Hospice care involves a skilled team of interdisciplinary professionals including nurses, chaplains and social workers. Many people have questions regarding the role of a social worker in the hospice care team. Social workers are advocates for patients and advocacy in the hospice setting takes on many different forms. Social workers listen to the desires of the patients and their families to help determine how the care plan should take shape. For example, how does a patient want to spend his/her final weeks, days, moments? Perhaps one patient longs to make amends with a family member. Another patient may want to be outside as much as possible.

Answers to this question will be unique for each and every one of us. The social worker assists in helping make each patient’s last days look the way he/she wants. Social workers also work with patients and families to assist with financial stressors by supplying information and resources. Concerns regarding finances often come up near the end of life. Hospice social workers are well trained and often well versed at navigating systems pertaining to insurance coverage, disability benefits, and funeral costs. Social workers also assist in the process of helping patients decide what memorial/funeral arrangements they want made and helping communicate those wishes to family members.

The grief family members may experience as their loved one nears death can be profound; the same is true for patients themselves. Social workers provide support and counseling to these patients who may experience fear, anxiety, and many other emotions while receiving hospice care. With their specialized training, social workers possess the information, resources and skills to help patients and their families move through the grief process.

Every patient is different emotionally, spiritually, culturally. And every patient and family has different ideas about what his/her individualized care plan should look like. Hospice social workers advocate for patients and their families to make their final moments as meaningful as possible in whatever way(s) desired.