Category: Part 1: Beginning hospice social work

Funeral homes: Where hospice workers forget patient self-determination

A survey shows a hospice team’s weakness when it comes to funeral home planning and patient self-determination.

January 5, 2020 Advance directives / From personal experience... / Good lessons from bad hospice / Hospice ethics

Quiz: hospice philosophy and patient self-determination

Take this quiz to test your understanding of hospice philosophy!

December 30, 2018 Advance directives / From personal experience... / Miscellaneous goodies

An open letter to those who work with the Texas OOHDNR

My fellow healthcare workers: We can do a better job managing out of hospital do not resuscitate orders. I know

August 19, 2018 Attending death / From personal experience...

Religious chauvinism in hospice

Imagine you are sitting with a beloved family member who has only a few days or a few hours left

August 12, 2018 Defining hospice social work success / From personal experience... / Navigating hospice culture

Good learning from bad hospice

I strive to be positive in a field with where shortcomings are often hard to ignore. I’m very fortunate to

August 5, 2018 Attending death / Part 1: Beginning hospice social work

Why hospice social workers should attend deaths

Most of the deaths we attend don’t require the services of a social worker. But sometimes people do need good secular counseling following a death. That’s why we should be there, holding space, calling the funeral home, and being supportive. There may be a profound emotional need we can support.

July 13, 2018 Get a hospice social work job / Navigating hospice culture / Part 1: Beginning hospice social work

How to choose a good hospice (whether you’re looking for a job or signing up a relative)

Hospices are not all equally well run. This article begins a discussion about the qualities that make a hospice a better work situation for employees and service provider for patients.