Continuing Education—Ambiguous Loss: Understanding the Implications for Hospice and Palliative Care Practice

Completion of this GSS class will result in the receipt of one and one-half (1.5) continuing education hours.

This interactive presentation will describe the concept of ambiguous loss and illustrate how it shows up in hospice and palliative social work practice. Case examples and considerations for clinical intervention, organizational policy, and social work interprofessional practice will be shared.

Ambiguous loss is a particular kind of grief in which resolution is not possible. It requires a focus on coping. This presentation will offer an overview of the theory and concepts as described by Pauline Boss, Ph.D. and others, and discuss particular considerations for hospice and palliative social work practice. Clinical situations, including brain death, life-altering diagnoses, and progressive losses over the course of serious illness involve ambiguous loss for patients and their families, caregivers, and others. Because the loss continues to occur and remains unresolved, learning to cope with the new situation becomes the focus. Certain situations, for example, brain death, can engender ambiguous loss and, if not addressed, can create barriers to effective end-of-life care. Organizational policies around end-of-life care can be influenced by a better understanding of how ambiguous loss manifests and best practices for addressing it through interprofessional interventions. Case examples and interactive lecture will be used to enhance our understanding of how ambiguous loss shows up in practice and how social workers can intervene around this important issue.