Family caregivers are often the unseen patients in palliative care. Their unmet psychosocial and spiritual needs not only affect bereavement outcomes but also influence patients’ perceptions of a good death. As part of the Hospice-Focused Palliative Outcome Index (HFPOI), the HFT–Bereavement Assessment Scale (HFT-BAS) was developed to systematically assess grief risks and support needs among family members before and after a patient’s death.
This presentation shares front-line clinical experience from implementing HFT-BAS within inpatient hospice and bereavement follow-up settings at MacKay Memorial Hospital. Drawing from over 200 completed assessments, the HFT-BAS has enabled social workers to identify high-risk families and offer timely interventions, including counseling, spiritual support, and post-death check-ins. Particular attention is given to families of terminal cancer patients and survivors of suicide, who face layered grief and stigma.
The use of HFT-BAS, in conjunction with other HFPOI components such as the LED–Good Death Index and PtSpWBS, fosters a truly family-centered and multidisciplinary approach. It empowers social workers not only to respond to bereavement but to participate proactively in end-of-life care planning, fostering continuity of care and compassion.
By embedding bereavement and caregiver needs into routine outcome evaluation, HFPOI transforms loss into an integral part of holistic care rather than an afterthought. This model holds promise for other institutions seeking to build compassionate, community-linked palliative systems.