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The class discussed host settings, which are organizations that social workers work in controlled or led by others who are not social workers. When working in host settings social workers have to collaborate with the host organization, expound on the purpose, value, and significance of social work and the role the social worker plays, and maintain an awareness and understanding that social work goals and values may conflict with the host organizations goals and values. Lastly, social workers will need to interact and connect with those that are not social workers, keep an open mind about working in other service work areas, and maintain a positive image within the host organization
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One article, “Social Work in Health Care” (Berkman, Gardner, Zodikoff, & Harootyan, 2005) reviewed present and forthcoming developments in aging and health care in the United States. The article discussed the developments in terms of its effects on social work practices’ ability to improve the health and welfare of both the elderly and the caregiver. One development discussed was an application of evidence-based knowledge relating aging, physical, mental health, and consideration of the intergenerational family …show more content…
Ruth presented aspects of “An education model for explaining hospice services” (Welk, 1991). She discussed the four dimensions of support for the patient and family within hospice care, which are physical, emotional/psychological, social, and spiritual and gave examples of how the various dimensions of support could occur. She explained the purpose of hospice is to allow the patient to live as full as possible and comfortably until the end of life. She explained hospices services takes the “…conflict out of social situations, helps to subside the fear emotionally, attempts to remove as much pain physically and addresses decreasing despair spiritually thus easing the suffering” (Welk, 1991, p. 16) of the patient and
God tells his children, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation). Death is one of the most frightening and confusing times a person can go through. Watching a loved one pass away is also one of the hardest trials a person can experience. Many people assume that death is a time of pain and the only thing that they can do is mourn and watch their loved one fade away from the earth. This is wrong. There are ways that people can turn a bad situation to good. Dying doesn’t have to be painful and full of suffering. The County Hospice staff makes sure of this. The Hospice staff not only takes care of passing patients physically, but they also take care of the patients emotionally and spiritually. Hospice staff also plays a key role in helping families during the grieving process.
The preface focuses on the type of care Hospice provides for the patient and family, while the section entitled "Hospice is..." provides a detailed definition of hospice.Chapter One demonstrates the sensitivity a hospice nurse must use when dealing with new patients and how the nurse must remain unbiased at all times. Chapter Two reviews the family emotional strains and stresses which can be experienced when a loved one is dying within the home and how different people deal with the change. In Chapter Three we can develop a deeper understanding of an individual's strength and acceptance through the story of Karen, a seven year old who is dying from cancer. The different coping mechanisms expressed by Karen's parents are very contrast dramatically as the needs of survivors vary.Chapter Four highlights patients' need for control and decision making over his or her own life. In Chapter Five, Henrietta, the patient had very little control over her treatment and pain because her husband refused to accept her dying, until Janice (hospice nurse) promised her dignity during death. In Chapter Six, William tries a new method of pain control and his spirits are lifted as he once again has some control in his life as expressed in his statement, "I can't believe the power I have"(1, p.194).
The personal information’s’ of the following individuals in the scenarios was changed for confidential purposes.
The history and name hospice got its name from hospitality. In 1967, Dr. Cecily Saunders evented the first hospice was which was used for people who were terminally ill. However, the Hasting center Report, shows that in 1973, hospice emerges in the United State, and was used as a concept of care and not a place of care. Hospice upholds life and neither speeds nor postpones death. They offer palliative care to people with end of stage of life regardless of their age, gender, nationality, race, sexual orientation, etc. Hospice believes that proper care to the community will help patients and their families to be mentally and spiritually prepared for the death of their love ones. They provide 24/7 care in either home or facility base setting. The care of hospice is for patients who have chronic illness and have six month or less to live (NHPCO, 2012). Opiates mediation is used to treat pain. Hospice offer palliative care service to their patients to improve the quality of life. The primary goal is to control patient’s pain, symptoms management, and improve the quality of life (NHPCO, 2012). Hospice also provides bereavement services for families who have lost their love one. This is to help the family to cope with death. The bereavement services last for about a year or thirteen months after patients die. Families are offered individual counseling or support group (NHPCO, 2012).
DeCoster. The reason why I selected this article is because it is very different from the previous article I chose. Furthermore, this article 's main focus is on not on techniques or practice methods needed in gerontology, but rather on why gerontology, social work will become a rather important and immense population. The article also goes into depth as to what aspiring social workers or case managers need to know to be able to work with this population for example “special issues on aging and health” (Oliver & DeCoster, 2006, p. 244). The authors state, “ Implications for social work practice involve education on coping and referral needs” (Oliver & DeCoster, 2006, p. 244). From reading this article I learned to better understand the field of practice I am working with, such as how social workers impact the lives of these clients. I also learned to think beyond the surface as really assess my role as a social worker explore ways to grow as a helping professional in this role. Finally, from reading this article I became more aware on how gender, religion, race, ethnicity can impact the client on a functional level. I can use what I learned in this article to improve in my work placement by being more away and culturally sensitive to my clients. I also learned that gerontology is a relatively new large population in social work and if I want to be successful in helping my clients with their health cares needs I need to read more and gain more knowledge on common health care problems they are facing and health care systemic problems affecting this
Death is a universal truth. Hospice reduces the suffering associated with death. Hospice is considered the philosophy and model for quality, compassionate care to terminally ill patients. Patients accepted into a hospice program usually have a prognosis of less than six months to live (Potter, Perry, Stockert & Hall, 2017, p. 761). Hospice provides skilled medical care, pain management, emotional, and spiritual support tailored to the patient’s needs and wishes. The goal of hospice is to focus on the quality of life during the end of life. It gives patients a sense of dignity, provides patients and families with support, and it is cost effective. Today, seven out of ten Americans die from chronic disease. By 2020, the number of people living with a chronic illness will increase to 157 million (Hogan 2012). As the elderly population in the U.S. continues to increase, the importance of hospice will only continue to grow.
