Who on the team should work with the sibling? Should it be the same person during the illness and the bereavement process?
Hospice and palliative care programs have approached this in different ways. Sometimes it may be the social worker or the child life specialist who works with the sibling. Sometimes a volunteer may be assigned to act as a sibling companion. It may even be the chaplain who develops a special bond with the sibling as the sibling has many spiritual questions. It may not matter so much whom the individual is as long as siblings feels they have their own “special “person. As the majority of the attention is focused on the sick child it is important to address the needs of siblings and make them feel that they have someone who is there for them. It has also been helpful to have the person who works with them during the illness be present during the bereavement process. The grieving sibling does not need the loss compounded by the loss of their special person as well.
Related Questions
- As part of the JDD development process, a team member should have their job title updated. Who decides what a job is to be called, the line manager or Human Resources?
- Who on the team should work with the sibling? Should it be the same person during the illness and the bereavement process?
- Is there a typical emotional process that a person with a terminal illness goes through?
