During National Social Worker Month, we’re honored to share the voices of the people who walk alongside patients and families every day.
Our social workers don’t often step into the spotlight—but their work, and their words, reflect the heart of hospice care.
Why We Do This Work
“I remember as a little girl being asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, and my answer was always tied to serving others. Social Work is just that. It’s coming alongside families and supporting them not only with various tasks but also with emotional needs. It’s an honor to sit next to individuals and families and ask, ‘How can I best support you right now?’—and then figure it out together.”
— Nicole Huasta, Hospice Services Counselor
“I chose social work because I have a passion for helping people and enhancing their well-being. I’m grateful every day that I get to make a difference.”
— Stacey Anderson, Social Worker
“I’ve always wanted to support people, especially in difficult times. Social work allows us to meet people where they are—with whatever they need.”
— Brandon Studler, Medical Social Worker / Social Work Supervisor
“Social work became a natural path to counseling and supporting others through life’s challenges after discovering that I would otherwise have to obtain a Ph. D. to do the same work. I have subsequently discovered that MSW has broader area of service than psychologists.”
— John Bushway, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
The Many Roles of a Social Worker
“The famous quote ‘a jack of all trades but a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one’ sums up social workers so well. Each of us are trained in a multitude of helping skills from emotional support to systems navigation, advocacy to paperwork/applications. This skill set allows us to provide many different types of supports unique to what a patient or family requires.” — Brandon
Why Our Social Workers Chose Hospice
“A desire to provide compassionate care that focuses on emotional support, dignity, and advocacy during life’s final stages is what led me to hospice.” – Stacey
“Hospice became a natural fit after many years working in mental health and continues to be as I became one of the elderly population that we often serve.” — John
“When we support someone at the end of their life—in a way they define, with comfort and dignity—it can be a beautiful and sacred experience. Patients, families and our staff everyday learn new perspectives and lessons from each other. When we support someone through the end of their life, in a way that they define with dignity, comfort and support, it truly can be a beautiful and sacred place.” — Brandon
“My cousin once told me that if I felt the calling for hospice, I should answer it—because not many people do. This work isn’t always easy, but it brings incredible meaning.” — Nicole
“Hospice sees patients and families as a whole—each person carrying a lifetime of stories and experiences, not just a diagnosis.” — Brandon
Why Our Social Workers Stay
“This job is not always easy, and it takes some work to maintain a healthy balance in life. But I stay because of the families I meet who change my life with their love, their stories, and their heart.” — Nicole
“I stay because I love my job and the ability to offer meaningful support when it matters most.” — Stacey
“Hospice feels like the best place to do social work to the fullest extent. It just feels right.” — Brandon
Embracing Spirituality & Walking Alongside Grief
Nicole’s role as a Hospice Care Specialists adds both spiritual care and grief support to the services she provides. She shares some words on her experience with both…
“People often relate spiritually to religion, when it’s oftentimes so much more than that. Spiritual care relates to the whole of who somebody is. I’m always thankful to sit with a patient and hear about how they view not only the world, but themselves. And most importantly, the things that anchor them.
Grief can be so complex because it’s not only about a loss, it’s also about all of the other areas of life and self that are then touched by that grief. Because of that, it’s an honor to walk alongside others as they navigate their grief journey.”
— Nicole
What our Social Work Team wants our communities to know…
Hospice is support. We are able to provide extra supports to both the patients and their families, even after end of life.
It’s a team—nurses, physicians, social workers, spiritual care providers, and bereavement specialists—working together to care for the whole person and their family during the end-of-life journey.
It’s comfort.
It’s dignity.
It’s presence.
It’s coming alongside families and saying,
“We’ve got you. We’re here for you. What do you need right now?”
Hospice wants to help lift some burden off the shoulders of families so that the families can focus on time with their loved ones.
-The HPH Social Work Team
More Than Care—A Community of Support
Every day, our team shows up to ensure no one faces end of life alone. Behind every visit, every conversation, and every quiet moment is a commitment to compassion, dignity, and humanity.
Thank you to our Social Work Team and the entire staff at HPH!
High Peaks Hospice provides end of life care that listens with respect, cares with compassion, supports with choice, and comforts with understanding – wherever you call home.