“Just because someone is sick or dying doesn’t mean they’re a different person. We have to remember who they were—what they loved, who they’ve always been—because that identity still matters.”

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Not Just a Patient: How Trauma-Informed Care Helps Us See the Whole Person

In the world of caregiving—especially hospice—there's a tendency to focus on diagnoses, treatment plans, and the inevitable end. But in doing so, we can unintentionally lose sight of something essential: the person behind the illness.

This episode of Hospice Redefined is a powerful reminder of that truth. I sat down with Kate Zuraw, LICSW, an expert in trauma-informed care and a social worker with over a decade of experience across medical, psychiatric, and community settings. Together, we explored how past experiences shape the way people respond to illness, and how we as caregivers—both professionals and loved ones—can better honor the humanity of those we're walking alongside.

Trauma Is More Than an Event—It’s an Imprint

Kate defines trauma simply: a distressing experience that overwhelms a person’s sense of safety, control, or security. It’s not just an emotional response—it can actually live in the body and alter brain development, especially if the trauma was early or ongoing.

Trauma doesn't have to be a dramatic event to have an impact. It can be the result of:

• A serious diagnosis

• A car accident

• The death of a loved one

• Even a move, job loss, or difficult life transition

What matters is how the experience was felt. Two people can live through the same event, and only one may carry it as trauma. That’s why it’s so important not to assume, not to judge—and always lead with compassion.

Why Trauma-Informed Care Matters in Hospice

In hospice, we’re often entering someone’s life during a deeply vulnerable time. Kate shared something profound: “I assume everyone I meet has experienced trauma. It’s safer—and more compassionate—to do so.”

Trauma-informed care means:

• Understanding how someone’s past affects their current behavior

• Offering choice and collaboration instead of directives

• Providing physical and emotional safety

• Supporting the person, not just treating the condition

And maybe most importantly: asking who they were before the diagnosis.

That core identity doesn’t disappear just because someone is ill. Too often, patients become defined by their illness. But behind the symptoms is a person with a story, preferences, passions, and dreams. When we take the time to see them as whole, to ask what they still love, what matters most to them—we not only provide better care, we help them reconnect to themselves.

Resistance Is Often a Form of Protection

Let’s talk about a word I truly dislike in healthcare: noncompliance. It’s a red flag that tells me something deeper is going on.

What looks like resistance—refusing medication, declining a walker, rejecting a hospital bed—may actually be a trauma response or a desperate grasp for control in a situation where so much autonomy has been lost.

As Kate explained, “Saying no might be the only power someone has left.”

Instead of labeling, let’s be curious:

• “What does the walker represent to you?”

• “What would it mean to have a hospital bed in the room?”

• “How can we make this feel like your choice, not something being done to you?”

These conversations are hard—but they matter. They shift the focus from control to collaboration, and they help preserve dignity in a time that can feel incredibly powerless.

Compassion Begins With Us

An important part of trauma-informed caregiving that’s often overlooked is this: we must take care of ourselves to show up well for others.

Before entering a room, a home, or even a hard conversation, Kate encourages caregivers to pause and ask:

• Am I calm?

• Am I compassionate?

• Am I curious?

Because if you’re overwhelmed, burned out, or emotionally reactive, you won’t be able to offer safety or presence to someone in need. You can’t pour from an empty cup.

That’s why we’ve created a free caregiver checklist—a simple tool to remind you to drink water, get fresh air, breathe deeply, and come back to your center. You can download it here.

Preserving Identity in the Final Chapter

As we care for someone approaching the end of life, it’s easy to let the “what’s next” overshadow the “who they are.” But we can change that—by asking simple, meaningful questions:

• “What did you love to do before all this?”

• “What still brings you joy?”

• “Tell me about your dad. What was he like before he got sick?”

These conversations lift the heaviness for a moment. They reconnect families. And they remind all of us that life—right up until the very end—is worth honoring.

Final Thoughts

Trauma-informed care isn’t just for the hospice setting. It’s for every human interaction. Whether you’re a nurse, a family caregiver, or a friend—start with curiosity. Lead with compassion. And remember that even the smallest gestures of choice and understanding can be a lifeline for someone feeling overwhelmed or unseen.

To learn more from Kate, visit her Instagram @liminialresilience, where she shares beautifully about building strength in life’s in-between moments.

You can find her blog here.

And if you haven’t already, listen to Episode 3 for tangible self-care tips to help you stay grounded through the demands of caregiving.

We see you. We hear you. And we’re so glad you’re part of this community.

💛 Want More Support?

Visit HospiceRedefined.com to grab your free Caregiver Self-Care Checklist—a PDF you can print and put on your fridge to remind you of the small things that make a big difference.

🎧 Listen to this episode on your favorite podcast platform:

• Apple Podcasts

• Spotify

And if you found this episode helpful, please forward it to someone who needs it. Or better yet, grab your phone, press play, and sit with them while they listen.

You’re not alone. We’re so proud of you for showing up.

Until next time,
Rachel Carta, RN
Host of Hospice Redefined

This episode is brought to you by Geisinger Hospice—Compassionate care when it matters most.

Written and produced by Rachel Carta, RN, Functional Nutrition Counselor & Life Coach. This episode features an interview with Kate Zuraw, LICSW, a trauma-informed social worker, educator, and advocate with over a decade of experience in mental health, crisis intervention, and care coordination.