Transitions in Dying and Bereavement A Psychosocial Guide for Hospice and Palliative Care By the Victoria Hospice Society, and Moira Cairns, R.S.W., Marney Thompson, M.A., and Wendy Wainwright, M.Ed.

Find the words—and the deeds—to meet the psychosocial needs of chronically ill and dying people, their families, and caregivers in this first-ever strengths-based, step-by-step guide through the labyrinthine process from diagnosis to death to bereavement. Transitions in Dying and Bereavement puts a human face on a difficult yet unavoidable topic.

This book comprehensively and compassionately covers the key transitions that dying people and their families face and the most effective interventions to facilitate the transitions. Employing their many years of experience in hospice and palliative care, this team of counselors and other health care professionals provides:

• clear explanations of current theory and research related to hospice, palliative, and bereavement care
  

• ways to help alleviate anxiety, fear, fatigue, and feelings of denial and powerlessness
  

• ways to improve communication about the experience of dying
  

• help in planning for death
  

• the Palliative Performance Scale, a functional assessment tool
  

• sensitive explanations on navigating the three phases of grief
  

• perspectives on difficult issues such as body image, sexuality, and intimacy
  

• multicultural and interdenominational perspectives  on death and dying
  

• ways to support staff and much more!
  

Activities, exercises, case studies, personal essays, poetry, and illustrations are liberally and strategically located throughout the text, forming the perfect in-service, classroom, or professional development tool for nurses, physicians, counselors, social workers, allied health professionals, volunteers, and others who work with people traversing the end-of-life experience.