The Handbook of LGBTQIA-Inclusive Hospice and Palliative Care

Hospice and palliative care professionals are experts at caring for individuals and families experiencing serious or life-limiting illnesses. Not everyone feels safe seeking out their expertise, however: LGBTQIA+ people may be deterred from seeking support because of barriers—both overt and subtle—that hospice and palliative care programs and professionals erect through their policies and practices. This book is an accessible, expert guide to incorporating LGBTQIA-inclusive practices into end-of-life care. It equips both new and experienced hospice and palliative care professionals with the knowledge they need to ensure that all people receive high-quality care. Kimberly D. Acquaviva surveys fundamental concepts and the latest clinical developments, integrating relatable anecdotes and poignant personal reflections. She discusses her own experience caring for her wife, Kathy, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2019. Unable to find a local hospice with an LGBTQIA-inclusive nondiscrimination statement, let alone one whose staff had been trained to provide nondiscriminatory care to LGBTQIA+ people, Kathy died at home six months later without hospice care. Acquaviva offers clear, actionable strategies for palliative care and hospice physicians, physician associates, advanced-practice registered nurses, registered nurses, social workers, counselors, chaplains, and others. She also emphasizes how incorporating LGBTQIA-inclusive practices can transform work with every person receiving care. Anchored in the evidence and written in plain language, this book is the definitive guide for hospice and palliative care professionals seeking to deliver exceptional care to all the patients and families they serve. Hospice and palliative care professionals are experts at caring forindividuals and families experiencing serious or life-limitingillnesses. Not everyone feels safe seeking out their expertise,however: LGBTQIA+ people may be deterred from seeking supportbecause of barriers-both overt and subtle-that hospice andpalliative care programs and professionals erect through theirpolicies and practices. This book is an accessible, expert guide toincorporating LGBTQIA-inclusive practices into end-of-life care. Itequips both new and experienced hospice and palliative careprofessionals with the knowledge they need to ensure that allpeople receive high-quality care. Kimberly D. Acquaviva surveysfundamental concepts and the latest clinical developments,integrating relatable anecdotes and poignant personal reflections.She discusses her own experience caring for her wife, Kathy, whowas diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2019. Unable to find a localhospice with an LGBTQIA-inclusive nondiscrimination statement, letalone one whose staff had been trained to provide nondiscriminatorycare to LGBTQIA+ people, Kathy died at home six months laterwithout hospice care. Acquaviva offers clear, actionable strategiesfor palliative care and hospice physicians, physician associates,advanced-practice registered nurses, registered nurses, socialworkers, counselors, chaplains, and others. She also emphasizes howincorporating LGBTQIA-inclusive practices can transform work withevery person receiving care. Anchored in the evidence and writtenin plain language, this book is the definitive guide for hospiceand palliative care professionals seeking to deliver exceptionalcare to all the patients and families they serve