Visiting Nurse / Hospice Atlanta Blogs

What Does a Social Worker Do?

“Social Workers Stand Up!”, the national campaign launched to recognize Social Work Month, is intended to raise awareness about an often-misunderstood profession. Unless you’ve worked directly with a Social Worker, you may not realize what a wealth of resources and guidance one professional can contribute – all in the interest of “standing up” for those in need.

Care and Support Provided by Social Workers

Our team at Visiting Nurse Health System includes 71 Social Workers who specialize in the areas of home health and hospice care.

Here’s a quick guide to understanding more about the profession of Social Work:

  • Social Work extends to practically every realm of public service. Professional Social Workers can be found in hospitals, schools, government agencies, mental health facilities, social service agencies and in private practice. Anywhere there’s a need for guidance toward solutions to poverty, hunger, mental health crises and abuse. At Visiting Nurse, our Social Workers are focused on helping patients and their loved ones navigate healthcare decisions, tap financial resources, and undergo physical and emotional transitions in hospitals, in home and at the end of life.
  • Social Work isn’t volunteer work. Becoming a licensed Social Worker requires a Master’s degree, plus ongoing certification and training. Visiting Nurse employs Social Workers with a Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) as well as Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW). LCSWs have completed post-graduate work, received three years of supervision from an LCSW and passed a rigorous exam. The time, expense and dedication required to complete these programs is significant and highly beneficial to patients and families.
  • Social Workers Specialize in Home Healthcare. These clinicians focus on longer term support for those patients dealing with an ongoing, chronic health condition. Their initial assessment considers the patient’s living situation to determine what resources may be helpful to promote a positive health outcome. The clinician can connect the patient and their family to financial resources, home care services, and nutritional support like a meal delivery program. The Social Worker can also facilitate different types of in-home rehabilitation, such as physical therapy or speech therapy. In-home Social Workers meet with patients and their families regularly to check that services are being delivered appropriately and to make adjustments as they are required.
  • Social Workers Specialize in Hospice Care. Social Workers who serve patients with a life-limiting illness. This involves assessing a patient’s needs to deliver comfort care – making sure they don’t experience physical or existential pain. The Social Worker can discuss end-of-life issues that may be practical in nature – having an RN manage physical symptoms, arranging for respite care, so a primary caregiver has time outside of the home. As important, the clinician provides more emotionally-focused care – arranging for a volunteer to spend time for social support, having a Hospice Chaplain visit for spiritual support.

 

Regardless of the area of specialization, Social Work is incredibly valuable to the support and care of the patients we serve. For more information on services provided by our team of Social Workers, please visit our home healthcare and hospice pages at vnhs.org.

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Can you imagine living your life's passion and service, like Janet, fulfilling you so that you choose to give 18 years here at Visiting Nurse Home Health? #grateful #inspired #OTLife #fun #visitingnursehealthsystem #hospiceatlanta

Can you imagine living your life`s passion and service, like Janet, fulfilling you so that you choose to give 18 years here at Visiting Nurse Home Health? #grateful #inspired #OTLife #fun #visitingnursehealthsystem #hospiceatlanta ...

Happy Physical Therapy Month! VNHS PTs, Your Leaders give gratitude for all you do each day, to keep our patients moving!

Happy Physical Therapy Month! VNHS PTs, Your Leaders give gratitude for all you do each day, to keep our patients moving! ...

PT Month Celebration 2024!
PTs had fun Fowling! 
Thank you to the team at Fowling Warehouse for a great event last night! 
#goptpower #PTMonth #visitingnursehealthsystem #hospiceatlanta #fun #fowling

PT Month Celebration 2024!
PTs had fun Fowling!
Thank you to the team at Fowling Warehouse for a great event last night!
#goptpower #PTMonth #visitingnursehealthsystem #hospiceatlanta #fun #fowling
...

Our Home Health and Hospice Atlanta teams had a great time at this week's 2024 Home Care and Hospice Conference and Expo, hosted by the National Alliance for Care at Home!

So many of this industry's leaders were in attendance, Visiting Nurse front and center, so we remain on the cutting edge of industry learnings surrounding healthcare challenges. From new innovations, regulatory moves, technology shifts, to learning advances in quality of care, all to continue bringing our patients the best care possible! 
#nach2024 #visitingnursehealthsystem #hospiceatlanta#growth #HealthcareForAll

Our Home Health and Hospice Atlanta teams had a great time at this week`s 2024 Home Care and Hospice Conference and Expo, hosted by the National Alliance for Care at Home!

