Social Working

Social work is any kind of professional activity that aids individuals, families and communities to gain and improve their social functionality, develop social connections and increase their overall social well-being. The role of social workers in MACSA, as defined as their role in any palliative and supportive care center, is to help the patients, survivors and their families to manage various social challenges, caused by the illness.

The main psychosocial challenges associated with a cancer diagnosis might be classified as physical stressors (e.g. pain, disabilities, loss of sexual function and limitations in daily Activities), psychological problems (e.g. emotional distress, depression and body image issues) and social problems (e.g. financial stress, lack or inadequacy of health insurance, losing job, and immigration). as well, being diagnose with cancer may lead to exacerbation of the already existing psychosocial problems of patient and the family. in all these examples, oncology social workers play a central part to manage the condition. In addition, they advocate the patient and family to overcome various social obstacles like weak social support, legal gaps and lack of information.

The core activities of MACSA social work include conducting psychosocial assessments, coordination of care, provision of counseling in various specialized disciplines, intervention in crisis situations, and navigation of the patients and families for the available resources and support systems.

In MACSA, social workers as a part of the interdisciplinary team, support the patient and family during various stages of the disease.

Here you can see a list of MACSA social work services.

Coordination Services

• Care Coordination

Coordination of care in various settings and centers with patient needs and values, is among the most important services provided by palliative social workers. MACSA social workers evaluate the patient needs, values and physical and psychosocial conditions in collaboration to other specialties. They organize the connection between various care providers and the patient in order to provide most efficient and effective medical and psychosocial services.

• Managing the social impacts of cancer

Providing clear information while making a kind and professional relationship with patient is a central value to the heart of MACSA services. presenting a realistic vision of possible psychosocial outcomes of the disease helps the patient and the family to make informed decisions and choose wisely between various care scenarios. As well, this assists them to develop coping and/or response strategies prior to the emergence of difficult challenges. MACSA social workers support you to deal with all social issues caused or affected by cancer including legal issues, immigration, occupational disability, economic harm, and so on.

Social Harm and social crisis intervention

A general task of social work is to prevent social harm and effectively intervene the psychosocial crisis.  The risk of various social complications like isolation, separation, neglect, substance abuse, and crime may be increased as the social, financial, familial and emotional effects of cancer in the patient and in the family. MACSA social workers assess the family for the risk factors of these issues and actively act to prevent them. as well, at the time of crises circumstances like family conflicts, verbal abuse, Suicide attempt, and physical violence, social workers make sure that immediate support is provided to mediate the conflicts.

Home visits

Making a close connection with patient and the family is gained through the effort the social workers allocate to develop a deep understanding of the conditions of client. The active presence of the social worker in major events of the patient’s life, builds a reciprocal emotional connection between the two. This connection can be achieved by the means of regular home visits. Making home visits assist the social worker to ensure the welfare of the patient at home. They also make suggestions to increase the adaptation between the abode and the patient’s needs. Home visits also provide the opportunity of presence at the time of crisis in the right place.

Counseling Services

• Legal Aid

The patients who suffer from cancer and their families, may be involved in legal issues, either already present or caused as a consequence of the disease. As well some people may have complaint about health care service. MACSA, as an integrative palliative care center, brings different specialties together in order to present a comprehensive set of services to the patient and the family. MACSA lawyers provide civil legal services including both, legal counselling and administration of lawsuits. The MACSA social work department is collaborating with a growing number of volunteer lawyers who donate their time to deliver pro bono civil legal services to the patients in need.

• Education Counseling

Academic failure due to cancer, however mainly presented in children with cancer but also is common among children with a parent or sibling suffering from cancer that constitute a larger fraction than the prior group. Emotional distress, focus on therapy rather than school, interference between school times and treatment, school absenteeism, and grief are among the main causes of academic failure in children who their life is affected by cancer. MACSA educational consultation is oriented to promote the academic performance of the students. This service is mainly given by the volunteers with a professional background in education and training.

• Career Counseling

A cancer diagnosis may change the career and occupational capabilities of the patient or the family members. This change might be a direct result of the physical alterations caused by disease and treatment or as a consequence of psychosocial issues caused by cancer.

Career counselling will help people to return to their optimal conditions and be able to provide their livelihood needs. As one of the social work services, MACSA career Counselling helps the survivors and the patient’s family members to regain the strength and morale to work, adapt to the conditions of the disease or to find a suitable job.

• Communicating with other support organizations

One of the important tasks of social work is to make support resources available and to introduce these resources to help clients and to establish a relationship between the two.  Examples of MACSA Joint Communications and Programs are as follows.

• Connection between private donors to clients with special needs
• Referring patients with financial needs to charities
• discounts contracts with clinics and health centers
• discounts contracts with entertainment centers

Financial Support

• Providing consumables

One of the important tasks of the MACSA social workers, is provision of the some consumables necessary for the patient’s welfare.  These include, but are not limited to, various items like lymphedema gloves, colostomy bags, urostomy, syringes, bandages, catheters, etc.  These equipment are mainly provided by our donors.

• Imbursement of medical expenses

Although the MACSA Social working has tried to exclusively provide its support in medical care, because the cost of treatment is one of the patient’s widest concerns, MACSA is trying to response this with the help of donors if possible.

It should be noted that prioritization in provision of such services is based on field investigation conducted by experts and social workers’ review of the social and economic circumstance of the family and

Entertainment Programs

• Social events

Social events are planned to create a happy time for the cancer patients and their caregivers away from the distress of everyday life. As well, social events like camping trips, give patients the opportunity to meet people with similar situation to theirs and share valuable experiences they have gained in the fight against cancer.

• Relaxation and mindfulness program

Relaxing activities such as yoga and hydrotherapy can be effective in creating a sense of satisfaction and reducing stress in cancer patients, during or after the treatment period. MACSA social working unit has signed contracts with some relaxation and yoga centers. This centers provide such services with special discount to MACSA patients.

• Workshops

Various art and training workshops are held routinely at MACSA to provide the patients, caregivers and families with the opportunity to take advantage of their time and explore their inner soul of creativity.