The graduation thesis examines the role of social workers in advance care planning for dying people. The theoretical part presents the needs and wishes of dying people, the role of social workers in working with dying people and their relatives, support at the end of life, beliefs about death and dying, individual planning, and the importance of advance care planning.
The aim of the research was to explore how social workers understand their role in advance care planning, how they identify the needs and wishes of dying people, what influences their willingness to participate in the care planning process, how social workers address conflicts between service users and their relatives, and how they cooperate with other professionals. I was also interested in the importance of advance care planning and the possibilities for its further development. I conducted a qualitative study involving six social workers from Slovenian Hospice organisations and Ljubhospic. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed using open and axial coding. The results showed that social workers play an important role in advance care planning through advocacy, providing information and support, coordinating care, and connecting service users, relatives, and other professionals. In their work, they emphasise the importance of trust, open communication, active listening, and respect for the autonomy of the dying person. The most common wishes of service users include dying at home, being close to significant others, not being a burden, pain relief, and resolving relationships. Participation in advance care planning is influenced by acceptance of illness and dying, trust, a safe space for conversation, and an individualised approach, while fear, stereotypes, and the taboo surrounding death represent barriers. The results also showed that advance care planning facilitates the timely expression of wishes and the preservation of autonomy and contributes to a sense of safety, peace, and dignity. Timely conversations about death and dying, greater public awareness, and stronger interdisciplinary cooperation are important for the further development of advance care planning.
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