Baycrest - End of Life Volunteer Manual
20
• Help family members confront any negative feelings and find
appropriate ways to deal with them such as seeking professional
counseling or spiritual care
If you are concerned about the health of the family member or the
safety of dying person, talk to other members of the care team.
RECOGNIZING WHEN FAMILIES HAVE SERIOUS PROBLEMS
Long-standing family problems, such as financial problems,
substance use or domestic abuse, will not necessarily go away
because a family member is dying. In fact, because of the pressure
on a family, they may get worse. Family members who feel
overwhelmed by their caregiving responsibilities or angry with the
dying person for leaving them can also become abusive.
It is sometimes hard to detect abuse or neglect. In particular, it can
be hard to distinguish neglect from the effects of a life-limiting
illness. Trust your instinct. It is not up to volunteers to deal with
these serious family problems; however, volunteers may be in a
position to recognize signs of abuse and neglect.
If you see any signs of abuse or neglect, talk to your supervisor. If
the family is at all abusive towards the volunteer, please let your
supervisor know immediately.