Social Workers are very important to everyday life. They are the ones that help people in need when they have nobody else to turn too. Also, they provide resources and better understanding of predicaments that you could be experiencing. I will reflect on how the class has affected me, my own experiences and how some theories have connected to my life experiences, and lastly, if the class helped toward my major. This class is important for someone that wants to become a social worker and wants to learn about the different theories used. Also, learning about me during this process of completing this class is fun and a way to see if the social work profession is right for me. There was many theories explained throughout this class but many will not be said because it wasn’t the main points that I was trying to get across. There are two tools that are used that can help a social worker organize a client’s life: Bubble map and Briefcase exercise. There are so many different ways a social worker can help a client deal with their problems and come up with a solution. It is up to that social worker to identify the client’s problem and see what theory fits.
My first encounter with hospice was on the receiving end and I remember asking the hospice nurse that first day, “How can you do this every day?” I will never forget her answer, “Hospice is not about dying, it’s about affirming life, helping people live their last days to the fullest.” During the next several months, I began to understand how true her words were. Today, as a volunteer, those words echo in my mind each time I’m about to meet a new patient.
For many years our society and the media has placed an image of death in our heads, of a painful experience, one that is feared by everyone. Although death can be emotionally draining, also can be an uplifting experience. Providing comfort and love and the assurance that life will continue, is truly the biggest gift. Hospices are designated to provide sensitive support for people in the final phase of terminal illness. ). The typical hospice patient has a life expectancy of six months or less. Hospice care works to help the patient and family members to carry on an alter, pain-free life to manage other symptoms so that their last days may be spent with dignity and quality at home or in a home-like setting (http:/www.cmcric.org/homecare.html, 2000)
Identify and explain the three major sources of conflict and misinterpretations in social work practice: culture-bound values, class bound values, and language variables.
Social work practice requires many skills, which need much practice themselves. This needs social work students to be open to trying within safe environments and scenario’s for mistake, such as with their peers and with emotional safe scenarios such as stress at University. This begins with a requirement to do 5 minutes of interviewing with a peer which includes many social work skills such as active listening, encouraging, paraphrasing, being/creating a welcoming and safe environment and other such basic and beginning skills.
Social work is a multifaceted, ever adapting profession, which has had many purposes and identities through the years. It is imperative for the vocation to constantly evolve alongside the social climate and the new ways in which we identify and treat those who are in need of support. Social workers can be required to take on the role of counsellor, advocate, case-worker, partner, assessor of risk and need, and at times (as the government seeks to push social work further and further towards the health and education sectors) a servant of the state. The profession is dramatically subject to affection by societal change, thus demanding social workers have a duty to be up to date with the latest developments in understanding how and why people get to the point of requiring social work intervention, and how best to prevent and cater for it.
The most important social workers in society are those who enter the child welfare system. Since many children don’t always grow up in monogamous households those in the welfare system need assistance the most. According to Williams- Mbengue (2012) “Nearly three million American children are put into welfare systems and cared for by social workers.” Imagine being a social worker in the welfare system, taking care of children who come from impoverished biological homes, and a large majority of them experiencing some form of abuse or neglect (Meloy & Phillips, 2012). As a social worker, it can be very emotional and stressful handling a child in the system, especially if a child was just taken from their biological home.
Of all the social sciences and helping profession, what sets social work apart is the mission to serve marginalized, historically underrepresented, and disenfranchised populations (Lum, 2011; Morales & Sheafor, 2004; National Association of Social Workers [NASW]. The social work profession and particularly social workers have to keep an eye on the voices of oppressed in our society, take an active stand against inequities, injustice, and make a commitment to changing the lives of individuals as well as institutions and society (CSWE, 2015).
I’m excited to meet you, I haven’t seen you throughout the program yet and it is nice to meet new people. Anyways, I really enjoyed watching your post this week. I agree with some of the points that you brought up including, that social workers need to seek out ongoing educational trainings on diversity and oppression, and research ongoing laws and barriers affecting people of various diversities. I also believe it is important as a social worker to try and conduct as much research on a client before meeting them. Professional development programs should help social workers to understand the complex characteristics of ethnic groups within U.S. society and the ways in which race, ethnicity, language, and social class interact to influence client