Hospice Team Roles Explained: Nurse, Social Worker, Chaplain, and More

Hospice works best when trust comes first. You want to know what will happen in the first week, who will teach you the small, practical steps that make comfort possible, and how to reach help at any hour. In Dallas County, your hospice team forms a single circle of support: the nurse adjusts medications and shows you what to do between visits, the social worker helps your family plan and cope, the chaplain honors your beliefs, and the rest of the team coordinates equipment, supplies, and schedules so your home feels safer. 

This guide begins with what matters most to you now: clear expectations, visit rhythm, and exactly when to call, so you can navigate each day with confidence and compassion.

Quick Overview: Who Is on Your Hospice Team

Every family in Dallas County receives an interdisciplinary team that surrounds your loved one and supports you. The exact mix of disciplines depends on your needs, your preferences, and the plan of care.

• Medical Director
  
• Nurse Practitioner
  
• Registered Nurse
  
• Hospice Aide
  
• Social Worker
  
• Chaplain
  
• Case Manager
  
• Dietician
  
• Music Therapy
  
• Volunteers
  
• On-Call Nurse, available 24 hours a day
  
• Durable Medical Equipment partner, for items ordered by the team

You will meet most of these disciplines early in care. Visit frequency adjusts as needs change.

How the Team Works Together

Your case manager coordinates the plan, makes sure orders are up to date, and keeps everyone aligned with your goals. The nurse monitors symptoms, teaches you what to do between visits, and updates medications. The social worker and chaplain support coping, family communication, legacy projects, and spiritual care. 

The medical director and nurse practitioner guide complex symptom management and are available for family meetings. Hospice aides provide gentle personal care. The dietician, music therapist, and trained volunteers add comfort and connection. All of this care is connected by a 24 hour on-call line for urgent needs.

Role by Role: What to Expect

Medical Director

• Oversees your loved one’s entire hospice plan of care.
  
• Confirms eligibility, signs orders, and helps with complex decisions.
  
• Joins care conferences or family meetings when new symptoms appear or goals change.
  
• Works closely with the nurse practitioner and your case manager.

Nurse Practitioner

• Performs assessments, adjusts medications with the medical director, and supports symptom stabilization.
  
• Helpful during transitions, for example when pain, shortness of breath, or anxiety increases.
  
• Available for in-home visits or facility rounds based on your needs.

Registered Nurse

• Your primary clinical contact for pain and symptom control.
  
• Reviews medications, teaches safe use of comfort kits, and updates the plan when needs shift.
  
• Tracks wounds, breathing changes, agitation, and comfort levels.
  
• Coordinates with pharmacy and equipment providers so you are never without essential items.
  Learn more: Nursing Services.

Hospice Aide

• Supports bathing, grooming, skin care, and light comfort tasks.
  
• Offers gentle routines that protect dignity and reduce risk of skin breakdown.
  
• Teaches family members safe techniques for transfers and positioning.
  Learn more: Hospice Aides.

Social Worker

• Helps with caregiver stress, family conversations, and advance directives.
  
• Connects you with resources such as respite options and veterans benefits.
  
• Guides planning for funeral or memorial wishes when you are ready.

Chaplain

• Provides spiritual and emotional support that respects your beliefs and preferences.
  
• Offers prayer, readings, music, or quiet presence.
  
• Coordinates with your faith community if you wish.
  

Case Manager

• Coordinates the whole plan of care and keeps the team synchronized.
  
• Schedules visits, shares updates across disciplines, and is your go-to for questions.
  
• Makes sure you know what to expect before, during, and after a change in condition.

Dietician

• Reviews appetite, swallowing safety, and texture modifications.
  
• Suggests small, comfort-focused nutrition strategies that match goals and preferences.

Music Therapy

• Uses live or recorded music for relaxation, life review, and connection.
  
• Can reduce anxiety, support sleep, and create meaningful moments for families.
  Learn more: Music Therapy.

