Support Families. Guide Care. Shape End-of-Life Experiences. If you’re driven by compassion and committed to guiding others through serious illness and loss, we invite you to join our team as a Hospice Social Worker (MSW). We believe that holistic care includes emotional, social, and spiritual support. As a key member of the interdisciplinary team, you’ll help ensure patients and families receive the guidance and resources they need to navigate the hospice journey with dignity and peace of mind. As a Hospice Social Worker (MSW), You Will: • Serve as the psychosocial support expert on the interdisciplinary care team • Provide assessments and care planning based on the emotional, psychological, environmental, and cultural needs of patients and families • Deliver counseling, crisis intervention, and practical resource support aligned with each patient’s individualized plan of care • Work closely with patients, families, physicians, nurses, chaplains, and other care team members to support the emotional and social well-being of the patient-family unit • Educate families on hospice services, advance care planning, grief, and coping strategies • Assist with long-term planning, community referrals, and resource navigation when needed • Monitor and document psychosocial changes in the patient or family situation and recommend plan of care updates as appropriate • Uphold ethical standards and professional judgment in end-of-life care Qualifications – What You’ll Bring: • Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program • Current licensure as required by the state of employment • Minimum of 1 year of experience as a Social Worker in a healthcare or hospice setting • Knowledge of the psychosocial dynamics of illness, grief, loss, and end-of-life care • Ability to provide empathetic support and maintain boundaries in emotionally intense situations • Strong communication skills, cultural sensitivity, and respect for diverse family systems Preferred Qualifications (Not Required): • 3 to 5 years of experience as a Social Worker in hospice or healthcare • Experience supporting terminally ill patients and their families • Advanced grief counseling or palliative care training • Bilingual skills Benefits for All Hospice Associates (Full-Time & Per Diem): • Competitive Pay • 401(k) with Company Match • Career Advancement Opportunities • National & Local Recognition Programs • Teammate Assistance Fund Additional Full-Time Benefits: • Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance • Mileage Reimbursement or Fleet Vehicle Program • Generous Paid Time Off 7 Paid Holidays • Wellness Programs (Telemedicine, Diabetes Management, Joint & Spine Concierge Care) • Education Support & Tuition Assistance • Free Continuing Education Units (CEUs) • Company-paid Life & Long-Term Disability Insurance • Voluntary Benefits (Pet, Critical Illness, Accident, LTC) Ready to Join a Team That Cares? Apply today and bring your heart and your clinical expertise to a team that values whole-person care. This is a safety-sensitive position Employee must meet minimum requirements to be eligible for benefits Where applicable, employee must meet state specific requirements We are proud to be an EEO employer We maintain a drug-free workplace Gentiva Hospice At Gentiva, it is our privilege to offer compassionate care in the comfort of wherever our patients call home. We are a national leader in hospice care, palliative care, home health care, and advanced illness management, with nearly 600 locations and thousands of dedicated clinicians across 38 states. Our place is by the side of those who need us – from helping people recover from illness, injury, or surgery in the comfort of their homes to guiding patients and their families through the physical, emotional, and spiritual effects of a serious illness or terminal diagnosis. Our nationwide reach is powered by a family of trusted brands that include: Hospice care: Gentiva Hospice, Emerald Coast Hospice Care, Heartland Hospice, Hospice Plus, New Century Hospice, Regency SouthernCare, SouthernCare Hospice Services, SouthernCare New Beacon Palliative care: Empatia Palliative Care, Emerald Coast Palliative Care Home health care: Heartland Home Health Advanced illness management: Illumia Health With corporate headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, and providers delivering care across the U.S., we are proud to offer rewarding careers in a collaborative environment where inspiring achievements are recognized – and kindness is celebrated.
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General overview for this role type — specific duties and requirements vary by employer.
Support roles in senior living — housekeeping, maintenance, activities, and social work — are far more resident-facing than similar positions in other industries. Housekeepers and maintenance staff interact with residents in their personal living spaces daily, which requires discretion, patience, and genuine respect for the people who live there. In Texas, even non-clinical staff must complete facility-specific training on topics like abuse prevention, infection control, and emergency procedures.
Activities coordinators and social workers play a direct role in resident well-being — isolation and depression are significant concerns in senior living, and programming that keeps residents socially engaged has measurable health outcomes. Maintenance staff in senior care need to understand life-safety systems (fire alarms, emergency generators, call systems) and are often the first responders for building emergencies. Background checks are required for all positions, and many facilities prefer candidates who have previous experience working with older adults.
What to Expect in This Role Day-to-Day
Based on typical senior living facilities in the Houston area.
For housekeeping roles, the day follows a room-by-room schedule — cleaning resident rooms, sanitizing common areas, managing laundry, and responding to spill or accident cleanups as they happen. Infection control protocols are more rigorous than in hotels or commercial cleaning, especially during flu season or respiratory illness outbreaks.
Maintenance staff handle a daily work order queue — everything from changing light bulbs and fixing call buttons to HVAC maintenance and plumbing repairs. Life-safety equipment checks (fire extinguishers, exit lighting, generator testing) happen on set schedules. Activities professionals plan and lead group programming — exercise classes, crafts, music sessions, outings — and also provide one-on-one engagement for residents who cannot participate in group settings. Social workers manage care conferences, discharge planning, family mediation, and community resource referrals. Across all these roles, the common thread is that you become a familiar, trusted presence in residents' daily lives.
Houston Area Salary Data
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Home Health and Personal Care Aide positions in the Houston metro area earn a median wage of
$11.27/hr ($23,442/yr).
The typical range is $10.92 – $13.35/hr
(25th–75th percentile).
Entry Level (10th)$22,235/yr
Houston Median$23,442/yr
Experienced (90th)$31,928/yr
vs. National Median-34.5%
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX Metro Area).
Salary data provided by Houston Senior Living Guide.