Team
We believe that each member of our team supports Hawai‘i Care Choices' primary goal of providing Compassionate Care to our patients, their families, and the community.
These are some of the many hands joined together in support of that goal.
Physicians & Providers
Your main doctor is still in charge of your care.
The Medical Director at Hawai‘i Care Choices helps guide the palliative and hospice teams as they make and update your care plan. The Medical Director also works with your other doctors when needed. The nurses in the palliative and hospice teams will keep your doctor updated on how you are doing.
Nurses
Each patient and their family are given a special nurse, depending on the program they choose. This palliative or hospice nurse or case manager helps plan and organize the care you need.
Nurses can help manage symptoms by talking to your doctor about changing medicines or treatments. They also work with other team members, answer questions, and give support. Your nurse will help you and your family understand how the illness may change over time and teach you how to care for the patient. How often the nurse visits and how long they stay will depend on what you need, and it may change over time.
Social Workers
Social workers are helpers who are trained to support you and your family. They can talk with you about what matters most to you and help you feel better during a hard time. Social workers can also teach you about helpful services and connect you to things like caregiving help, legal advice, or funeral planning. They can help you figure out your goals and talk with your family by bringing everyone together for a meeting if needed.
Everyone needs different kinds of help. When you meet with your social worker, you can decide together what kind of support is best for you and your family.
Certified Nurse Aides
Nurse Aides give a lot of the hands-on care that patients need. They can also help teach family members how to give personal care. Your nurse case manager will decide if you need visits from an aide. Aide visits usually last less than one hour.
If you need more help at home, you can talk to your social worker. The social worker can help you find caregivers to hire or help you apply for Medicaid.
Spiritual Counselors
Spiritual Counselors are part of your care team and is here to support you in your feelings, beliefs, and thoughts. They try to meet with each patient and their family at least once to see how they can help.
You can talk to the Spiritual Counselor about life changes, making decisions, relationships, your values or faith, or anything that’s on your mind. They can pray or meditate with you, teach ways to relax and feel less stressed, or just listen and be there for you during hard times.
Grief Counselor
The bereavement counselor helps families understand and cope with their sadness before and after a loved one dies.
The bereavement program offers support for 13 months after hospice care ends. It is available for adults, kids, and families, either one-on-one or together.
This help is free for anyone who feels they need support with their grief.
Volunteers
Volunteers can help support the patient and their family in many ways, like being a kind friend, helping with small tasks, or offering comfort. They are trained to understand what people with serious illnesses and their families are going through.
If a volunteer is chosen to help, the schedule will be planned together with the volunteer coordinator, the patient, and the family. You can ask anyone on your care team if you would like a volunteer.