End-of-Life Situations and APS
 

By Katie Wilson, Lead Instructional Designer, NAPSA

February 2025

Navigating end-of-life situations can be one of the most challenging aspects of working in adult protective services (APS). As APS professionals, we often find ourselves supporting individuals and families during some of their most vulnerable moments. Understanding end-of-life care options, such as hospice and advance care directives, is crucial in providing compassionate and informed assistance. This article explores the importance of being prepared for these sensitive situations, offering insights into the emotional and professional readiness needed to handle the complexities of death and dying with dignity and respect.

Why is learning about end-of-life topics important to APS?

It is not uncommon for APS to encounter situations that involve death and dying. We must be professionally and emotionally ready to face any of a variety of situations. One way we can do this is with training and education. For example, having a basic understanding of end-of-life care options, such as hospice care or advance care directives, may help an APS worker guide clients to resources that may help improve their quality of life and prepare them for a death with dignity. Overall, by having a better understanding of these topics, we can help provide more compassionate, informed, and respectful interactions during some of life’s most challenging moments.

What are some examples of end-of-life situations APS may encounter? 

So many of our cases will involve some aspect of death and dying. Many of the people we work with are receiving hospice, sometimes with just months or even days to live. Because end-of-life situations can be so emotionally stressful, APS may get pulled into family disagreements about what services would be best for the person who is dying. In some situations, a person may be grieving the loss of a loved one so intensely that it impacts their ability to care for themselves. And sometimes, we may even experience the death of a client. We must be prepared to face whatever situation a case might throw at us.

How can an APS professional prepare to work with end-of-life situations? 

In addition to training and education, we should ensure we are emotionally prepared for these situations when they come up. One way of doing so is by providing ourselves with opportunities for self-reflection, including exploration of our own views on death. Our experiences, religious or spiritual beliefs, family history, and culture shape our personal relationship with and understanding of death. Appreciate how different these views can be from one person to another, including our clients and their families. Understanding how our views on death may differ from others can help us communicate, provide services, and encourage outcomes that are appropriate to the person we are working with. 
 

APS work is rewarding but heavy, especially for cases involving end of life. It may bring up unresolved experiences from our past, or we may experience our own grief for our clients and their families. This is perfectly normal. This is why we need to have a plan for self-care. Whether this involves debriefing with a close colleague or taking a long walk after work, we should find what works for us and prioritize our personal well-being so we can continue to do effective work with APS. 
 

The APS Blog is updated regularly with posts from contributing authors and new publications from the APS TARC.

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