Baycrest

Baycrest - End of Life Volunteer Manual 10 Informal Caregivers. Family members – along with friends, neighbours, co-workers and members of the person's faith community – are often informal caregivers. They play a key role on the person's care team and they may also need care and support themselves to fulfill that role. Substitute Decision-Maker. If the patient is found to be incapable of making medical decisions, they will have a substitute decision- maker (SDM) appointed for them through the Health Care Consent Act (HCCA). The HCCA provides a hierarchy to determine who is eligible to be a SDM. The SDM is usually a member of the family, but many also be a non-family member and in rare circumstances, the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee. Nurse. The Nurse works with the person and family to assess needs and establish goals related to coping, comfort and the effects of decreased mobility or weakness. The nurse plans, implements and evaluates nursing interventions and performs delegated medical acts such as those related to medications, wound care, catheters and suctioning. They also advocate for the dying person and foster their autonomy and independence. Personal Support Worker. The Personal Support Worker assists with activities of daily living such as personal care (bathing and toileting) and observes and reports changes in physical symptoms and emotional responses to the nurse or doctor. Spiritual Care Advisor (Board Certified Chaplain). The Spiritual Care Advisor works with the person's and family's spiritual needs and supports their search for meaning and hope in changing circumstances. They provide opportunities for meaningful rituals, prayer and meditation, and may provide counseling. They assist patients and families with funerals and memorial services. If the person and family follow a particular faith, the Spiritual Advisor liaises with the faith leader (priest, rabbi, imam) if directed to do so by the person and family.

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