SOCW 6210 Week 7 Assignment

SOCW 6210 Week 7 Assignment

Assignment: Models of Grieving

The death of a loved one is a significant event that everyone experiences. An individual’s social environment, including societal and familial cultural factors, may influence how an individual approaches death or grieves the loss of someone else who dies. You can anticipate addressing grief in your social work practice and, therefore, should develop an understanding of the grieving process.

Two models of grieving—the Kubler-Ross and Westburg models—identify stages through which an individual progresses in response to the death of a loved one. Understanding the various ways individuals cope with grief helps you to anticipate their responses and to assist them in managing their grief. Select one model of grieving—the Kubler-Ross or Westburg model—to address in this assignment.

Addressing the needs of grieving family members can diminish your personal emotional, mental, and physical resources. In addition to developing strategies to assist grieving individuals in crisis, you must develop strategies that support self-care.

In this Assignment, you apply a grieving model to work with families in a hospice environment and suggest strategies for self-care.

By Day 7

Submit a 2- to 4-page paper in which you:

•        Explain how you, as a social worker, might apply the grieving model you selected to your work with families in a hospice environment.
•        Identify components of the grieving model that you think might be difficult to apply to your social work practice. Explain why you anticipate these challenges.
•        Identify strategies you might use for your own self care as a social worker dealing with grief counseling. Explain why these strategies might be effective.

Support your Assignment with specific references to the resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references.

Discussion: Psychological Aspects of Aging

Theories of successful aging explain factors that support individuals as they grow old, contributing to their ability to function. Increasing your understanding of factors that support successful aging improves your ability to address the needs of elderly clients and their families.

To prepare for this Discussion, review this week’s media. In addition, select a theory of successful aging to apply to Sara’s case.

Post a Discussion in which you:

•        Explain key life events that have influenced Sara’s relationships. Be sure to substantiate what makes them key in your perspective.
•        Explain how you, as Sara’s social worker, might apply a theory of successful aging to her case. Be sure to provide support for your strategy.

Learning Resources

Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.

SAMPLE ANSWER

How a social worker applies Models of Grieving in hospice care

When we think of hospice care, we often think of end-of-life care. However, hospice care is so much more than that. Hospice care is a type of social work that provides support for people who are terminally ill and their families. One important part of hospice care is the model of grieving. There are many different models of grieving, but they all have one goal: to help the person grieving cope with their loss. In this blog post, we will explore how a social worker applies models of grieving in hospice care.

The different models of grieving

The Kübler-Ross model, or the five stages of grief, is the most widely known model of grieving. It was first introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in her 1969 book On Death and Dying. The five stages are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

The stages are not necessarily experienced in order, and they may be experienced more than once. For example, a person in the bargaining stage may go back to denial if they receive new information about their loved one’s condition.

The Stages of Change model was developed by James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente in the 1970s. It is often used in addiction recovery, but can also be applied to grieving. The six stages of this model are precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and termination.

The precontemplation stage is when a person is not yet ready to change their behavior. They may be in denial about the situation or think that things will eventually get better on their own.

In the contemplation stage, a person begins to recognize that there is a problem and starts to consider making a change. They may research different options and weigh the pros and cons of each one.

The preparation stage is when a person makes a plan to change their behavior. They may set a goal and start taking steps to reach it. This could involve seeking out support from others or attending counseling sessions.

How social workers apply the models of grieving in hospice care

The social worker is a key member of the hospice care team, and as such, plays an important role in supporting patients and families through the grieving process. There are many different models of grief, and social workers can draw on these to help patients and families navigate their way through this difficult time.

One of the most well-known models of grief is the five stages of grief, first proposed by psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. These stages are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. While not everyone experiences all five stages, they can be a helpful framework for understanding the grieving process.

Another popular model is the dual process model, which proposes that there are two main ways of coping with grief: approaching it head-on (instrumental coping) or avoiding it altogether (expressive coping). Social workers can help patients and families identify their preferred coping style and provide support accordingly.

whichever model or combination of models is used, the goal is always to help patients and families come to terms with their loss and find a way to move forward.

The benefits of applying models of grieving in hospice care

When a loved one is terminally ill, it is important to receive support from those who understand what you are going through. Hospice social workers are specially trained to provide this type of support.

One of the main ways hospice social workers provide support is by using models of grieving. These models help explain the process of grieving and provide guidance on how to cope with the various stages.

There are many different models of grieving, but they all generally include the following stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

Applying these models can be extremely helpful for those coping with a terminal illness. Denial can be a natural response to news that is difficult to accept. It can help ease the shock and allow you to process the information gradually. Anger is another common response to terminal illness. It can be directed at the situation, at yourself, or at others who seem content while your world is falling apart. Bargaining is often an attempt to delay or change the inevitable. You may find yourself making deals with God or trying to trade something of value for more time with your loved one. Depression is a normal response to loss and can be accompanied by physical symptoms such as fatigue and insomnia. Acceptance is often the final stage of grief. It does not mean that you are happy about the situation, but rather that you have come to terms with it and are able to move forward.

The challenges of applying models of grieving in hospice care

One of the challenges of applying models of grieving in hospice care is that the process of grief is often unpredictable. Every individual experiences grief differently, so it can be difficult to know how best to support a grieving person. Additionally, the process of grief can be triggered by unexpected events or circumstances, which can make it difficult to plan for.

Another challenge of applying models of grieving in hospice care is that some people may not want to talk about their grief or may try to suppress their emotions. This can make it difficult to provide support and assistance. Additionally, some people may experience complicated grief, which can be more difficult to manage.

It is important to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to grieving. What works for one person may not work for another. It is important to be flexible and adaptable when providing support to someone who is grieving.

Conclusion

The process of grieving is different for everyone, but there are some general stages that most people go through. As a social worker in hospice care, it’s my job to help patients and their families navigate this process. I often use Models of Grieving, which outlines these stages, to help them understand what they’re going through and what to expect. I hope that by sharing this information with you, you’ll have a better understanding of the grieving process and be better equipped to deal with your own grief.