When a loved one is told they have six months or less to live, the road ahead can feel overwhelming. You may not know what to expect, who to turn to, or how you’ll manage day-to-day. The good news is that hospice care is designed so you don’t have to figure it out alone. From the moment care begins, a full team of professionals is there to walk alongside you and your loved one — anticipating needs, easing symptoms, and offering steady support along the way.

This article offers a general overview of who’s typically on a hospice care team and what each member does, so you know what kind of support is available and how to make the most of it.

Your Nurse: The Heart of Day-to-Day Care

Your nurse will likely be your most consistent point of contact. The first nurse you meet is usually an Admission RN, who reviews the hospice care benefit with you, explains what to expect, and makes sure your loved one is comfortable from day one.

Within the first 24 to 48 hours, an RN Case Manager typically visits to create a care plan tailored to your loved one’s needs and goals. From that point on, the RN Case Manager becomes your go-to person — monitoring symptoms, coordinating treatment with the doctor or nurse practitioner, and ordering any medications, supplies, or medical equipment needed as your loved one’s condition changes. As the illness progresses, you’ll usually see your nurse more frequently. No question is too big or too small to bring to them.

The Hospice Physician: Medical Guidance Behind the Scenes

Working closely with your nurse, the Hospice Physician helps shape and oversee your loved one’s care plan. If your loved one already has a primary care doctor, the Hospice Physician will often collaborate with them. In some cases, the Hospice Physician can also serve as the primary care doctor. While you’ll typically see your nurse more often, the Hospice Physician is always available behind the scenes to guide medical decisions.

The Social Worker: Emotional and Practical Support

Hospice care is about much more than managing physical symptoms. A Social Worker is there to support you, your loved one, and your family through the emotional, social, and practical aspects of this time. They can help you:

• Navigate personal, social, and financial matters
• Connect with resources and community support
• Facilitate family meetings so everyone is on the same page
• Plan for end-of-life and funeral arrangements when you’re ready
• Lend a listening ear whenever you need one

As the illness progresses, you may find yourself relying on your social worker more often — and that’s exactly what they’re there for.

Pastoral and Spiritual Support: Care for the Whole Person

Whether or not you or your loved one has a religious or spiritual practice, pastoral and spiritual support is typically available to nurture emotional and spiritual well-being, whatever that looks like for your family. If there are traditions, rituals, or practices that bring comfort, the team can help make space for them. Faith leaders from major religions are often available, and this team can also support end-of-life and funeral planning upon request.

Creative Arts Therapy and Volunteers: Comfort Through Connection

Beyond the core care team, additional support may be recommended to bring comfort and meaning to your loved one’s days.

Creative arts therapy uses music and art to reduce stress and anxiety, lift mood, and offer a creative outlet for expression. Specially trained, licensed therapists work with children, adolescents, and adults confronting loss.

Volunteers offer companionship — reading together, journaling, sharing a favorite activity — or respite, staying with your loved one so you can take a break to attend to your own needs. Hospice volunteers complete specialized training before being matched with a family.

A Home Health Aide for Hands-On Help

If your loved one is receiving hospice care at home, a certified Home Health Aide may provide hands-on support based on individual needs. They typically help with bathing, personal hygiene, transfers, light meal preparation, laundry, and light housekeeping in your loved one’s living areas.

There are some things Home Health Aides are not able to do — including giving medications, heavy housekeeping, or handling finances — but your nurse can help you build a care schedule that works for your family.

24/7 Support Is Always a Phone Call Away

Most hospice programs offer 24/7 on-call support, with nurses and a physician available to answer medication questions, troubleshoot equipment issues, address changes in symptoms, and dispatch someone to your home when urgent help is needed.

A good rule of thumb: call your hospice care team before calling 911. They can guide you on the next steps and coordinate emergency care if it’s needed, so your loved one’s hospice plan is honored.

Funeral Planning and Bereavement Support

When the time comes, your hospice care team will help guide you through funeral planning — and that support typically continues afterward. Bereavement support is generally available to family and friends for up to 13 months following a loved one’s passing, because grief doesn’t follow a schedule. Support often includes individual counseling sessions (by phone, video, or in person), support groups, memorial services, and referrals to community resources for ongoing care.

You’re Not Walking This Road Alone

The months ahead will look different for every family — but no matter what unfolds, a hospice care team is there to anticipate needs, answer questions, and offer support. From medical care to emotional and spiritual guidance, from practical planning to bereavement support long after, the goal is the same: to walk alongside you every step of the way.

———–

At MJHS, we value both personal and professional caregivers and recognize the critical work you do. That is why we have created these online caregiving resources to help you through this crucial time in your life.

If you need additional help and support caring for your loved one, please feel free to contact MJHS. We can recommend other care options available to you through one of our programs.