International Palliative Social Work

Abstract

AbstractDespite evidence of the growing need for palliative care around the world, its integration into healthcare systems remains limited. Optimal palliative care is available mostly in higher-resourced countries, reaching less than 15% of the world’s population. Even in areas with optimal palliative care, both the practice of social work and the social worker’s role within a team vary. The Compassionate Community movement, reflecting public health approaches to health equity in palliative care and addressing social determinants of health, offers a powerful and inclusive model. A public health approach to palliative care, closely tied to social work values, recognizes that healthcare systems are only one component of a larger array of diverse community resources that support people living with serious illness, their families, caregivers, and those living with grief.