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The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) generated life-defining challenges on a global level, affecting healthcare professionals, who faced the same imminent public health threat as patients and families. Reduced face-to-face contact, wearing personal protective equipment and enforcing visitor restrictions generated moral distress in healthcare professionals, unable to provide holistic care. This scoping review explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on palliative care social workers (PCSWs). PubMED, CINAHL and PsycINFO were systematically searched. Empirical studies and reflective articles about palliative care social work during the pandemic were screened. Data extraction used Arksey and O’Malley’s framework. Thematic analysis was underpinned by Braun and Clarke for identifying, analysing and reporting patterns. From 706 citations retrieved, 125 were selected for full-text review and 32 were included in the scoping review. Thematic analysis revealed three themes: (i) moral distress, (ii) transitioning and (iii) inequality. Implementing visitor restrictions caused moral distress and raised questions about their justification. Not being present at the time of death generated feelings of anger among bereaved family members. Virtual communication replaced face-to-face contact, yet improved access to Telehealth. Inequalities were illuminated and PCSWs advocated for disadvantaged populations, worked creatively to minimise suffering or stigma and supported peers.

The decision to seek placement in a nursing home may be especially difficult for spouses or partners of the potential nursing home residents. Disruption of the attachment relationship following placement may influence the psychosocial well-being of nursing home residents. Although the responsibility of nursing home staff is to ensure psychosocial well-being, including awareness of the influence that separation can have on a spousal or partner relationship, little is known about services offered for the maintenance of spousal and partner relationships. This study was conducted to identify nursing home practices that had preservation of spouse/partner relationships as the goal. A mixed methods approach utilized both an online survey (81 respondents) with nursing home social workers in four Southern states and ten telephone interviews (from among the respondents). Survey results revealed that 49% of respondents’ facilities had a written policy to preserve these relationships, however, only 22% reported having a specific formal program to carry this out. In the interviews, participants expanded on survey topics and shared that facilitating outings and encouraging participation in routine facility activities were commonly used to preserve relationships. Privacy was discussed as being important in maintaining relationships and also found to be a barrier to doing so. Nursing home social workers can utilize the results in the design and implementation of specific services to preserve relationships and maintain strong attachment between residents and their spouses/partners. These will be best carried out in a coordinated, collaborative manner among multiple disciplines within the nursing home setting.

As the population of Hispanics in the U.S. is growing, their utilization of hospice care remains low. In a study of 110 rural His-panics, most (88%) were not familiar with hospice, but did report willingness to accept such service in their homes. The most important possible barrier to receiving hospice care was language, along with poverty, lack of health insurance, and low levels of education. Hospice social workers can contribute greatly to an effort to increase access to hospice by offering education to the Hispanic community and promoting cultural awareness among hospice staff.

This article reports the results of a study designed to examine factors that influence social work students' interest in eight fields of practice, through the use of a multidimensional measure of attitudes. BSW students indicated greatest interest in school social work, children's services, and child welfare services, whereas MSW students preferred medical social work, children's services, and mental health. A common predictor of students' interest in six settings was the belief that working in a particular field would be depressing. Social work educators must determine trend areas of highest demand for professional services and adapt curricula to enhance interest and prepare graduates to meet the changing needs of society.