Social Work

Medi Hospice social workers work with clients acing life-limiting illness, dying, death, grief, and bereavement. Using their expertise in working with populations from varying cultures, ages, socioeconomic status, and nontraditional families, social workers help families across the life span in coping with trauma, suicide, and death, and must be prepared to assess such needs and intervene appropriately.  Social workers are challenged to provide expertise and skill in direct services to clients and their families. The need for social workers trained and skilled in working with palliative and end of life care situations has increased, because of advancements medical technology, rising rates of chronic illness, increasing number of elderly people, and longer life spans.

Social workers are an integral part of the interdisciplinary team approach to hospice care.

They help our patients and families in a multitude of ways, including counseling, education, help with accessing community resources and grief support. In addition, they assist those in need of alternate residential settings, individuals experiencing financial crises, as well as those who require referrals to outside   social service agencies. During the Social Worker's visit, he or she will assess the needs of the patient and family and focus on maximizing their quality of life. 

Some of the issues a Medi Hospice Social Worker might assist with include:

· Education on Hospice Philosophy and the Dying Process

· The need for a caregiver and/or respite service

· Processing emotions surrounding news of a terminal diagnosis

· Support for an overwhelmed caretaker

· Anticipatory grief for those experiencing the loss of a loved one.

· Conflict resolution among the patient's support system.

· Assistance with insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid paperwork.

· Assistance with funeral planning.

· Assistance with advanced directives such as a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (DPOA-HC) or Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNR)

Medi Hospice believes that individuals and families are the true experts in their own care. Our Social Workers provide an objective ear during a difficult time and will advocate for each individual/family's definition of dignity and quality of life to ensure they receive care that is hand-tailored to fit their needs.