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CAREGIVERS STORE
Surviving Hospice: A Chaplain's Journey into the Big Business of Dying Plus: How To Find a Trustworthy Hospice
This narrative is an insider’s look into the hijacking of hospice by private equity and professional investors and the subsequent harm to patients, their families, and to the interdisciplinary clinical teams. It was released by a NYC publisher on October 31, 2023. For sale on Amazon.
The author, a hospice chaplain, tells end-of-life stories of her patients who were harmed by financially-motivated policies. This is a book for anyone who is embarking on making a choice about a hospice for their loved one, working chaplains, those in training, and those interested in what dying is like with a hospice who places patients as their primary stakeholders.
Maryclaire's experience working for an owner who sold to a private equity firm helped her to realize that the reputation and viability of hospice is in jeopardy. Her goal is to alert all who love hospice to rid it of professional investors.
— Stacy Juba, author, editor, and award-winning health journalist
"Powerful, beautifully written, and eye-opening, this book spotlights the inner workings of a multi-billion-dollar industry and the effect on patients, families, and hospice staff. The author shares poignant accounts of hospice at its best and worst and the hard-hitting truths she learned on her journey. A must-read for family members exploring hospice care."
— Laura Kukowski, CEO, editor, For-Profit Badger Hospice, LLC
"Maryclaire Torinus speaks with authority, providing this essential handbook for choosing a hospice care team and why that selection really matters."
— Greg Schneider President, HVA, co-author of The Changing Face of Hospice Volunteering in Hospice and Palliative Care
"When I first found out that Maryclaire Torinus was writing this book, I immediately contacted her because in my 25+ years supporting hospice volunteers, I have seen a gradual decline in the quality of care volunteers are permitted to provide the dying and their families. There are a variety of reasons for this that I describe in the Foreward of this book. Maryclaire provides invaluable insights that everyone should know, along with solutions to help others make the right choice in choosing a hospice."
Replies
(I am not clear on what you mean by "open discussion and processing.")
1) Set your objectives about what you hope to accomplish at the meeting. As a leader, you should always be on the lookout for good ideas and best practices that will help your group members grow.
2) Let everyone know location, time and what topics will be covered, so they will come prepared.
3) Have a written agenda and gage your time to cover it. Refreshments help, too.
4) Encourage participation of everyone at the meeting. Get input from the group regarding what they would like to happen at future meetings. Delegate.
5) Promote team spirit. Praise members orally and in writing when they do well.
6) Research shows that hospice volunteers encounter many ethical issues that are not addressed enough at these meetings. For example, should they accept gas money from the family, date the caregiver, etc.)
7) Before ending the meeting, review what was accomplished and finalize what needs to be done before the next meeting.
8) Afterwards, reflect on your meeting, evaluating what you did well and where you need to improve. You'll get better and better at it. And one day, you'll be telling another new volunteer coordinator how to have a good meeting. I wish you the best!
Frances Shani Parker
“Hospice and Nursing Homes Blog”
You might consider using different forms of media to benefit those in attendance for future meetings. For instance use video, printed material, and guest speakers.
It would be great to inform the volunteers of upcoming events in the community and ask for them to brainstrom how your agency could participate effectively.
I personally love brainstorming but the caution here is to actually follow through with the items and projects discussed in order to validate the contribution of these valuable team members.