PALLIATIVE CARE SOCIAL WORK
The social work role in Palliative, End of Life Care and Bereavement
Many people with a life limiting illness will likely come into contact with a social worker at some time throughout their illness. Social workers work in a range of different roles and settings including hospitals, hospices, community and primary health, mental health, nursing homes, correctional facilities, group homes and other government and non-government agencies. The social work profession has expertise in the psychological, emotional, social and spiritual dimensions of human experience throughout the life course and provide interventions at the individual, family, group, community, and organizational levels.
Click on the stories below to read some of these accounts of quality care by social workers.
Social Work Interventions
Overcoming obstacles – Advocacy – Ever changing situations
Antonio, a 67-year-old male with a background of metastatic prostate cancer, was admitted to an acute hospital with sepsis, following an experimental treatment. Antonio’s wife,
Pre and Post-Natal End of Life Planning – Working with Immense Sadness and Loss – Making Life Work for People
Demi, was 26-years-old and 36 weeks pregnant when she was informed that her baby had deformities that were incompatible with life and was expected to
Trauma – Regrets – Support
Ron had been married to Pat for over 30 years. Pat had experienced a range of complicated health issues during their marriage, culminating in an
Tying up loose ends – The practicalities of life & death – Financial and Legal support
Frank, a 58-year-old married man with metastatic bowel cancer sought assistance to “put his affairs in order” to ensure that his wife would be able
The Challenges of Mental Illness – Person Centred – Patience
Issy was a 73-year-old single woman with end stage COPD and a long history of paranoid schizophrenia. She lived with her Corgi Georgia, whom she
Upholding peoples wishes – Respecting choice
Aiden was a 26-year-old Aboriginal man who had been raised by his Aunty Christie. He had a lifetime history of genetic illness and was given
Detective Work – Having Difficult Conversations – Bringing People Together
Michael, a 40-year-old man with chronic liver disease, was told he only had weeks to live. He had lived rough on the streets since the
Assessing Abuse – Mastering Complexity – Family Connections
72-year-old Gerald, who had a long history with acute myeloid leukaemia, disclosed during a hospital admission that he was being physically and psychologically abused by
Mediation – Reunification – Creating Safe Spaces – Working with the Whole Family
63-year-old Norm, a man with advanced bowel cancer, wanted to reconcile with his estranged adult children before he died. They had a long-standing history of
Walking Along Side – Meeting People In Their Space
Adrian was a 55-year-old Aboriginal man with end stage renal disease. He called his large family to a meeting to yarn (talk) about his end
Things that make bereavement complicated – messy situations – helping the vulnerable
Gloria had been married to Ted for 23 years. Following Ted’s death, the palliative care service contacted the social worker for bereavement support for Gloria,
Fostering Communication – Creative Therapy Techniques – Taking care of Future Generations
Gemma, a 32-year-old mother with metastatic breast cancer, asked the social worker for guidance around having ‘the talk’ about dying with her 7-year-old daughter, Olivia.
Supporting Diversity – Using Technology – Supporting the Carer Team
A 42-year-old married mother of three with metastatic breast cancer experienced an extended admission in her small rural hospital before her death. She upheld a
Colourful lives – Attention to everyone’s needs
28-year-old Janie was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer after an extensive history of drug use, itinerant lifestyle and homelessness. Her 8-year-old son, Levi had largely
Tricky Living Conditions – Taking Time to Understand – Providing Opportunities
Lars, a 76-year-old twice divorced Dutch man with metastatic prostate cancer was assisted by the social worker with transport home post discharge. The social worker
Culturally respectful – Complexity – Respecting everyone’s position
Lynelle, a 72-year-old single Aboriginal mother of 9 with metastatic breast cancer, had been the sole carer for her 45-year-old son, Ken, who had an
Navigating language barriers – Diverse cultures – Responding to what’s important in people’s lives and deaths.
Jakub, an 89-year-old man from Poland, was admitted to an acute hospital with pneumonia. Jakub suffered a fall in hospital which resulted in him sustaining
International Negotiations – Creative Solutions – Families
Kemala, a 45-year-old divorced mother, originally from Indonesia, with end stage lung cancer, wanted her younger sister Rita to travel from a remote Indonesian village
Existential distress – Life review – Tough discussions – Spirituality
61-year-old Dianne was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and expressed significant distress about the purpose and meaning of her life. She began reflecting on her relationship
Exploring the Unusual – Researching Options
Joe was a 73-year-old former British Mariner with liver cancer who fancied that he wanted a sea burial. The social worker researched options available which
Planning for Pets – The Other Family Member
74-year-old Noel was suffering with mesothelioma. He lived with his cherished dog, Betsy, and had no family or other social support networks. Noel required intermittent
Systems – Interdisciplinary Engagement – Bigger picture planning
A cluster of small towns experienced an increase of people diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease (MND). General Practitioners in the area had limited experience in
Therapeutic Counselling – Future Planning – Creating Legacies
Nicola was a 35-year-old married mother of three with advanced endometrial cancer. She had overhead another patient say that they were relieved by having attended