|
OUTREACH
Anu
The day-to-day actions of Midwest CareCenter social worker Anu Spain are guided by a crucial goal: to address the needs of individuals facing the end of life. After two years with the organization, she still finds her work to be meaningful, rewarding and "important to patients and families."
It is 9:30 on a Monday morning, and Anu Spain, a social worker with Midwest CareCenter, has just finished a conference call with three daughters in three separate states about whether their mother should continue to receive care at home or transition to a nursing home. "I had to establish some ground rules: everyone can talk for three minutes and statements should be facts, not feelings," Anu said. "It was challenging, but I think they made progress."
Helping families make decisions about optimal care for a loved one is an important aspect of her job and keeps her motivated: "The answers aren't always clear cut, but the patient's best interest always is in mind. I am drawn to jobs where I can serve others during vulnerable or challenging times."
After teaching primary school for several years and then working at a domestic violence shelter, Anu went to graduate school for social work and began her job at Midwest CareCenter in 2007. In her interactions with patients and families, she has two primary roles: care coordination and emotional support. "Part of what I do is help a family navigate the healthcare process—from determining whether 24-hour care is necessary to providing education about a medical condition."
The other part, she continued, involves addressing the range of emotions family members may be experiencing. She listens, comforts, offers suggestions and engages in honest, open dialogue with patients and families. "Sometimes I am the person who tells the truth. Sometimes I am the person who says, 'You can let the children hug Grandma.' Sometimes I am just the familiar face."
Regardless of the circumstances, Anu does all she can to deliver care that meets the healthcare needs and cultural preferences of patients and families. For example, she developed a close relationship with Steven Solyom, a patient receiving hospice care through our Jewish Care Services program. Steven was a Holocaust survivor, and Anu spent a lot of time listening to Steven's recollections of life during and after the concentration camp. She read books about World War II so that she could better grasp the events surrounding his experience. She sought advice and further understanding from Steven's rabbi. "Sometimes, I would visit on Friday afternoons when Shabbas was starting. Shabbas is about giving thanks, so we would talk about what Steven was grateful for."
She continued, "The wonderful thing about this job, though, is that I can interact and build trust in a short amount of time with the most interesting, loving people. People who have lived in nearly three centuries, for example, who have incredible stories to share."
But, Anu admits, she may not have been able to handle this type of work ten years ago. "As you get older, you develop some understanding of human frailty. I have come to accept that I don't know everything, and others don't either.
"What I can do—and what I find meaningful—is to help normalize the dying experience for families during a time when strength may be waning. I let them know that what they're feeling is OK, I connect them with resources, and I am there as a source of support."
|