Volunteers

• Provide companionship, caregiver breaks, letter writing, legacy projects, or quiet presence.
  
• Availability depends on schedules and your preferences.
  Learn more: Volunteers.

On-Call Nurse, 24 hours a day

• Available by phone at any hour for urgent symptoms, new pain, or sudden anxiety.
  
• Can guide you through immediate steps, adjust medications with the provider, or arrange a visit.
  
• If symptoms escalate, the team can increase support at home or arrange an inpatient stay.

Durable Medical Equipment (DME)

• Provides medically necessary items such as a hospital bed, oxygen, wheelchair, commode, or pressure-relief mattress, as ordered by the team.
  
• Delivery, setup, and training happen at your home or facility.

What Will Happen During the First 72 Hours

• A nurse completes an assessment, starts or adjusts comfort medications, and creates a simple symptom plan you can follow.
  
• Your case manager reviews schedules, the on-call number, and visit frequency.
  
• The social worker begins caregiver support and helps with documents if needed.
  
• The chaplain introduces available spiritual support, only if you wish.
  
• DME arrives if ordered, with training on safe use and maintenance.
  
• You receive a magnet or card with the 24 hour number for urgent needs.

Tip: Place medications, the comfort kit, and the on-call number in one central spot. Keep a short log of pain scores, breathing, rest, and doses for easy updates during visits.

Visit Frequency and Flexibility

• Most families receive nursing visits weekly or more often, based on symptom needs.
  
• Aides typically visit several times per week for personal care, adjusted to your schedule.
  
• Social worker and chaplain visits are tailored to your preferences.
  
• If symptoms rise, the team can increase visit frequency, add after-hours support, or arrange short-term inpatient care.
  
• When symptoms stabilize, visits can step back while keeping the 24 hour line active.

Questions to Ask Your Team

• What are our top three comfort goals for this week, and how will we measure progress?
  
• Which symptoms should prompt a call tonight rather than waiting for tomorrow?
  
• How should we organize medications, and which ones can be safely crushed or given with applesauce?
  
• If pain rises between visits, what is the exact sequence of steps we should follow?
  
• Who will update the plan after each visit, and how will changes be communicated to our family?
  
• If we need more help, can you explain options for increased support at home or a short inpatient stay?

Dallas County Caregiver Checklist

• Post the 24 hour on-call number on the fridge and add it to your phone.
  
• Keep a one-page symptom log with pain scores, breathing notes, and sleep.
  
• Place medications and supplies in a single basket near the bedside.
  
• Ask for a bed, oxygen, or other DME early if safety is a concern.
  
• Schedule aide visits on heavy care days, for example after a shower or dressing change.
  
• Invite the social worker or chaplain to a family meeting if you want support with decisions or legacy planning.

When to Call Right Away

Call immediately if pain does not respond, breathing becomes harder at rest, agitation increases, new wounds appear, or you feel unsafe providing care at home. The nurse will guide next steps, adjust medications with the provider, and arrange additional support.

A Compassionate Care for Dallas County Families

Hospice care in Dallas, Irving, Garland, Grand Prairie, Mesquite, and nearby communities centers on comfort, dignity, and safety. Your team brings expert medical care to your home, coordinates equipment and medications, and supports your family’s emotional and spiritual needs. If you prefer care in a facility, the same team continues to guide decisions and visits you there. You are never alone.

Explore our service area pages to learn how we support families across Dallas County, Collin County, Denton County, Ellis County, Kaufman County, Rockwall County, and Tarrant County: Service Areas.

Meet Your Dallas Hospice Team

Have a compassionate hospice team begin care today with iServe Hospice. Speak with us at (469) 480-1130 or request guidance and a same-day evaluation online. We coordinate comfort-focused care, medication management, and needed equipment, with 24 hour on-call support and an interdisciplinary team that includes nursing, social work, chaplaincy, aides, and volunteers. iServe Hospice serves families across Dallas County as well as Collin, Denton, Ellis, Kaufman, Rockwall, and Tarrant counties.