Bereavement Coordinator

Lutheran Senior Services•St. Louis, MO

1d•$27 - $43•Hybrid

About The Position

The Bereavement Coordinator is responsible for providing the necessary bereavement/social services assistance for the patient and their family. At EverTrue, team members at all levels find their calling in our mission of Older Adults Living Life to the Fullest. In this work environment, all team members are part of a community and appreciated by the people they work with – residents and coworkers – every day.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree
Prior experience with a Medicare hospice program and participation in community agency activities preferred
Must possess the abilities to follow instructions from the physician, nursing supervisor and other professional staff
Communicate effectively with managers, patients, families and co-workers
Assess safety of home situations for self, patients, and other staff members, including physical and psychological dangers
Effectively cope with patients, families and all others with varying backgrounds, socioeconomic conditions, and value judgments
Computer and excellent communication skills
Maintain confidentiality of information relating to the patient and family (discussing only those aspects necessary to the care and treatment of patient and family with those directly involved in the patient’s care.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience with a Medicare hospice program
Participation in community agency activities

Responsibilities

Oversees all aspects of the bereavement program to include but not limited to mailings, phone calls, memorial services, and bereavement visits
Provides bereavement education and support for any hospice patient/family members who requests help as well as requests from the community and other individuals
Responds to emergent situations in which bereavement counseling is involved
Develops and presents bereavement related programming in request to community and hospice program needs
Plans and participates in group memorial services for staff, the bereaved and the community
Participates in interdisciplinary team (IDT) meeting to assess bereavement needs and establishes bereavement plan of care
Plans and facilitates a community grief support group
Assesses need for counseling related to risk assessment for pathological grief
Assesses emotional factors related to terminal illness; Assesses caregiver’s ability to function adequately; Assesses special needs related to cultural diversity including communication, space, role of family members and special traditions; Evaluates patient/family response to psychosocial interventions
Assists the physician and other IDT/IDG members in recognizing and understanding the social/mental stress and/or disorder that exacerbates the symptoms related to terminal illness
Assesses the patient/family psychosocial status, potential for risk of suicide and/or abuse or neglect; Identifies family dynamics and communication patterns
Participates in the development and revision of the plan of care and provides all care according to physician orders; Involves the patient/family in the plan of care; Assesses environmental resources and obstacles to maintaining safety
Provides social services including short-term individual counseling, crisis intervention, assistance in providing information and preparation of advance directives and funeral planning issues, and transfer of responsibilities regarding fiscal, legal and health care decisions
Utilizes the medical record software system via laptop or agency desktop for patient documentation; Initiates documentation in the patient’s home on the laptop and completes after the visit
Prepares clinical and progress notes; Submits notes according to agency policy
Identifies and utilizes appropriate community resources and assesses patient/family ability to access them
Educates patients and families related to social service issues, including long-term placement, financial issues, and funeral planning
Identifies support systems available to reduce stress and facilitate coping with end-of-life care
Evaluates for long-term care when appropriate and assesses ability to accept change in level of care; Communicates psychosocial information to inpatient facility when level of care is changed
Identifies patient/family needs when discharged or when level of care changes
Serves as liaison between patients or families and community agencies
Participates in discharge planning
Participates in Interdisciplinary Care Team Meetings and assists in developing and reviewing care plans, admissions, and discharges
Provides educational programs to staff and community