Hospice Services
Interdisciplinary Team
Hospice of Franklin County provides an interdisciplinary team approach to the care provided those we serve in the community. The members of the team include:
- Medical Director who provides oversight of the hospice team and is available to consult with the patient's physician.
- Nurses who offer specialized knowledge and experience in the management of pain and other distressing symptoms. Nurses are available to address all hospice concerns 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
- Social Workers provide emotional support to patients and families. Many other personal, financial and practical concerns can be addressed with the social worker. They also offer support and assistance to family members/caregivers for the first year of bereavement.
- Spiritual Counselors are available to support the patient and family's personal beliefs and traditions, whether a person has a particular religious affiliation or not.
- Home Health Aides are available to assist with bathing and other personal care needs as well as helping the patient with any activity or exercise needs they may have. They may also attend to light household chores such as making beds, preparing meals, and doing laundry as well as other tasks as assigned by the nurse.
- Volunteers offer a compassionate and caring presence to the patients, family, and caregivers. They can provide respite for a family member or caregiver, foster friendships and perform a variety of tasks including but not limited to, light household chores and running errands. Volunteers are instrumental in organizational and administrative work that supports the overall hospice program.
- Bereavement Counselors available for support and assistance to family members during hospice care and through the first year of bereavment.
- The Administrative Staff includes a wide range of highly skilled professionals who are responsible for the organizational management and programmatic support of hospice. Our knowledgeable staff is committed to ensuring hospice services are implemented in an environment of compliance, quality and excellence.
24 Hour Nurse Availability
Pain and symptom management are available at all hours of the day and night. Nurses will respond to your needs in a timely manner either by visiting your home, nursing home or hospital or supporting you by phone. A core value of hospice is to alleviate suffering through comprehensive and compassionate care. We will serve you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and are committed to helping you live each day as fully as possible.
Bereavement Services
Hospice of Franklin County understands the challenging journey of grief and loss and is committed to providing emotional, spiritual, social, and bereavement support to all who have experienced a loss. Our Bereavement Coordinator and Bereavement Volunteers offer specialized bereavement support groups rotating throughout the year. Bereavement services are available for surviving family members and friends as well as any other community members and are free of charge. Our Bereavement Team also offers community education programs and in-service training programs for professionals on the topics of grief and loss.
The specialized groups and services include but are not limited to:
- Loss of Spouse/Partner
- Parent Loss of a Child
- Adult Loss of a Parent
- General Loss Group
- Journaling/ Writing Bereavement Groups
- Tree of Hope and Remembrance
- Memorial Candle Making
- Annual Memorial Service
- Monthly Newsletter
- One to One Bereavement Consultation
View Winter 2013 Bereavement Groups
View Spring 2013 Bereavement Groups
For information about specific groups or any of Hospice of Franklin County's bereavement services, please call us at 413-774-2400.
Complementary Therapies
We currently offer Massage Therapy, Reiki, and Music Therapy. Hospice of Franklin County is committed to supporting individual choices by offering patient-centered care.
Community Education
This is an integral component of our service in Franklin County, and we maintain a strong commitment to educating the public in general. Our hospice team has a visible presence in the towns we serve (see below) by promoting in-service trainings and community education on a variety of topics including but not limited to:
- Pain and Symptom Management
- The Hospice Concept, Philosophy, and Services
- Grief and Bereavement
- Communication Skills Related to Death and Dying
- Caring for the Caregiver
- Barriers to End-of-Life Care
- Spiritual Needs of the Dying and Bereaved
- Advanced Directives
Hospice of Franklin County offers education and training to health care providers, nursing home staff, local community groups, Senior Centers, and school systems.
If you are interested in Hospice of Franklin County offering a presentation to your community group or organization, please call us at 413-774-2400.
Towns We Serve
- Amherst
- Ashfield
- Athol
- Bernardston
- Buckland
- Charlemont
- Colrain
- Conway
- Deerfield
- Erving
- Gill
- Greenfield
- Hadley
- Hatfield
- Hawley
- Heath
- Lake Pleasant
- Leverett
- Leyden
- Millers Falls
- Monroe
- Montague
- New Salem
- Northfield
- Orange
- Plainfield
- Rowe
- Shelburne
- Shelburne Falls
- Shutesbury
- Sunderland
- Warwick
- Wendell
- Whately
Posted: Mon, Aug 15, 2011 09:52 PM
Updated Fri, Feb 1, 2013 12:00 AM