However, there are required members of the staff that must have certain qualifications. For instance, there must be nurses to do in-home care. These nurses can be either RN's or LPN's depending on the level of patient care involved. In addition is a staff physician who consults with the patient's primary care physician and helps to oversee the patient care plan. In addition, there are is a staff psychiatrist and a psychologist who do individual and family counseling, volunteer visits, holiday programs, support groups, and learning about loss and grief.
Some hospices help with funeral arrangements.
Also part of the hospice team are the hospice coordinator or director, other consulting physicians and specialists, a member of the clergy, a social worker, a dietitian, a pharmacist, therapists who perform physical and occupational therapy. Also there are home care aides and volunteers. Depending on the patient's needs at the time, hospice care is provided in a variety of settings including the patient's home, inpatient facilities including a nursing home, or a combination of venues. . Staff needs to be oriented in the special situations that arise in dealing with a patient in their own home. Respect for the patient and their surroundings is of utmost importance.