Long term care social worker vs hospice social worker

The differences between long term care social workers and hospice social workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a long term care social worker and a hospice social worker. Additionally, a hospice social worker has an average salary of $52,859, which is higher than the $48,296 average annual salary of a long term care social worker.

The top three skills for a long term care social worker include patient care, nursing home and SNF. The most important skills for a hospice social worker are social work, patients, and home health.

Long term care social worker vs hospice social worker overview

	Long Term Care Social Worker	Hospice Social Worker
Yearly salary	$48,296	$52,859
Hourly rate	$23.22	$25.41
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	103,725	110,787
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 54%	Master's Degree, 50%
Average age	45	45
Years of experience	2	2

What does a long term care social worker do?

Long-term care social workers manage the emotional, physical, and mental needs of a person. They are the one who provides and gives aid in order for the person in need to have access to services and health care. This career has a vital role in ensuring that proper care is given in partnership with other professions such as doctors and health workers. They are often seen in a nursing facility, child care, mental institutions, as well as rehabilitation centers.

What does a hospice social worker do?

A hospice social worker is primarily in charge of providing emotional support and guidance to terminally-ill patients and their families, aiming to give them comfort and assistance in various procedures. Their responsibilities include identifying the needs of patients and their families through visitations or appointments, coordinating with nurses and physicians, and serving as a patient advocate by providing them with spiritual and emotional comfort. Furthermore, as a hospice social worker, it is essential to assist families with the bereavement processes, referring them to other programs as necessary.

Long term care social worker vs hospice social worker salary

Long term care social workers and hospice social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Long Term Care Social Worker	Hospice Social Worker
Average salary	$48,296	$52,859
Salary range	Between $35,000 And $65,000	Between $41,000 And $67,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between long term care social worker and hospice social worker education

There are a few differences between a long term care social worker and a hospice social worker in terms of educational background:

	Long Term Care Social Worker	Hospice Social Worker
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 54%	Master's Degree, 50%
Most common major	Nursing	Social Work
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Long term care social worker vs hospice social worker demographics

Here are the differences between long term care social workers' and hospice social workers' demographics:

	Long Term Care Social Worker	Hospice Social Worker
Average age	45	45
Gender ratio	Male, 29.8% Female, 70.2%	Male, 13.8% Female, 86.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 19.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 3.3% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	Black or African American, 19.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 3.3% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	13%	13%

Differences between long term care social worker and hospice social worker duties and responsibilities

Long term care social worker example responsibilities.

Respond to and assist in behavioral codes working as a team member to successfully manage patient using methods obtain in CPI training
Skil care SNF / rehabilitation and ICF LTC residents.
Refer the patient or family member to the local Medicaid office to coordinate with the staff regarding eligibility for Medicaid.
Perform assessments/social history upon admission to better understand the patient's needs and personal circumstances as they relate to their rehabilitation.
Assist patients with passive and active ROM exercises to promote mobility and steady gait.
Analyze psychological / psycho-social evaluations, IEP's, and medical histories within a referral packet to determine eligibility.

Hospice social worker example responsibilities.

Collaborate with multidisciplinary team to provide necessary referrals and counseling to achieve establish patient goals.
Provide support, education and compassion to patients and family members.
Assist patients and families with obtaining necessary insurances such as Medicaid, etc.
Provide advocacy and support services to terminally ill patients, families and/or significant others to maximize benefits and limit out-of-pocket expenses.
Work as lead MSW on all pediatric hospice cases.
Work with other members of the IDT to track and document changes to the patient's status, coping, etc.

Long term care social worker vs hospice social worker skills

Common long term care social worker skills

Patient Care, 32%
Nursing Home, 18%
SNF, 12%
Vital Signs, 12%
MDS, 9%
Medicaid, 6%

Common hospice social worker skills

Social Work, 29%
Patients, 19%
Home Health, 11%
MSW, 5%
Patient Care, 4%
Crisis Intervention, 4%

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Community and Social Services Industry
Long Term Care Social Worker
Long Term Care Social Worker vs Hospice Social Worker

Updated January 8, 2025

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