Kubler-Ross Model of Grieving in Hospice: A Social Work Report

This report examines the Kubler-Ross model of grieving, a framework used to understand the emotional stages experienced by individuals facing loss, particularly within the context of hospice care. The report identifies and describes the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. It highlights the challenges social workers face when supporting patients and families through these stages, especially in managing the emotional complexities of depression and acceptance. Additionally, the report emphasizes the importance of self-care strategies for social workers to maintain their well-being while providing compassionate support. The author selected the Kubler-Ross model over the grieving wheel model, explaining the importance of understanding the emotions of the family in such situations. The report concludes by reiterating the model's relevance and the need for social workers to adopt self-care practices to effectively address the emotional needs of grieving families. The author also provides real-world examples of counseling approaches.

Running head: KUBLER-ROSS MODEL OF GRIEVING
KUBLER-ROSS MODEL OF GRIEVING
Name of student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Grief means responding to loss of something or someone suffered by a person due to
a bond created with that thing or person (Walter & McCoyd, 2015). Grief is not only
associated with death but people also grieve in other phases of their lives as unemployment
and other scenarios. The main aim of the study is to select a grieving model, to identify the
components of the selected model, to discuss the challenges in that model and identify the
strategies for personal care.
Kubler-Ross model is selected that expresses grief of families with terminally ill
patient – denial is the first phase where families are not ready to accept the fact the patient
has been diagnosed with terminal disorders (Gross, 2015). In Anger stage, patients express
their frustration. In bargaining stage, patients bargain for more time to live so that they can
fulfil of their wishes. In depression stage, patients become so depressed that they do not wish
to spend time with their families. In acceptance stage, patients accepts that he is going to die.
As a social worker I would talk to the family members of the patient to help them through
this phase. I can help the family understand the upcoming treatment of the patients. I will
actively listen to them and I will take the family members to care centres where they can feel
relieved. Families have a habit of pushing everyone away so it becomes important to keep
them busy with some activity (Callahan, 2015). I have selected Kubler-Ross model because it
explains various emotions that families go through during terminal illness. Grieving wheel is
another model that shows the grieving process and does not give importance to the emotions
that arise during the illness. It is focused on the usual lives emotions and how a sudden
incident changes everything. This model fails to deeply explain the emotions as given by
Kubler-Ross model (Hamilton, 2016). Depression stage and acceptance stage is difficult for
me to deal with because in the depression stage the patient losses all his hopes and in this
stage he does not even want to meet his family. In this phase the family members are also
very sad because the patient is depressed so it will be difficult for me to explain it to the

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family that if they stay positive in this situation then only the patient can still have hope. The
final stage of acceptance will be very difficult for me because I cannot explain the fact that
their loved ones is going to die and the family will never accept the death so easily. For doing
the grief counselling I should first be able to have a positive attitude towards life only then I
can help others to see the brighter side of life. For this I will do yoga because yoga calms the
mind and helps to have a positive attitude in life. Self-care is important for social workers
because they cannot have an emotional breakdown while dealing with the families of the
patient.
From the discussion, it can be concluded that Kubler-Ross model properly explains
the grieving emotions of the family. Many challenges are faced by me as a social worker and
I also apply strategies for self-care.

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References
Callahan, A. M. (2015). Key concepts in spiritual care for hospice social workers: How an
interdisciplinary perspective can inform spiritual competence. Social Work and
Christianity, 42(1), 43.
Gross, R. (2015). Understanding grief: An introduction. Routledge.
Hamilton, I. J. (2016). Understanding grief and bereavement. Br J Gen Pract, 66(651), 523-
523.
Walter, C. A., & McCoyd, J. L. (2015). Grief and loss across the lifespan: A biopsychosocial
perspective. Springer publishing company.