So many of this industry`s leaders were in attendance, Visiting Nurse front and center, so we remain on the cutting edge of industry learnings surrounding healthcare challenges. From new innovations, regulatory moves, technology shifts, to learning advances in quality of care, all to continue bringing our patients the best care possible!
#nach2024 #visitingnursehealthsystem #hospiceatlanta#growth #HealthcareForAll
...

Join us in celebrating Bonnie Tackett-Brown, LPN, our Visiting Nurse Health System’s October Employee of the Month!
Bonnie was awarded this honor for her patient-centered, mission-driven approach to her nursing service here at Visiting Nurse's Home Health service line. Bonnie naturally goes above and beyond the normal call of duty, as she serves our patients and their needs. But her vocational-driven style doesn't end there! She also supports her teammates when they need nursing help she is first to say “yes,” with a generous attitude. 
Thank you Bonnie for all you give each day! 
#Congratulations #EmployeeAppreciation #employeeofthemonth #hospiceatlanta #visitingnursehealthsystem

Join us in celebrating Bonnie Tackett-Brown, LPN, our Visiting Nurse Health System’s October Employee of the Month!
Bonnie was awarded this honor for her patient-centered, mission-driven approach to her nursing service here at Visiting Nurse`s Home Health service line. Bonnie naturally goes above and beyond the normal call of duty, as she serves our patients and their needs. But her vocational-driven style doesn`t end there! She also supports her teammates when they need nursing help she is first to say “yes,” with a generous attitude.
Thank you Bonnie for all you give each day!
#Congratulations #EmployeeAppreciation #employeeofthemonth #hospiceatlanta #visitingnursehealthsystem
...

🎉 Happy Physical Therapy Month! 🎉
October 2024 is here, and it's time to celebrate the incredible work of our Visiting Nurse physical therapists who bring PT services to our patients in the comfort of their homes! When our patients are healing, at their most vulnerable, these dedicated clinicians help our patients move better, feel stronger, and live healthier lives. Let's give a big shoutout to all the PTs who keep us going! ✨ #PTMonth #PhysicalTherapy #ThankYouPTs #visitingnursehealthsystem #hospiceatlanta

🎉 Happy Physical Therapy Month! 🎉
October 2024 is here, and it`s time to celebrate the incredible work of our Visiting Nurse physical therapists who bring PT services to our patients in the comfort of their homes! When our patients are healing, at their most vulnerable, these dedicated clinicians help our patients move better, feel stronger, and live healthier lives. Let`s give a big shoutout to all the PTs who keep us going! ✨ #PTMonth #PhysicalTherapy #ThankYouPTs #visitingnursehealthsystem #hospiceatlanta
...

🎉 Celebrating 75 Years of Dedicated Employees! 🎉
Last night we culminated our 75th Anniversary year with our momentous 75th Anniversary Employee Celebration at The Roof & Skyline Park at Ponce City Market! Definitely an event to remember! Thank you to our employees who came out with their families, and our amazing Volunteers that helped make this event happen for employees to have some fun!🌟
A huge thank you to everyone who has been part of our journey. Here’s to many more years of patient care and partnership! 🥂✨ #AnniversaryCelebration #CompanyMilestone #WorkFamily #75YearsStrong

🎉 Celebrating 75 Years of Dedicated Employees! 🎉
Last night we culminated our 75th Anniversary year with our momentous 75th Anniversary Employee Celebration at The Roof & Skyline Park at Ponce City Market! Definitely an event to remember! Thank you to our employees who came out with their families, and our amazing Volunteers that helped make this event happen for employees to have some fun!🌟
A huge thank you to everyone who has been part of our journey. Here’s to many more years of patient care and partnership! 🥂✨ #AnniversaryCelebration #CompanyMilestone #WorkFamily #75YearsStrong
...

We are proud to announce Brittany Arnett, our Hospice Atlanta Director of Clinical Operations, South, has been named the Hospice News' 2024 Future Leaders Award Winner! 
This prestigious award program is sponsored by Homecare Homebase, and is designed to recognize up-and-coming industry members who are shaping the next decade of home health, hospice, senior housing, skilled nursing, and behavioral health.

Brittany’s award was announced in prominent industry news publication Hospice News, and below is the link to the article, where you can read her interview statements. 

