The professional boundaries that hospice teams should maintain help to keep everyone safe - patients and caregivers, as well as the end of life professionals providing the care.  It’s important that the boundaries between care providers and care consumers are established from the start of care and continue until the last day care is provided.  Unhealthy or blurred boundaries can cause patients or their caregivers to have unrealistic expectations about the kind of care an interdisciplinary team will provide.  Connection through social media, engaging deeply within the family life of the patient, or disclosing personal issues to patients and caregivers causes dual-role relationships that put additional stress and grief on patients and their caregivers. Boundaries help to create healthy emotional and mental relationships between end of life professionals and those for whom they provide care.  Those boundaries help us to avoid becoming fully engaged grievers. It helps the hospice team to give the best care they can!  Find more podcast episodes from The Heart of Hospice here: https://theheartofhospice.libsyn.com/ Send your questions and comments to host@theheartofhospice.com.  We’d love to hear from you! Connect with podcast host Jerry Fenter at jerry@theheartofhospice.com. Connect with podcast host Helen Bauer at helen@theheartofhospice.com. Find more information about hospice philosophy, end of life care, and self care for both personal and professional caregivers here.