An inevitable and unfortunate aspect of a caregiver’s career is dealing with the loss of clients (or loved ones.) At WFC, our caregivers are as important as our clients, and when someone passes in a caregiver’s world, we offer our support with an innovative Bereavement Program for their grieving period.
A WFC HHA lost a parent, brother, and son, all within a year. Witnessing these losses’ profound effect on her life was motivation enough to develop an enhanced program offering to help meet our caregivers’ needs during the grieving process.
The program itself involves several points of contact and support immediately following the death of a caregiver’s client / loved one:
- When we get word a client has passed, we reach out to notify all the caregivers who have worked the case;
- Within twenty-four hours of the notification, WFC sends an email expressing our gratitude for the services offered to the deceased client;
- If and when funeral arrangements are known, we pass on the announcement of the service;
- We inform caregivers of WFC’s transmittal of flowers to the family, and they are invited to send any expressions of condolences of their own;
- We then check in weekly with caregivers to see how they’re doing:
- We offer assistance in several forms: emotional, financial, or access to grief counseling.
- WFC offers access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to cover confidential, professional counseling.
- Starting in September 2022, WFC will host a Bereavement Support Group for caregivers on the second Wednesday of every month.
Caregivers have been appreciative of the support and condolences that WFC offers. They have remarked that they’re grateful for the check-ins and how helpful they can be during a stressful and sad period.
Worth noting is that WFC leadership has been participating in a 6-month workshop to address bereavement issues comprising home care agencies across New York State. We are proud to be among the first statewide home care agencies to officially launch a set of bereavement protocols for our caregivers. WFC feels it’s important to acknowledge the grief that follows loss and to show our support to caregivers.
From the May 2022 WFC blog on Planning Late-Stage and End-of-Life Care:
Grief Support
“This is a challenging time for everyone involved. There’s no timeline for grief. Anticipating a loved one’s death can produce unexpected reactions from relief, sadness, guilt, and numbness. Consulting with bereavement specialists or spiritual advisors before your loved one’s passing can help everyone prepare and cope.”
We believe our bereavement program fits with our mission to be a different kind of home care agency.
Westchester Family Care is an independent in-home care provider specializing in making the home a safe and accommodating place for your aging family members, no matter the condition.
We have an extensive network of professionals and issue-specific specialists ready to help you maintain a healthy quality of life.
Contact WFC for an immediate family need or when planning for future needs: