June 3, 2009

Social workers can help in many ways as one ages

By Lisa M. Petsche

As you age, and especially if you are caring for an older relative, chances are you will come in contact with a social worker at some point.

Social work is a profession with a long history of commitment to improving the well-being of people in society, particularly the disadvantaged.

Social workers understand the complex interaction between individuals and their environment, and use a variety of strategies to bring about change in persons, situations, and institutions. Trained at the university level, they are employed in a wide variety of areas that include direct work with individuals, families and groups, community development, human resources development, social policy, program planning, teaching, and research. The majority are involved in direct service.

Social workers believe in the intrinsic worth and dignity of every human being. They are committed to the values of acceptance, respect for individuality and belief in the client’s capacity for growth. They are strong advocates for individual rights and social justice.

Their goal is assisting clients to identify their problems and find meaningful solutions, building on their existing strengths. Their assessment includes looking at how clients’ physical and social environment may be contributing to their difficulties and how it might be changed.

In clinical settings, social workers help clients with anxiety, depression, stress, anger management, grief, relationship difficulties, financial problems and other resource issues, and life transitions. They connect people with community resources and advocate for appropriate services where none exist. They aim to prevent crises and, when a person presents to them in crisis, they help him or her to achieve a positive outcome.

Assessing needs
In the community, social workers can be found in many healthcare settings, including medical clinics, government-funded agencies, nonprofit organizations, home healthcare agencies, and day care programs.

The role of a community social worker may include: assessing clients’ social, emotional and daily living needs, their strengths, the supports available to them, and the areas where they require further support; providing one-to-one or family counseling; facilitating support groups; providing education (for example, about normal reactions to stressful situations and strategies for dealing with stress); and providing information about and referral to community resources that can help improve clients’ quality of life.

Teamwork
In healthcare settings such as hospitals and long-term care facilities, social workers are typically part of an interdisciplinary team that includes the following professionals: physicians, nurses, physical therapist, occupational therapist, dietitian, speech-language pathologist, and recreation therapist.

Social workers contribute knowledge about emotional health, life stages, relationships, and community resources. Their work includes assessing the social, emotional, and personal implications of health changes and hospitalization or institutionalization for patients and their families; and helping them learn how to cope more effectively with losses, emotional concerns, behavioral changes, family problems, financial worries, and other practical matters. They also serves as an advocate for patients, helping them overcome barriers to service within the institution and in the community.

In hospitals, social workers coordinate discharge planning, facilitating communication among the patient, family members and internal and external healthcare providers. They assist with problem solving and making necessary arrangements for the patient to return home or transfer to an alternate setting, such as a rehabilitation center or a nursing facility (for convalescent care or long-term care).

Helping with adjustment
In long-term care facilities, social workers may be involved in reviewing referrals and organizing pre-admission tours. Upon a resident’s admission, they provide orientation as well as supportive counseling around adjustment issues.

During this initial period, social workers gather personal and social information about the new resident—such as work history, significant relationships, pastimes and skills, personality, and cultural and religious background—and share it with caregiving staff to help them get to know and understand the person and better meet his or her needs.

Their ongoing role includes addressing quality of life, autonomy, and end of life issues; screening residents for depression; running support groups for residents and family members; and mediating between residents and staff, co-residents, or family members, as well as between staff and families, when conflict arises. In addition, social workers serve as a resource for long-term care staff regarding communication skills, coping styles, family dynamics, mental health, and ethical issues.