March is #SocialWorkMonth and we want to recognize and celebrate the outstanding work of the hospice social worker. In this episode we celebrate the champions of the hospice interdisciplinary team: the social worker.  A hospice social worker faces many challenging situations in caring for hospice patients and their families.  Assess the caregiving system Provide referrals for community resources & assistance, etc. Lead family conferences Communicate with Red Cross, VA, prison system Coordinate with Veterans organizations (VA benefits for burial, ceremonial) Patient placement in facilities Advance Care Planning (living wills, MPOA, DNR, POLST) Bereavement support/counseling for complicated grief needs Community referrals for special grief needs (in coordination with chaplain) Provide respite assistance Advocating for patient rights And more..... To learn more about the services of social workers you can visit the National Association of Social Workers at this link.   Visit The Heart of Hospice website to learn more about hospice, caregiving, self care, and advance care planning.  You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We would love to hear your feedback, and you can write to us at host@theheartofhospice.com.