Trauma-Informed End-of-Life Care

NHPCO is committed to ensuring hospice and palliative professionals and volunteers are knowledgeable about trauma-informed end-of-life care and that they practice in manner that actively resists traumatization or re-traumatization of those receiving and providing care. To this end, NHPCO has formed a Work Group to define the term, educate hospice and palliative care professionals and volunteers, and support the provision of trauma-informed end-of-life care.

Upcoming Events

• • • Short Exercises to Decrease Stress (Courtesy of Children’s National Hospital, Mindful Mentors program) – NEW
    • Organizational and Staff Resources About Trauma-Informed End-of-Life Care
    • Questions and Answers about Trauma-Informed End-of-Life Care
    • Trauma Informed End-of-Life Care
    • NHPCO Online Course on Trauma‐Informed End-of-Life Care
    • Trauma-Informed End-of-Life Care Resources
    • Implementing Trauma-Informed Care: A Guidebook Published 2019 by LeadingAge Maryland
    • We Honor Veterans Trauma-Informed Care Resources
    • Caring for Holocaust Survivors with Sensitivity at End of Life: A Guidebook for Clinicians (MJHS)
    • Trauma Informed Care for Persons with Dementia, Brain Failure and Cognitive Impairment (Hospice of the Western Reserve, Inc.)
    • Free Nation-wide Addiction Resources To Those In Need

Upcoming Events to Note

• • • Boundaries and Clinician Mental Health | Oct. 12
    • Holiday Grief to Gratitude | Dec. 14
    • Equity Where it Matters Project ECHO Bimonthly Series

2021 Resources Series 

• • • Trauma-Informed Organizational Change Manual (The Institute on Trauma and Trauma Informed Care)
    • Trauma Informed End-of-Life Care – An Introduction to NHPCO’s Resource Series
    • Change and Measuring Success – A Reflection
    • How Leaders can Measuring Success During a Pandemic
    • Nursing Homes and Trauma-Informed Care
    • Moral Distress

Resources for Easing Stress and Trauma in Time of COVID-19

• • • The VA has created and made public many mental health apps for a variety of conditions including PTSD, mindfulness, insomnia, strengthening parenting skills and anger management. They are available to anyone to use; VA affiliation is not required.
    • COVID-19 Lessons: The Alignment of Palliative Medicine and Trauma-Informed Care (Journal of Pain and Symptom Management)
    • National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement
    • Stress First Aid for Long-Term Care Staff
    • COVID-19: Where Doctors Can Get Help for Emotional Distress.
    • Coronavirus Anxiety Workbook workbook addressing anxiety in the time of COVID-19.
    • The National Center for PTSD continuously posts resources related to COVID-19.
    • Ithaca College Gerontology Institute has resources for older adults and caregivers.

Grief Related Resources
The toll of COVID-19 on family members cannot be understated. For every death, it is estimated that there will be a minimum of nine bereaved family members. The consequences of the death of a loved one in addition to all the secondary losses experienced during a pandemic as well as other natural disasters and mass casualty events can be traumatic, trigger trauma symptoms and have dire consequences.

Use yoga, movement, breath, and sound to release pain and suffering and connect to love

The hidden perils of unresolved grief
McKinsey Quarterly | September 10, 2020

America isn’t ready for the coming wave of grief
Opinion by David M. Perry | February 11, 2021

What elements of a systems’ approach to bereavement are most effective in times of mass bereavement? A narrative systematic review with lessons for COVID-19
SAGE Journals | Volume: 34 issue: 9, page(s): 1165-1181
Article first published online: July 31, 2020; Issue published: October 1, 2020