For hospice workers caring for terminally ill patients, the pandemic brought staggering caseloads, emotional burnout and a wave of resignations. Personal protective gear made it harder for workers to communicate with patients and their families. Hours were brutal and staffing shortages got worse, making end-of-life-care even more arduous than before.

“People get into it with really wonderful intentions,” said Hannah Palodichuk, assistant director of clinical services at Brighton Hospice , “and sometimes have a hard time navigating what it truly means to be around people that are passing and handling families and all the chaos that comes with that.”

But Brighton Hospice employees say the company has made a concerted effort to ease the inevitable stress of palliative care and to apprecia

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