Clients Facing Serious Illness

Acknowledgments

Part 1: Introduction to Clients Facing Serious Illness

Chapter 1: Overview of Serious Illness in Social Work
Faith P. Hopp

Chapter 2: Serious Illness and Healthcare Practice
Frances Nedjat-Haiem and Jen Hirsch

Chapter 3: Serious Illness and Ethics
Jennifer Hill Buehrer and Faith P. Hopp

Part 2: Diverse Perspectives on Serious Illness

Chapter 4: Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Serious Illness Social Work Practice
Markus Whitehead and Faith P. Hopp

Chapter 5: Family-Centered Care in Serious Illness Social Work Practice
Frances Nedjat-Haiem and Jen Hirsch

Chapter 6: Serious Illness with Sexual and Gender Diverse Populations
Austin G. Oswald and Sara G. Bybee

Chapter 7: The Intersection of Serious Illness, Palliative, and End-of-Life Care with Abuse and Neglect
Joy Swanson Ernst

Chapter 8: Serious Illness with Persons Experiencing Socioeconomic Challenges
Julia Magas and Faith P. Hopp

Part 3: Summary

Chapter 9: Summary and Implications for Social Work Practice in Serious Illness
Joy Swanson Ernst and Faith P. Hopp

Index
About the Editors
About the Contributors

Faith P. Hopp, PhD, MSW, is associate professor at the Wayne State University School of Social Work and a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America. She earned her MSW and PhD from the University of Michigan School of Social Work. Dr. Hopp has a background in health services research with the Veterans Health Administration and is focused on serious illness, palliative care interventions, and community-based evaluation. She teaches practice-relevant policy and advocacy for BSW and MSW students. Her scholarship is focused on improving care for individuals with chronic and life-limiting conditions, with a particular emphasis on service delivery and the lived experiences of older adults living in urban areas.

Frances Nedjat-Haiem, PhD, LCSW, is associate professor in the School of Social Work at San Diego State University (SDSU). Her research addresses health disparities and psychosocial care for underserved populations, with a focus on Latino communities near the United States–Mexico border. She investigates chronic disease management, cancer care, distress, and end-of-life decision making, using mixed methods and communityengaged approaches to improve patient–provider communication and care equity. Her work includes the development of culturally responsive clinical and telehealth interventions that support patient self-management and enhance health-related quality of life. A Hartford/VA Social Work Scholar (2012–2014), she also leads efforts to integrate technology into education and clinical practice, serving as chair of SDSU’s Senate Instructional and Information Technology Committee and as an appointee to the university’s Information Technology Governance Council.

Joy Swanson Ernst, PhD, MSW, is associate professor emerita at the Wayne State University School of Social Work and a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America. Her research draws on adult protective services (APS) data and collaborations, examining critical issues such as caregiver neglect, self-neglect, APS workers’ experiences in end-of-life care, and the effectiveness of social work/nurse teams in APS interventions. Her recent work explores innovative approaches, including technology-based interventions for self-neglect prevention and community- focused strategies to support older adults affected by urban environmental challenges.

Jennifer Hill Buehrer, LMSW, HEC-C, is the inpatient palliative care social worker at Trinity Health Hospital in Ypsilanti, Michigan, where she is also chair of the Ethics Committee and a certified ethics consultant. She also serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life & Palliative Care. She has a passion for guiding people at the end of life, navigating ethical dilemmas, and facilitating difficult conversations, often informed by her own personal experiences.

Sara G. Bybee, PhD, LCSW, serves as assistant professor at the University of Utah College of Nursing, where she leads research on health equity and structural determinants of health in complex care settings. Her program of research examines how systemic barriers shape health outcomes for historically marginalized populations, with particular emphasis on chronic illness management, palliative care, and end-of-life care delivery. As principal investigator on a study funded by the National Institute on Aging, Dr. Bybee is developing novel metrics to assess financial burden among LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ individuals living with dementia and their care partners, leveraging her unique interdisciplinary expertise as both a licensed clinical social worker and a research scientist.

Jen Hirsch, LMSW-Clinical, is a medical social worker pursuing their PhD at Michigan State University. They hold an advanced certification in palliative and hospice social work and were an item writer and reviewer for the associated certification exam. Their current work focuses on the psychosocial experience of serious illness through the lens of grief and loss. They are also actively engaged in policy advocacy for and by the social work profession in healthcare.

Julia Magas, LMSW, APHSW-C, OSW-C, earned her MSW from the University of Michigan. She currently works as a palliative care oncology social worker at a comprehensive cancer center in Detroit. She also works as a mental health therapist with a focus on supporting clients who are navigating health concerns, adapting to caregiving, and coping with grief and loss. In all her roles, she strives to ensure quality, compassionate care for persons navigating serious illnesses.

Austin G. Oswald, PhD, is an assistant professor at Dalhousie University’s School of Health and Human Performance. Their research integrates theoretical, methodological, and conceptual approaches to “queering” gerontology and advancing healthy aging for sexual and gender diverse populations. Their applied research aims to transform aging policies and practices to be more inclusive and affirming of diverse sexual and gender identities.

Markus Whitehead, PHD, MSW, is a social worker, probation officer, and part-time faculty member at Wayne State University School of Social Work. His research interests focus on examining the lived experiences of Black women veterans as they relate to the challenges and barriers they contend with while serving in the United States Armed Forces.