Hospice and palliative care usually means the patients are dying. Sadly, they either suffer from terminal illness in the case of hospice care, or they are near death in a hospital or nursing home and are considered in palliative care. Any situation that involves the death of a loved one is sorrowful and requires emotional, physical, spiritual and social support. For both the patients and their families, the road is fraught with fear, anxiety, and heartache. Then, after the patients pass away, their families are left with the grieving process. Indeed, most would agree that social work in hospice and palliative care is vital to both the patients and their families.

Social workers may undertake several roles when administering to patients of hospices. Initially, they will have helped the patients find suitable surroundings for their conditions. Once accepted to the hospice, social workers would then counsel the patients as requested, listening to their feelings, and making them aware of what to expect. In the cases where patients are close to dying, social workers may be responsible for contacting the family and letting them know that they should come to be with their loved ones.

Often in a hospital or residential care setting, the social worker will be nearby as the families spend their last moments with their loved ones. As the time draws closer, the social worker will answer any questions and ensure that the families have everything they require to keep everyone comfortable. Once the loved one passes away, the social worker will explain to the family the process for transporting the body to the funeral home. The social worker may also assist during the initial stages of grief, and provide information for help during bereavement.

For patients who have no families that visit, social workers become an invaluable part of the patients' lives. They provide the emotional support and caring the patient craves. They may also be responsible for helping the patients to make decisions regarding their deaths, and they may help them fill in any necessary paperwork. Social workers may assist with funeral arrangements and finding financial support for hospice and palliative care patients.

The field of social work in hospice and palliative care seeks to create dignity for the patient and improve the quality of life through pain management, caring and informed decision making, as well as providing a support system for patients, families and friends. For the patient's continued well-being, the social worker may make the individual aware of alternative therapies in addition to traditional methods of treatment.

Certainly, progressive life limiting illnesses require mindsets that produce a holistic philosophy. Specifically, the patient must be treated as a whole person instead of only treating the obvious affliction. Social workers strive to bring that balance to end-of-life situations in both hospice and palliative care environments. Further, it is important for social workers to ensure that everyone understands the religious, ethnic and cultural wishes of the patients and that those needs are met in addition to medical needs. As a result, he/she needs to work cooperatively with others in the hospice, hospital or long-term care facility.

Social work as a profession in hospice and palliative care is one of support, caring, knowledge, advocacy and cooperation.