The Palliative Care and Hospice Caregiver's Workbook. Sharing the Journey with the Dying

Description

This educational workbook helps people who build compassionate relationships with dying people. Accompanied by its Educator's Guide, it presents a comprehensive, sequential learning program for caregivers in non-medical capacities covering everything from self-understanding to spiritual issues, listening skills and expressive activities, developing the skills, awareness and resilience needed for this privileged and sensitive role.

The program includes a variety of learning experiences, including large and small group activities, discussion, close reading, creative writing, self exploration, and skill development and practice.

This is an invaluable resource for small groups of individuals who wish to volunteer in hospice or palliative care settings. A copy of the guide for educators is included in each pack of workbooks, and is also freely available online.

The best resource I have seen to guide teachers and learners in this complex training process. I predict that those of you who try it with your staffs and trainees will find that it bears fruit both for your patients and their families, but also for the sustenance and personal development of the staff members themselves.’
Timothy Quill, M.D., in his Foreword

Contents

Part 1: Getting Started
Gaining Perspectives

Part 2: Understanding the Caregiver’s Self
Reflecting on Death
Mindfulness
Self Knowledge
Spiritual Knowledge
The Whole Self: Body-Mind-Spirit
Facing Death

Part 3: Understanding Ourselves in Service of the Dying Person
Social and Cultural Influences in Our Lives
Spiritual and Religious Influences
The Nature of Loss and Suffering

Part 4: Ways of Helping the Dying Person
Fundamentals of Communication
Compassionate Presence, Mindful Listening, and Effective Responding
Fears and Assumptions about Death
Narratives of Suffering
Expressive Activities That Aid in Relieving Suffering

Part 5: Honoring the Caregiver
Nurture and Honor Yourself!
Commencement Ceremony