Tennessee Quality Care Hospice Volunteers

07/09/2026

Many people don't realize that hospice care provides services for the family as well as the patient.

Some ways that hospice care helps families include:

Emotional and Spiritual Support:
- Counseling and bereavement support from chaplains and social workers

Respite Care:
- Hospice care includes short-term inpatient stays that give caregivers a break

Education and Guidance:
- Hospice care professionals are there to support and educate family members on how to care for their loved one, what they can expect, and how to manage symptoms

Practical Assistance:
- Volunteers may sit with patients to let caregivers tend to their own needs for a short time

The hospice care team is made up of healthcare professionals, chaplains, social workers, and volunteers who coordinate services for the entire family as part of the hospice care plan.

Hospice care is family-centered, recognizing that the illness impacts the entire support system of the patient and family. Hospice services address issues such as caregiver burnout, compassion fatigue, patient discomfort, anticipatory grief, bereavement, and complex family dynamics.

Volunteers play a key role in supporting families by providing companionship through friendly visits and phone calls. To learn more about volunteering with Tennessee Quality Care Hospice, contact Andy Bedwell at 731-694-0194 or [email protected]

07/07/2026

07/04/2026

Happy Independence Day from Tennessee Quality Care Volunteers!

07/03/2026

Many people may feel concern when they observe a loved one going through the process of grieving. Sadness, withdrawal, yearning for the lost, feelings of guilt, anger, numbness, doubt, and disbelief are all natural responses to a significant loss.

Is Depression part of Grief?
The Kubler-Ross model for the Stages of Grief does include depression as a stage. However, it is important to remember that there are fundamental differences between grief and clinical depression.

Grief includes sadness, withdrawal, and emotional pain that is fundamentally tied to the loss. It can be triggered by memories or reminders. During this time, it is usually possible to find some fleeting moments of comfort or positive feelings, and one's sense of self is generally preserved.

Depression includes a pervasive and unrelenting negative mood as well as feelings of worthlessness, hopelessnesss, and of being a burden to others. It is difficult or impossible to feel positive feelings or find comfort from others. Clinical intervention is typically necessary.

Can grief turn into clinical depression?
Yes, grief can sometimes morph into clinical depression. The key differences include the nature of the emotion, the impact to one's self esteem, the focus of the pain, and the response to support.

If you or a loved one are having a mental health crisis, call or text 988 to speak with a trained professional counselor today.

06/29/2026

Do you know when it's time to enter hospice care? Many people believe hospice is only for those in the last few days of life, but hospice care is actually available to people with six months or less to live, according to doctor's opinion.

06/29/2026

It's Mythbuster Monday, where we look at the facts behind some of the most common myths about hospice care.

06/28/2026

"The Gone"

06/27/2026

Many people have heard that there are stages to grief, but most people don't realize that these stages do not have a set timeline, order, or duration.

Even though there are defined stages to the grieving process, it does not mean that one can predict how long each stage will last nor how it will be experienced.

Grief is highly personal. How one person grieves may look very different compared to others. Some may move quickly through stages, and others may cycle through them, return to previous stages, stay in certain stages for prolonged periods, or have symptoms of multiple stages all at once.

It is absolutely okay for grief to be messy. Grief is a natural response to a serious loss, and is even experienced in animals.

There is no right or wrong way to grieve. If you or someone you love is struggling with grief, reach out to a mental health professional today for guidance.