What Is Social Work?
March is World Social Work Month, and we are proud to support and stand together with social workers around the world to celebrate their constant contributions to our society. Thanks to this practice-based profession, social workers can work with families and institutions to promote social change, solidarity and the empowerment of communities.
"The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty." - NASW Mission Statement
Home Care and Hospice Social Workers
At Interim Healthcare of the Twin Cities, we have been offering skilled home care services for more than 15 years and providing compassionate, quality hospice care to our patients for more than 10 years.
Our home care and hospice social workers are an integral part of the interdisciplinary team, making sure our patients are aware of the resources available to them as they navigate their way through life.
What Services do Home Care and Hospice Social Workers Provide?
Whether serving home care or hospice patients, our social workers create an individualized care plan designed to meet the unique needs of each patient and family. This may include:
- Connecting patients with resources, such as community services, housing, transportation, financial support, or county assistance
- Offering psychosocial and emotional support to patients and families, including grief and bereavement support
- Assisting patients with identifying care goals, including advance care planning
- Providing education and advocacy as patients and families navigate the healthcare system and the unique challenges that come with aging, managing chronic conditions, and end-of-life care
Hear it From One of Our Team
“As a home care social worker, I assess and address the needs of our homebound patients. Some of these issues include:
- Home safety/basic needs
- Transportation
- Caregiver burnout
- Emotional/behavioral (mental health) needs
- Financial support
- Long range care planning
- Abuse screening
- Hospice eligibility
In order to best provide support, education, and advocacy, home care and hospice social workers utilize a range of skills, including active listening, critical thinking, cultural competence, supportive counseling, communication and collaboration with community partners, and resource linking/bridging.
Something I feel is important for people to know is how highly educated and committed social workers really are. Strictly licensed, and held to a high standard of ethical values and principles, social workers work with vulnerable people to find solutions to their problems, enhancing their patients' abilities to meet their own needs.”
Why Not Thank a Social Worker this Social Work Month?
Take it from us, social workers are exceptionally dedicated to their cause. They do it for their patients and don’t expect to be praised—but when they are, it means the world.
To any social workers reading this: we’d like to say a heartfelt “thank you” for always showing up. No matter what the circumstance, you always prioritize the patients you serve.
And to the Interim HealthCare of the Twin Cities team: we are proud to celebrate your hard work and exceptional care, as you help us achieve our mission of improving people's lives each and every day.
To learn more about our social work team or any of the home care and hospice services that we provide, contact us today. (651) 917-3634.
