Social workers play a critical role in hospice care, acting as an advocate for the patient and his family throughout the care process. Without them, hospice would be an entirely different specialty than what it is today.
Hospice care aims to treat the patient’s physical symptoms and support the patient and his family emotionally, socially, and spiritually. To do this well, it’s imperative that the patient is first paired with a social worker who fully understands his and his family’s needs and can assist throughout the dying process and even after the patient has passed with bereavement.
Psychosocial evaluations allow social workers to better understand patient needs and family dynamics. Ultimately, it’s the social worker’s job to assess the “big picture,” allowing them to better guide the hospice team in creating a comprehensive care and support plan. Some factors a social worker may consider include financial burdens, emotional stress, and mental health.
Additionally, hospice social workers have an extensive background in pharmacological matters, which allows them to effectively communicate with the medical team and provide insight to the patient and his family. Hospice social workers are available to patients not only in in-patient settings but anywhere care is provided.
To learn more about Vantage Hospice social worker services, contact us.
