What Hospice Care Provides

	CHANS Hospice social workers provide support, counseling and education for those with loved ones on Hospice Care.

Social Work Services

A licensed social worker is available to counsel the patient and family regarding emotional and psychological issues, or to assist with financial or legal issues.

This is accomplished by providing education about and assistance with accessing:

• homemaking
• transportation
• energy/heating assistance
• housing and care options (assisted living, nursing home, in-home patient care)
• volunteer services
• legal options
• advanced directives, living wills, funeral arrangements and burial plans
• Meals on Wheels
• Lifeline emergency response options
• respite care
• prescription and medical insurance options
  • Medicare Buy-In
  • Medicaid/Maine Care
  • Medicare Part D/Low Cost Drugs
  • food stamps
  • veteran’s benefits

The social worker is the team member who focuses primarily on providing support and encouragement to the patient and family in the face of the emotional ups and downs that are part of the end of life. The social worker’s focus is on helping the patient and family live well.

This accomplished by:

• providing emotional support for the patient and family
• providing information about the death and dying process
• listening to patient and family as they relate their experiences relative to end of life
• teaching stress-reduction and relaxation techniques