By: Dr. Lynn Euzenas

Director of Spiritual Care & Bereavement Services

Dear Friends:

We honor our Social Worker Team during Social Work month. Hospice social workers are very special people. I could not tell you how special they are any better than in sharing this poem by Amy Geldersma. Amy is a licensed clinical social worker, LMSW, at Harbor Hospice in Muskegon, Michigan.

Enjoy!

Dr. Lynn

"We Were There"

I was there in the driveway when 98 year old eyes
took in the sight of her home for the very last time.

I was there when a man told his grandpa,
"Guess what? Your name will live on, we're due with a son"

I was there at the table when a mother had to choose,
based on price, will her daughter have a casket or an urn?

I was there when a dog curled up on the bed,
next to sleeping hands that no longer pet her head.

I was there with the nurse when she washed a lifeless man,
saw his wife gently take the gold band off his hand.

We were there when a woman turned 103,
to lessen the loneliness with balloons and sweet treats.

We were there past our shift when a patient needed care,
suddenly death was so close and her family wasn't yet there.

We watched a husband help with things he said he never would,
because he realized it was time. He finally understood.

We have heard the greatest secrets, regrets, and fears.
We kept them safe within us, all those words that trust our ears.

We counseled the life-long partner when he realized he'll
"get nothing," there were no documents in place to protect
things shared with his loved one.

We've seen eyes light up over things we take for granted.
Life the first snow of the year, which some know will be their last one.

We've shared more laughs than tears, no doubt.
Humor exists in midst of the darkness,
it's weaved so tightly throughout.

We've been the last touches they felt and the last words they heard.
I'll never find the perfect way to paint the value of our work.

Instead we must remember what we feel, what we saw,
and cherish where we were.

Amy Geldersma, LMSW.

What We Regret Most...and Why

Dr. Leslee B. Cochrane

Executive Medical Director

Each day more than 700,000 social workers all across our nation meet with people of all ages and from all walks of life to assist them in solving complex problems. This month is National Social Worker Month, and this year the National Association of Social Workers will be celebrating their 65th anniversary. The theme for Social Work Month 2020 is Social Workers: Generations Strong-which speaks to both the multi-generational nature of the National Association of Social Workers as well as the impact that social workers have across all generations.

Social workers provide valuable assistance to patients through all stages of life and can be found working in schools, homes, health care centers as well as senior centers. We live in an amazing era of medical advances and new technologies which have enabled people to live longer than ever. Unfortunately, living longer comes with new challenges including managing the complications of chronic illnesses and dealing with the stress and concerns associated with the ever increasing cost of health care and cost of living. Social workers serve a vital role in helping patients navigate through these and other challenges as well as helping patients to cope with the emotional, financial and relational stressors as well.

Whole person health care requires that we respond to the whole person: including mind, body and spirit. If you or someone you love has ever faced a serious or life threatening illness you can probably identify with how such an illness impacts you physically, emotionally and spiritually. In Hospice care we practice whole person care through an interdisciplinary team model which includes nurses, social workers, chaplains, home health aides and physicians. Our chaplains are available to provide spiritual support to our patients and our home health aides and nurses do an amazing job of addressing the physical needs of the patients. As the physician, m primary focus is to address the patient's medical issues and I greatly appreciate the collaboration with our amazing hospice social workers who help to address the significant financial, psychological and emotional challenges faced the patients.

Early on in my medical training I saw a poster in the Medical Records Department which served to remind us as doctors in training that: "Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care." I could not agree more and I have found that although our social workers are incredibly knowledgeable, they truly serve with hearts of compassion. In addition to providing practical resources to help families navigate the many challenges of a serious illness, they offer compassionate emotional support to patients and families which I find incredibly helpful, especially to those who are grieving. If you know a social worker, please join me in recognizing theme during National Social Workers Month and express your appreciation for all they do to help make the world a better place!