• Bringing any concerns about a family caregiver’s ability to continue to provide care to the hospice supervisor or care team members. • Helping family members with unfamiliar tasks or referring them to community resources for help. • Giving the family members and dying person time to be together as a family (e.g. help to prepare a “picnic” lunch/supper in the dying person’s room, or an “evening at the cinema” – favourite video and popcorn - in the dying person’s room). 2. SUPPORTING FAMILIES Hospice palliative care volunteers can support families by being aware of their needs, including the pressures they face in caring for someone who is dying: • Take time to listen to family members and just “be there” for them • Pay attention to family members’ feelings and changing moods
• Offer to keep the dying person company so that family members can take a break and look after themselves • Remain non-judgmental • Allow family members to express their frustration and anger. 3. HELPING FAMILIES MANAGE STRESS AND CAREGIVER BURNOUT Because volunteers spend so much time with family members, they are in a good position to recognize the signs of caregiver burnout and help families cope: • Be aware of the caregivers’ stress level and how much of a burden they feel
Signs of Caregiver Burnout • Need for control • Exhaustion • Lack of patience • Resentment towards the dying person • Financial difficulties • Substance abuse • Excessively concerned or unconcerned • Treats the dying person like a child (especially if he or she is a senior) • Has minimal eye contact with the dying person, or care team members (remember not to confuse this with cultural deference) • Blames the dying person.
their caregiving role is becoming to them. • Encourage caregivers to stay healthy and help them to achieve this in practical ways (e.g. by offering to stay with the dying person while they go for a walk or have a rest). Don’t just say it, create opportunities for the family member. • Be aware of signs of caregiver burnout and help caregivers recognize the signs themselves.
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