Celebrating Social Work Day and Human Rights Day

The theme for World Social Work Day, which will be celebrated on March 21 together with Human Rights Day, is: 'Recognising the importance of respecting diversity through joint social action'.

Providing emotional care and building resilience are essential components of palliative care.

It is therefore essential to recognise the value of working together to support individuals and families who face life-threatening illnesses. Social workers offer a support system to help the patient cope during their illness and in their bereavement.

The job description of social workers in palliative care includes the following:

- mediate for family members who are in conflict.

- help restore difficult relationships.

- remind the patient and family of being a family unit emphasising Ubuntu.

- maintain positive relationships with other networking partners i.e., war rooms.

- refer patients for temporary or permanent placement away from their family.

- advocate for financial subsistence grants for patients via SASSA (South African Social Security Agency).

- refer children for special school placement.

- involve children (infected and affected) in the memory work programme to build resilience.

- provide counselling to children who stay with loved ones who are diagnosed with a life limiting illness.

These activities recognise the importance of providing support for those facing a life-threatening illness. By creating a diverse and inclusive environment, social workers are able to provide necessary support to all our beneficiaries. We are proud to recognise the importance of respecting diversity through joint social action in palliative care and are committed to providing the best care and support to those who need it.

One of the principles of palliative care is to provide dignity in death and to help the patient to live as actively a life as possible until they die. “The person with the disease is more important than the disease the person has.”

As we celebrate Human Rights

Day, the rights of our patients are enshrined in our constitution, and we strive to ensure that all our beneficiaries can access the quality of life that is their right. We are committed to providing the best care and support to those who need it and to promoting the acceptance of the changes that come with a life-threatening illness.

For more information on the services available from Msunduzi Hospice, please contact hospice@hospicekzn.co.za or call +27332602800. You can also Whatsapp on 0826999105.

Please consider a donation in support of our patient care.

Content supplied by Warren Oxford-huggett, CEO of Msunduzi Hospice.