Assignment: End-of-Life Care and Social Work Practice
Naturally, death and dying is also a biological change that occurs in later adulthood. As older adults age, they may experience diseases that impact their already vulnerable organ and immune systems such as cancer, Alzheimer's, and cardiovascular issues. They may die painlessly at home surrounded by the support of many loved ones, or may suffer severe pain for months before dying in a health facility with little social support.
In either case, it is possible that many health and helping professionals interact with the dying person and their family. Social workers in particular play a key role, working to ensure that the individual's wishes are honored and that the death is dignified.
For this Assignment, you examine the social worker's role in the many aspects that accompany end-of-life planning and care.
To Prepare:
Review the Learning Resources on end-of-life care and social work, and reflect on the social worker's role in end-of-life care and planning.
Search in the Walden Library for at least one additional peer-reviewed research article that addresses how a social worker might support clients as they plan end-of-life care.
Submit a 3 to 4 page paper that analyzes the role of the social worker in helping to plan end-of-life care. Include possible consideration of palliative care, euthanasia, hospice care, the living will and advanced directives, and other factors.
Use the Learning Resources and at least one additional peer-reviewed research article (Family-Centered Care: A Resource for Social Work in End-of-Life and Palliative Care) to support your analysis. Make sure to provide APA citations and a reference list.
Required Readings
Zastrow, C. H., Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hessenauer, S. L. (2019). Understanding human behavior and the social environment (11th ed.). Cengage Learning.
· Chapter, "Biological Aspects of Later Adulthood" (pp. 642-671)
The additional peer review I pick is Family-Centered Care: A Resource for Social Work in End-of-Life and Palliative Care