Dying at home during Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic – insight and learning from the home hospice perspective

ABSTRACT

COVID-19 has impacted patients with terminal illness at the end-of-life phase and their families. This paper describes how Covid-19 affected these patients’ choice of care and families’ coping, including their bereavement experiences. It also explains the role of social workers in the home hospice setting in identifying and addressing social and psychological distress faced by patients and families. Social workers play an important role in advocating for equitable access to health and social care by seeking clarity in roles, and negotiating new boundaries and restrictions set in service provisions.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• end-of-life care
• home hospice
• palliative social work
• psychological impact

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Paul Bashyam

Paul Bashyam, BSWK, MCOUCFT, RSW, Paul is a Social Worker in HCA Hospice Care. He is trained in both Social Work and Counselling and has spent the last 5 years working with patients and families affected by chronic and terminal illness. Paul is interested in research in grief and loss in home hospice setting.

Venus Szee Chin Ther

Venus Szee Chin Ther, BA, MSocSc, is trained in Social Work and Counselling and has spent the past 10 years working with patients in the acute hospital and homecare settings. She is interested in systemic approaches to family based care and spiritual care interventions.

Ching Yee Tan

Ching Yee Tan, BA, MRehabClg, PG Dip Pal Care, RSW, has more than 25 years of working experience in the acute hospital and community settings. She drew most of her learning from working with patients and their families affected by neurological conditions. Ms Tan is active in vulnerable adult protection work and training social workers and healthcare staff on topics related to end-of-life and psychosocial and spiritual care. She currently heads a team of medical social workers, spiritual care counsellor and art therapist in the largest home hospice provider in Singapore. Ms Tan was awarded Outstanding Social Worker award from the President of Singapore in 2019.