a few hours to get out of the house and take a much needed break.
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