Resources for Hospice & Palliative Care Social Work Professionals During the COVID-19 Crisis

Resources from SWHPN

SWHPN is developing an ongoing list of resources for this page, tips for social workers on the front lines, and facilitators for virtual Social Work Open Discussions. Please reach out to [email protected] to contribute or participate.

"We are holding space for you." | A message from SWHPN Board Chair, Allie Shukraft, MSW, MAT, APHSW-C

SWHPN News Briefs | Free to subscribe, distributed weekly on Wednesdays
SWHPN Virtual Summits | discounted for SWHPN Members

Open Q&A on Lessons Learned from Previous Pandemics and Crises: How Can They Help us Manage the Pandemic Response Today? | Thursday, May 28 | 4:00 pm PST / 7:00 pm EST

Communication Tools

Specific phrases & word choices that can be helpful when dealing with COVID19 (updated 4/1/20) | Serious Illness Conversations

My Living Voice Advance Care Planning Tool | Vital Decisions

Supporting Children Experiencing Visiting Restrictions or the Loss of a Parent | Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford

Tip Sheet 01: Working With Families Facing Undesired Outcomes During the COVID-19 Crisis | Jennifer Halpern, PhD, LMSW, APHSW-C

COVID-ready communication skills: A playbook of VitalTalk Tips | Google Doc/downloadable version
SPIKES: A Six-Step Protocol for Delivering Bad News | The Oncologist
Having Planning Conversations | Respecting Choices

Managing Communication with Patients and Families | Italian Society for Palliative Care

Free Trainings & Webinars (last updated May 27, 2020)

Thursday, May 28th: Staying Resilient as the COVID-19 Pandemic Continues | CAPC
Open Discussion with April Naturale, PhD | April 30, 2020 | Recording-on demand here | April's slides here

Office Hours: Q&A Part I with Dr. Brian Mistler on Palliative Care & Telehealth | recorded, on-demand | SWHPN

Office Hours: Q&A Part II with Dr. Brian Mistler on Telehealth, Assessments & Management | recorded, on-demand | SWHPN

Virtual COVID-19 Town Hall with Coalition Leaders | recorded, on-demand | National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care

Palliative Care and the Impact of COVID-19 | recorded, on-demand | CAPC
Briefing: Serious Illness, Palliative Care, and the Impact of COVID-19 | recorded, on-demand | CAPC
Hospice and End-of-Life Care in Nursing Homes During COVID-19 | recorded, on-demand | Hospice Foundation of America

COVID-19 Resources from Hospice & Palliative Care Organizations

Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC)
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO)
American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM)
Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA)
European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC)

Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition (PPCC)

Other Resources for Palliative Care and Hospice Professionals

Ethical Framework for Decision Making in HPC | NHPCO

COVID-19 Resources for Healthcare Professionals | Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
COVID-19 Shared Decision-Making Tool | NHPCO

Guidelines From Countries & Organizations Outside the U.S.

'A good death' during the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK: a report on key findings and recommendations (includes findings from various faith communities) | LSE Anthropology

Palliative care network framework in response to COVID-19 emergency | A resource from one locality in Italy but may help organizations think through issues related to palliative care operations

The Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS) COVID-19 Guidelines

Good Practices for Social Work COVID-19 | National Palliative Care Commission of Portugal

Guidance for Medical Social Workers | Irish Association of Social Workers

Resources for Hospice Social Workers

Coronavirus Resources for Home Care & Hospice | National Association for Home Care & Hospice
COVID-19 Homecare and Hospice Checklist | Pennsylvania Homecare Association
Sample Letter for Clients/Families | Pennsylvania Homecare Association

Resources for Nursing Homes, SNFs, LTC Facilities

Virtual Visits Toolkit - helping residents in nursing homes connect with their loved ones | Family Councils Ontario

COVID-19 Long-Term Care Facility Guidance (4/3/20) | CMS

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Nursing Homes with Hospice Patients | NHPCO
A Pragmatist’s Advice for Nursing Homes | MediCaring.org
Missouri DHHS Guidance on Hospice Care in Long Term Care Facilities | Missouri Department of Health & Human Services

Telehealth Guidelines

Telehealth Guidance from CMS

Video Available on Medicare Coverage and Payment of Virtual Services | CMS

CMS Fact Sheet on Telehealth and Virtual Check-Ins by Clinicians (3/30/20) | CMS
CMS Fact Sheet on Hospices (3/30/20) | CMS

Telehealth Resources

Telehealth in Pandemic | Michigan State University

Tips and Practices for Providing Telemental Health Services | Wayne State University

