A Companion on the Journey
Heart Advice for Loved Ones of Hospice Patients
Close families and friends of hospice patients deal with multitude of significant emotional needs as they make the arduous journey with their dying loved one. As a hospice social worker for over 20 years, Youske saw how their needs were routinely overlooked, given the limited resources available to hospices.
Written with gentle warmth and intriguing stories, this concise booklet addresses their real needs by outlining the emotional processes that accompany having a loved one on hospice. Using this booklet can also enhance and transform the dynamic between families and their hospice team which is key to improving quality of care and family satisfaction.
What's inside:
- Overcoming barriers for caregivers to caring for oneself
- Creating supportive environment for a dying loved one
- Understanding the grief process and key to coping effectively
- Saying goodbye and preparing to let go
- Tips to promote effective collaboration with the hospice team
- ... and more
“I truly believe that this booklet can be a game changer, not only for loved ones of hospice patients, but also for hospice teams. By preparing loved ones with the information, resources, and support provided in this booklet, it can transform how they engage and communicate with their hospice team and enable hospice staff to be more effective and do deeper clinical work with them."
—Youske Eto, LCSW
Endorsements
Unknowingly, many give care to their seriously ill loved ones in an unbalanced way, eventually losing strength and losing heart. Youske Eto’s booklet is filled with wise insights, combined with caring and spot-on practical advice from a seasoned hospice worker to support families dealing with the serious illness or loss of a loved one. A must-read that will make your life easier.
Christine LongakerAuthor of Facing Death and Finding Hope
In this small booklet, Youske Eto, a hospice social worker and passionate caregiver/patient advocate, offers practical answers for coping with the challenges during the precious last months, weeks and days of a person’s life. An immensely helpful must-read for anyone caring for a dying loved one entering hospice care.
Kirsten DeLeoAuthor of Present Through the End. A Caring Companion's Guide for Accompanying the Dying
Youske Eto has distilled his years of experience with hospice patients and their caregivers into this booklet of wise and practical advice. Hospice teams will find that providing this booklet to family caregivers allows them to navigate their hospice journey more easily and with less strain. Written in an accessible style, it is like having a caring friend who guides and supports you in a difficult time.
Ann Allegre, MD, FACP, FAAHPMRecipient of the Hastings Center Cunniff-Dixon Award in the senior palliative care physician category
The Author
Youske Eto, LCSW
Youske has supported and accompanied terminally ill patients and their families as a hospice social worker for the past 21 years. Prior to pursuing his MSW, Youske served as a Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa, volunteered for the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India, and worked as an outreach worker for those experiencing homelessness in New York City.