Hospice Social Work

Hospice Social Work

Hospice is a concept of care that does not accelerate death or prolong life. It provides support and comfort to patients and caregivers in the face of a terminal illness that is no longer responding to standard medical treatment. Hospice services are delivered by a specialized team of health care professionals to provide comfort and dignity to patients in their last days of life. Social workers are an integral part of any hospice team. The burden of working with individuals at the end of life can be significant for members of a hospice team who are confronted with death on a daily basis. Hospice social workers in particular must be mindful of issues of secondary trauma and self-care.