Many people have the misunderstanding that hospice care solely focuses on a patient’s physical well being and comfort. At Ardent Hospice & Palliative Care, we care for the patient holistically—including, and sometimes most importantly, their emotional welfare.
Because March is National Social Worker Month, we want to take the time to recognize our amazing social worker and all the work she does to help make Ardent great. She is largely responsible for the personalized emotional care we bring our patients and ensures the family is supported throughout their entire journey with us.
Once a patient comes onto to Ardent’s services, our social worker meets with the family to learn more about their dynamic and where each family member is emotionally. Her goal is to bring the family together and get them on the same page regarding the patient’s care plan. While each family and case is different, she essentially plays three main roles in helping them through their end-of-life journey.
Administrator
The first thing our social worker helps the family with is applying for additional benefits (if necessary or applicable) and filing any essential paperwork. For instance, she can connect them to resources, such as lawyers, to take care of the details involved with wills, inheritance, life insurance, and other types of legal arrangements. She also helps them navigate the process and take the burden of the administrative side of care off our families’ shoulders.
Planner
Our team tries to anticipate any question or issue a family may run into while on this end-of-life journey and remove those obstacles before a family encounters them. We come alongside the family to help them plan for the end of life and keep them from feeling overwhelmed.
Many times, planning includes arranging and educating the family on living placements or extra care. Our social worker will visit the patient’s home, and if there are any concerns or it appears that the patient needs additional support (aside from our regular nurse visits), the social worker will reach out to the proper organizations, like IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services).
Depending on the family’s care plan and patient’s wishes, our social worker will find an in-patient facility, skilled nursing home, or boarding care to place the patient in when the time comes. When it’s part of a patient’s plan to pass in the home (as opposed to a hospital or care facility), our social worker can apply for maximum benefits and help them find extra support and caregivers on top of what we provide at Ardent. We work within the family’s wishes to make sure they’re all cared for and the patient is comfortable in any situation.
Mediator
One thing people don’t realize is how death can change a family’s dynamic. When stress levels are high, our social worker works as a mediator to bring everyone together to support the patient. This often includes reminding the family to put aside any differences and take advantage of the time they have together.
Many times, emotions and tempers can flare, and in those cases, she works as a peacemaker and counselor to bring a resolution to the conflict. Sometimes this means hosting family meetings to allow each family member to express their viewpoints and hear each other out. This may also mean providing emotional support to the main caregiver and helping him or her find ways to manage their stress.
It’s not just our social worker who goes above and beyond to care for patients. As a team, we work to make sure our patients and their families are supported and comfortable, physically and emotionally. To find out more information about Ardent’s hospice and palliative care services, visit our website or call our main office in San Diego at (858) 952-1786.
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