Analyzing the Roles and Relationships Among Welfare-related Specialists Involved in Terminal Care

: Based on Interviews with a Welfare Worker, a Nurse, and a Care Worker

Abstract

This paper centers on an analysis of perceptions of power relationships among three welfare professionals, the value they on interprofessional relationships, and the kind of terminal care system they would like to see established.

The three professionals believe that it is necessary to deal simultaneously with livelihood support, health care, and medical treatment, so they emphasize a leading role for nurses, who are familiar with all three issues. On the one hand, they emphasize vital health care along with close ties with doctors before livelihood support, while welfare professionals encourage medical workers, including doctors, not to ignore livelihood support. On the other hand, as welfare professionals have difficulty communicating with medical professionals, there may be limitations to the effectiveness of team care for encouraging support for livelihoods. The interviewees therefore advocate improving the financial incentives for doctors, who have the strongest authority, to participate in care teams, creating opportunities to take livelihood support into consideration.