This award is quite reflective of Brittany’s dedication, leadership, and her willingness to step in and take care of her team’s and patients’ needs, as a patient-minded leader!

Congratulations Brittany and thank you for all you do for our patients, our employees, and how much passion and heart you bring to work each day. 

Link to the Hospice News article, featuring Brittany! 
https://hospicenews.com/2024/09/13/future-leaders-brittany-arnett-director-of-clinical-operations-visiting-nurse-health-system-hospice-atlanta/

We are proud to announce Brittany Arnett, our Hospice Atlanta Director of Clinical Operations, South, has been named the Hospice News` 2024 Future Leaders Award Winner!
This prestigious award program is sponsored by Homecare Homebase, and is designed to recognize up-and-coming industry members who are shaping the next decade of home health, hospice, senior housing, skilled nursing, and behavioral health.

Brittany’s award was announced in prominent industry news publication Hospice News, and below is the link to the article, where you can read her interview statements.

This award is quite reflective of Brittany’s dedication, leadership, and her willingness to step in and take care of her team’s and patients’ needs, as a patient-minded leader!

Congratulations Brittany and thank you for all you do for our patients, our employees, and how much passion and heart you bring to work each day.

Link to the Hospice News article, featuring Brittany!
https://hospicenews.com/2024/09/13/future-leaders-brittany-arnett-director-of-clinical-operations-visiting-nurse-health-system-hospice-atlanta/
...

🌟 Employee of the Month: September 2024 🌟
We are thrilled to announce that our Employee of the Month for September is none other than Ms. April Stepp! 🎉
Please help us celebrate all that April offers to our hospice patients! #EmployeeOfTheMonth #Teamwork #Excellence #Recognition #visitingnursehealthsystem #hospiceatlanta

🌟 Employee of the Month: September 2024 🌟
We are thrilled to announce that our Employee of the Month for September is none other than Ms. April Stepp! 🎉
Please help us celebrate all that April offers to our hospice patients! #EmployeeOfTheMonth #Teamwork #Excellence #Recognition #visitingnursehealthsystem #hospiceatlanta
...

Happy Labor Day! 
Honoring our exceptional employees and 75 years of caring!
#laborday #gratitude #legacy #philanthropy #georgia #atlanta #healthcareforall

Happy Labor Day!
Honoring our exceptional employees and 75 years of caring!
#laborday #gratitude #legacy #philanthropy #georgia #atlanta #healthcareforall
...

Happy Labor Day! 
#laborday #gratitude #fun #employees #care

Happy Labor Day!
#laborday #gratitude #fun #employees #care
...

🌟 Volunteer Spotlight: Celebrating an Exceptional Heart! 🌟
This Labor Day, we wanted to shine a light on our amazing volunteers, laboring so generously for our mission!
One of our extraordinary volunteers at Hospice Atlanta, Stuart, received a lovely letter from our patient's family, about his amazing care, and how much Stuart helps!🌺 Whether it's through a comforting conversation, a warm smile, or lending a helping hand, Stuart embodies the true spirit of volunteerism.
Thank you Stuart for your generosity of spirit, sense of humor and willingness to support our patients and their families. 

All of our Volunteers are beacons of kindness and compassion, dedicating countless hours to ensuring our staff, patients and their families feel supported and cared for during their most challenging times. 

We are incredibly grateful for each and every one of our volunteers, and their dedication, compassion, and the positive experiences they offer! 🌈
#VolunteerSpotlight#hospiceatlanta#CommunityHeroes#gratitude#CompassionInAction

🌟 Volunteer Spotlight: Celebrating an Exceptional Heart! 🌟
This Labor Day, we wanted to shine a light on our amazing volunteers, laboring so generously for our mission!
One of our extraordinary volunteers at Hospice Atlanta, Stuart, received a lovely letter from our patient`s family, about his amazing care, and how much Stuart helps!🌺 Whether it`s through a comforting conversation, a warm smile, or lending a helping hand, Stuart embodies the true spirit of volunteerism.
Thank you Stuart for your generosity of spirit, sense of humor and willingness to support our patients and their families.

All of our Volunteers are beacons of kindness and compassion, dedicating countless hours to ensuring our staff, patients and their families feel supported and cared for during their most challenging times.

We are incredibly grateful for each and every one of our volunteers, and their dedication, compassion, and the positive experiences they offer! 🌈
#VolunteerSpotlight#hospiceatlanta#CommunityHeroes#gratitude#CompassionInAction
...