Social Work

The Helping Hands Social Worker is an important part of the hospice team, providing psychosocial support to patients and families. The Social Workers job is based on the patient's living day to day with a serious illness, as well as the effects this has upon the family. The Social Worker helps patients apply for insurance or social security benefits, Medicare, Medicaid, or food stamps, and works with the patient and family on financial issues, wills, advance directives, simple legal problems or concerns. Networking with community agencies to assist the patient and family is also a primary focus of the Social Worker.

The Hospice Social Worker is trained in therapeutic counseling focusing on issues such as family conflicts, fears and anxieties related to hospice patients, and role changes. Often times a family conference is convened in order to resolve conflicts or to discuss care needs of the patient.

The Hospice Social Worker also emphasizes communication, and attempts to ensure that everything essential is resolved between patient, family members, and friends.