EvenMORE For You

"Social Workers: Uplift. Defend. Transform." – 2026 National Social Work Month theme

Staff Spotlight on NEO Social Work Team Lead Deanna Eder

She Represents the Best in End-of-Life Care Social Work

Honoring the contributions of social workers and raising awareness about the vital role they play in society. That was the goal of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) back in March 1963 when National Social Work Month was established. Twenty-one years later in 1984, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed March would be National Professional Social Work Month.

According to NASW in 2024 there were more than 810,000 social workers working in America. In 2023-2024 there were nearly 200,000 medical social workers working in hospice, according to Franklin University/Lightcast Data.

Social workers have always played an important role at Crossroads. We’ve been a place where social workers, granted often spread thin, can thrive professionally. This National Social Work Month we shine a spotlight on two Crossroads social workers beginning with Social Work Team Lead in Northeast Ohio Deanna Eder.

Geriatrics was an Early Interest

As an undergraduate at the University of Akron, Deanna spent a semester in the nursing program before realizing her calling was in a different part of healthcare, the social services side, assisting individuals and families in a medical setting but not in a hands-on physical way.

Deanna credits her mother with suggesting that she consider studying social work in college. After earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work, Deanna joined Crossroads, where she had interned as an undergraduate, six years ago.

While she was an undergraduate Deanna also gained personal life experience when her grandmother was moved from her home to an assisted living facility. Deanna supported her parents through the transition and then visited her grandmother often until she passed.

Deanna was realizing that she had a special affinity with the geriatric population. When asked why hospice, Deanna said she has a “unique” side that embraces topics others might shy away from. She believes hospice, with its many benefits, is still often misunderstood. “Death is still a taboo subject, though it is just as natural as birth,” Deanna said.

Leading a Social Work Department

After a packed morning at her desk where she runs a tight ship leading seven full time social workers and three PRNs, Deanna visits with patients and families maintaining her own 18-patient caseload and pinch hitting for two full-time open social worker positions. She is quick to mention that the fantastic NEO social work team is always willing to cover for one another.

While Deanna interned at Crossroads as an undergraduate, she interned at a different hospice for her master’s degree. When asked why Crossroads was a better fit for her, Deanna passionately mentioned two differentiating signature programs that have impressed her since the beginning, Even More Care (EMC) and Gift of a Day.

Deanna also appreciates Crossroads Bereavement Department, recognizing its critical, specialized role in end-of-life care. 

As a young professional who’s in a key leadership role, Deanna appreciates Crossroads’ interest in “newbies” and welcoming them to social work opportunities at Crossroads. Deanna also relishes the social work role at Crossroads and in hospice overall. “In the hospice world, families are afraid,” Deanna said. “They welcome the additional support. It’s an honor to educate families on what to expect” in end-of-life care. 

Working in hospice at Crossroads and Deanna’s exposure to patients and families who have reflected on what’s been important to them in life has “shaped me into who I am and how to live my own life in a meaningful way,” Deanna said. She is “grateful for the path in life” she chose.

And when she’s not on-the-job, Deanna enjoys crafting, her three cats, (one hers, two her boyfriend’s) fishing, playing video games and shopping.

As Deanna continues to grow as a leader at Crossroads she hopes to add more community advocacy to her role. By any measure Deanna represents the field of social work in end-of-life care and the Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care ethos in the best way.

The Power of Green

Every day, our Crossroads care teams head out in the community in our signature green color. It helps identify our staff as part of the Crossroads team. It also raises our profile and conveys a sense of professionalism and consistency. But we’re often asked why we ask our office staff to wear green.

In our dynamic workplace, where each day presents new challenges and opportunities, fostering a strong sense of unity and support among our staff is paramount. One of the most powerful ways we can achieve this is by coming together to wear green in the office to show our unwavering support for the dedicated individuals who represent our green brand in the field every day.

Green, the color of peace, harmony, and calmness, embodies the core values and mission of our organization. It symbolizes our commitment to our patients and families. When we don green attire in the office, it's not just a matter of clothing; it's a declaration of our collective dedication to these ideals.

This simple act of wearing green serves as a powerful visual reminder of our shared purpose. It sends a clear and compelling message that we stand with our colleagues in the field, whether they are providing care to patients, supporting families, or spreading the word about what we do in the community. Hospice is all about being part of a team, contributing our unique skills and strengths to fulfill a common mission both in the field and in the office.

But the significance of wearing green extends beyond symbolism. It enhances team spirit, nurtures a sense of belonging, and promotes a feeling of camaraderie. When we see our colleagues and leadership proudly wearing green, it fosters a sense of inclusivity. This, in turn, fuels our motivation to work together, reinforcing our commitment to a team approach to patient care. Together, we are an unstoppable team, ready to face any challenge and deliver the very best in end-of-life care.

12-Minute Conversion

By Emily Hammer

For a long time, I believed meaningful conversations had to take time. Long lunches. Deep talks. Hours set aside on calendars that were already too full. And sometimes that’s true. But over the years, I’ve learned that some of the most honest, grounding conversations I’ve had didn’t take hours at all.

They took minutes. Twelve minutes, to be exact.

There’s something about knowing a conversation has a clear beginning and end that changes everything. Twelve minutes is long enough to be present—and short enough that we don’t get lost in overthinking. There’s no room to perform or explain yourself to death. No room to soften the story or make it sound better than it is. No time for BS. You tend to say what’s true – because there isn’t space for anything else. These are some of my favorite conversations.
 
I’ve noticed that when people know the conversation won’t go on forever, they relax. Shoulders drop. Breathing slows. We listen differently. We don’t rush to fix or offer advice or say the “right” thing. We just show up.
 
In twelve minutes, I’ve heard things people hadn’t said out loud in years. I’ve watched women who are used to holding everything together finally exhale. I’ve seen men let their guard down in ways they didn’t expect. Not because anyone solved anything—but because someone stayed present without interrupting or redirecting the moment. Holding space matters. More than we realize.
 
What I’ve learned is this: most of us don’t need more time. We need more presence. Many of us were taught—directly or indirectly—that our needs are too much, our emotions are inconvenient, or our stories need to be edited before they’re shared. A 12-minute conversation quietly challenges that. You don’t have to earn attention. You just have to be human.
 
The practice is simple. Set a timer. Put your phone down. Ask one honest question. Listen without fixing or steering. When the timer ends, let it end. Trust that what needed to be said was said.
 
Twelve minutes won’t change your whole life. But it can change how seen you feel. And sometimes, that’s all we really need.

Who might feel more seen if you gave them twelve uninterrupted minutes?