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Nursing home social worker vs hospice social worker

The differences between nursing home 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 nursing home social worker and a hospice social worker. Additionally, a hospice social worker has an average salary of $52,859, which is higher than the $51,130 average annual salary of a nursing home social worker.

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

Nursing home social worker vs hospice social worker overview

Nursing Home Social WorkerHospice Social Worker
Yearly salary$51,130$52,859
Hourly rate$24.58$25.41
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs121,833110,787
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Master's Degree, 50%
Average age4545
Years of experience22

What does a nursing home social worker do?

A Nursing Home Social Worker works closely with the residents of a nursing home to identify their various needs and develop adequate assistance strategies. Their responsibilities include: treating the emotional, behavioral conditions and problems, assessing new clients to come up with a treatment plan that addresses determined needs, offer adjustment support for those that lack family support, facilitating group activities that encourage interaction with other residents, and conducting administrative tasks that are crucial to the day to day operations of a nursing facility.

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.

Nursing home social worker vs hospice social worker salary

Nursing home social workers and hospice social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Nursing Home Social WorkerHospice Social Worker
Average salary$51,130$52,859
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $66,000Between $41,000 And $67,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between nursing home social worker and hospice social worker education

There are a few differences between a nursing home social worker and a hospice social worker in terms of educational background:

Nursing Home Social WorkerHospice Social Worker
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Master's Degree, 50%
Most common majorSocial WorkSocial Work
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Nursing home social worker vs hospice social worker demographics

Here are the differences between nursing home social workers' and hospice social workers' demographics:

Nursing Home Social WorkerHospice Social Worker
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 16.9% Female, 83.1%Male, 13.8% Female, 86.2%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage13%13%

Differences between nursing home social worker and hospice social worker duties and responsibilities

Nursing home social worker example responsibilities.

  • Assist resident and families with Medicaid applications, as well as, assist with Medicare.
  • Assist residents with Medicaid applications and coordinate related appointments.
  • Counsele veterans and Medi-Cal clients individually to provide behavioral interventions in order to address their anxiety, depression and anger.
  • Conduct unannounce alternating monthly visits with CNH and monthly visits with RCH.

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.
  • Show more

Nursing home social worker vs hospice social worker skills

Common nursing home social worker skills
  • Social Work, 50%
  • Nursing Home, 27%
  • Care Plan, 8%
  • MDS, 7%
  • Discharge Planning, 3%
  • Home Health, 2%
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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