Social Workers Help Patients Cope with Pain Management at the End of Life

NASW supports HFA teleconference

Washington – Social workers, particularly those in palliative and end of life care, help clients to cope with the physical and emotional factors related to pain.  More than medical intervention, social workers connect clients to resources that help with pain management strategies and create a support for coping with pain.

The National Association of Social Workers is partnering with the Hospice Foundation of America to promote their annual teleconference, Pain Management at the End of Life: Bridging the Gap Between Knowledge and Practice, taking place on April 5.

Experts from all areas of end of life and pain management will examine the gap between knowledge and application of effective pain control in a person with a terminal condition, including pharmaceutical, psychosocial, spiritual, and complementary aspects of pain management.

Former NASW Board of Directors Member, Yvette Colón, MSW, ACSW, BCD, will bring the social work perspective to the expert panel.  The discussion will be moderated by Frank Sesno, professor of public policy at George Mason University and Special Correspondent with CNN.

“Pain is particularly a concern at the end of life,” says Colón.  “But with the proper psychosocial and medical interventions, patients can not let their pain overwhelm their lives.”

For more information about how social workers are involved with pain and end of life care, visit http://www.helpstartshere.org/health_and_wellness/death_and_dying/default.html

Fore more information about the Hospice Foundation of America’s teleconference, visit http://www.hospicefoundation.org/teleconference/.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), in Washington, DC, is the largest membership organization of professional social workers with 140,000 members. It promotes, develops, and protects the practice of social work and social workers. NASW also seeks to enhance the well being of individuals, families, and communities through its advocacy.