Telehealth Online Course | Penn Nursing

Telehealth Startup Guide | CAPC

The Therapist's Telehealth Guide to COVID-19 | TherapyNotes

Telemedicine: Virtual Connection in an Age of Social Distancing | CAPC

Sample Telehealth Consent Form | NASW
Telehealth Visit Outline | Reach PC

Policy & Advocacy

National Hospice Stakeholder Groups Joint Request Letter for COVID-19 Response Package | NHPCO

State & Federal Guidances on Workplace Safety

Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Nursing Homes (Revised for Visitation 3/13/2020) | CMS
Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention Concerning COVID-19 by Hospice Agencies | CMS
Interim U.S. Guidance for Risk Assessment and Public Health Management of Healthcare Personnel with Potential Exposure in a Healthcare Setting to Patients with COVID-19 | Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Guidance for Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 | OSHA
Crisis Standards of Care | U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

Grief and Bereavement

Grief: The New Normal | free e-book | Chaplaincy Innovation Lab

COVID-19 and Complicated Grief | Association for Death Education and Counseling

Tool Kit | The Order of the Good Death

Responding to Change and Loss | National Alliance for Grieving Children

Supporting Children Experiencing the Loss of a Parent | Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford

Guidance for Bereavement Support | Specialist Palliative Care Social Workers in Ireland (Oct. 2019)

Grief Counseling Resource Guide: A Field Manual | New York State Office of Mental Health
Grieving In Exceptional Times | Irish Hospice Foundation
Complicated Grief Resources | The Center for Complicated Grief at Columbia University

Planning a Funeral In Exceptional Times | Irish Hospice Foundation

Social Isolation

How to stay connected while intentionally isolated | Coalition to End Social Isolation & Loneliness

Staying Engaged During Coronavirus Isolation: Home Therapeutic Activities for Individuals Living with Alzheimer’s Disease | Alzheimer's Foundation of America

Resources for Pediatric Palliative Social Work

COVID-19 Time Capsule | Natalie Long at LongCreations

Living My Best Quarantined Life | National Alliance for Grieving Children

Keeping in Touch | National Bereavement Alliance APCSW Childhood Bereavement Network

COVID-19 Resources from Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition | PPCC

Print Resources for Families on COVID-19 | CDC
Talking to and Supporting Children During a Pandemic | American Academy of Pediatrics
Coronavirus (COVID-19): How to Talk to Your Child | KidsHealth
Messages for parents, school staff, and others working with children | CDC
Resources for the OCD and Related Disorders Community | International OCD Foundation
Kids Worksheet on Coronavirus | Mind Heart Kids

Resources for Oncology Social Work

How to Manage Cancer Care during COVID-19 Pandemic | National Comprehensive Cancer Network

Disruptions in Cancer Care in the Era of COVID-19 | Medscape | Free Subscription

Self-Care & Support for Social Workers

COVID-19 Self-Care Resources (for Clinicians, Caregivers, etc.) | Institute for Human Caring

The Emotional PPE Project | Atrium Health

Caring for Yourself & Caring for Others During a Disaster/Epidemic (recording) | Susan Hedlund, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., O.S.W.-C.
The Isolation Journal | Suleika Jaouad

Self-Care Starter Kit | University of Buffalo School of Social Work
30-Day Coping Calendar | Action for Happiness
Ten Percent Happier App | Free for Healthcare Workers (use gift code HEALTHCARE)
Down Dog Yoga | Free until April 1st
Headspace for Healthcare Workers | Free guided meditations
Tips for Working From Home | March for Science

Support for Social Work Students

Crowdsourced Social Work Education Resources related to managing disruptions | Google Sheet

Support for Social Work Educators

Building a Community of Learning | free PDFs, videos on online education best practices | SNHU

Council on Social Work Education Response to Coronavirus | CSWE

Technology-Based Learning Task List for Social Work Education (Version 1.1) | Laurel Iverson Hitchcock, Melanie Sage and Nancy J. Smyth

Remote Workshop Activities | SessionLab

Staying Connected

Social Work Open Discussion | Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:00 pm Eastern
Facebook Groups

Twitter: click the hashtag to see tweets, information, inspiration, and resources.

News, Blog Posts & Articles

Hospice Workers Adjust During COVID-19 Pandemic | Spectrum News

Ethical Exceptions for Social Workers in Light of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Physical Distancing | New Social Worker
Palliative Care in the Time of COVID | The Ink Vessel
Palliating a Pandemic: “All Patients Must Be Cared For” | Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
Navigating COVID-19 as a Hospice and Palliative Care Professional | AAHPM
Social Work, COVID-19, and Being Human | Social Work, Cats and Rocket Science
Palliative Care and COVID-19 | End-of-Life Studies Program at University of Glasgow
Trauma of Pandemic Proportions | Psychology Today
The Voice and Role of Palliative Care in COVID-19 | Suzana Makowski via Pallimed
How to Support People Working in Healthcare During Coronavirus | Huffington Post