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In This Issue:
March is National Social Work Month
BWH social workers play a key role in patient care.
If the patient can't come to the support group, bring the support group to the patient. That's the philosophy of social worker Audrey Cecil, LICSW, who created a telephone support group for homebound MS patients.
The first-of-its-kind telephone support group at BWH is one of a host of programs run by dedicated and talented Social Work staff. March is National Social Work Month, an opportunity for BWH to salute its social workers, who provide vitalĀ psychosocial support, advocacy and care for patients and families. Cecil's telephone support group is in its third year, and continues to receive wonderful feedback from the MS patients on the other end of the phone lines. "They were delighted to have the opportunity to talk about what they go through with MS," Cecil said.
The 10 members of the group ask each other about transitioning to a wheelchair, medications and MS Society conferences. They give each other tips and information and eventually develop friendships, Cecil said. She follows up each discussion by mailing them information and resources relevant to the questions the group asked. After one person shared her experience of falling and lying on the floor for several hours before help arrived, Cecil mailed the group resources about being home alone and handling emergencies.
Another program launched by Social Work is the Bereavement Support Group for families who have lost a loved one at BWH. The idea for the group stemmed from a strong desire among social workers to offer additional support to families grieving after a loss. "In our first group earlier this year, the six members talked about their difficulties adjusting to the loss," said Elaine Boyle, LICSW, who leads the group with Julie Johnson, LICSW. "Sharing their similar stories and emotions helped to 'normalize' the grief experience for them."
Johnson added, "I was struck by the diversity of the group. They had all different kinds of losses and different backgrounds, but they were able to find similarities in their grief and to support and validate each other."
Staff with patients who may be interested can refer them to register for the free group by calling ext. 2-6469. The next eight-week Bereavement Support Group, which meets Wednesdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m., begins April 12.