Hospice: social work's response to a new form of social caring

Social work's response to hospice, as a new form of social caring, is portrayed by a social work process paradigm, conceptualized from the practice and research experiences of the authors. Guidelines are suggested for working with patients, families, care providers, and other concerned persons through the four phases of hospice care. As changes occur in the patient and the hospice settings, the participants join together to bring about a satisfactory fit between the person needing care and the environment. By anticipating the needs and reactions of the terminally ill patient to each transition in the care process, the social worker assists in orchestrating proactive interventions through the continuum of hospice care. Future research studies are recommended for determining what difference social work actions make toward ensuring a "safe passage."