Bereavement Specialist

Bereavement SpecialistWhat is a Bereavement Specialist?

In a hospital or hospice program, the bereavement coordinator is the point person for helping patients and families cope with loss, grief and death. They coordinate the physical, emotional, therapeutic and spiritual needs of patients and their families to assess the current and potential needs of grieving families and to make arrangements for those needs to be met.

Counseling the Bereaved

Patients and their families undergo a barrage of special needs and it’s up to the bereavement counselor to determine the level and scope of those needs through counseling sessions. The initial assessment is performed while the patient is in the hospital, already referred to a hospice program or in an outpatient setting. The coordinator may refer the patient and family members to outside sources for services such as in-home health care and equipment, therapy, education and support groups. Counselors also may have first contact with bereaved family members after the death of a loved one.

Coordinating with Other Professionals

The bereavement coordinator communicates effectively with doctors, nurses, counselors, dietitians, chaplains, social workers and volunteers. The coordinator may serve as a member of a hospice care team or speak to the team to deliver assessments and requests for the family.

Helping with Final Arrangements

An important aspect of bereavement care is to help the dying patients and their families prepare for the end by making the final memorial arrangements. With the assistance of religious and funeral home professionals, the coordinator orchestrates the final services. The bereavement coordinators will incorporate the cultural and spiritual values of the family.

The bereavement specialist addresses both anticipatory grief and loss after death. Hospice families receive bereavement support starting on admission and up to 12 months after a death, including consistent contact, support groups, grief education and one-on-one visits. Hospice is always available to those who’ve experienced the death of a loved one.

We encourage patient’s, families and friends to join our Community based Bereavement/Greif support Group Finding Serenity.