Social Workers For The Elderly: When Does Your Loved One Need Them?
- March 17, 2023

What Is A Social Worker For The Elderly?
A social worker for the elderly, also known as a Geriatric social worker or a Gerontologist social worker coordinates the care of older adults in a variety of settings including nursing homes, hospitals, residential care homes, and even with family members. They assess an older adult, develop a care and support plan, and coordinate the resources to meet the needs of the clients. Social workers help older adults and their family members navigate the complexities and challenges of aging. Remember, these complexities or challenges aren’t one-size-fits-all. Each older adult may have specific challenges or issues that come with aging. It could be transitioning to an assisted home if family members are no longer able to provide care, dealing with dementia or Alzheimer’s, or battling a chronic illness. A social worker can provide support to help family members and their elderly loved ones deal with these specific issues as they arise and now, in 2023, the need for professional social workers for the elderly is more critical than ever before. With the number of seniors living longer and new facilities opening to support them, there is a growing demand for trained staff to provide mental health support, personal care, and content living environments.What Do Social Workers For The Elderly Do?

- Psychological assessments
- Developing care plans
- Providing emotional support and counseling
- Advocacy
- Education
- Resource Navigation and Benefits Application Guidance
- Discharge Services
Psychological Assessments
The first role or duty of a social worker in a setting is to assess an older adult to determine the need of the elderly, and the level of care needed, as well as the availability of the resources to provide that care. These needs could be social, emotional, or practical needs including health, finance, housing, or caregiving.Developing Care Plans
Geriatric social workers help to develop care plans for older adults based on their initial assessment. They may consult with doctors, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nutritionists, and other professionals to draw up the appropriate care plan that meets the needs of the older adult. They also assist in coordinating services to help older adults access resources and support to meet their needs.Providing Emotional Support And Counseling

Advocacy
Eldercare social workers advocate for older adults to ensure that their needs are met (care and services they needed and deserve), and that their rights are protected. If an older adult is a victim of elder abuse by a caregiver or a phishing scam, a social worker can be an advocate to ensure that legal action is brought against the perpetrators.Education
Social workers in this field work with individuals and communities to ensure that seniors have access to the resources and opportunities they need to live fulfilling lives. One crucial duty of social workers is educating the elderly as well as their family members about the complexities of aging, how to provide care without feeling overwhelmed, the resources available to them, as well as their rights and responsibilities. The Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work (AGESW) offers training and job opportunities for those interested in entering the field.Resource Navigation and Benefits Application Guidance
Social workers help older adults navigate the resources and benefits available to them. This could be health care benefits or other financial assistance at the federal, state, or local community levels. For instance, if an older adult is experiencing financial difficulties and not eating a proper diet, an elderly social worker can match them to a free meal program like the Meals On Wheels service.Discharge Services

What Are The Types of Social Services Available For The Older Adults?

- Food and Nutrition
- Employment assistance
- Financial assistance
- Health insurance
- Utility and housing assistance
- Low-cost medications
- Reduce or free transportation services
- Legal services
- Support for family caregivers
- Long-term care support
- Military service
- Health
- Education
- Assets
- Income level and so on.
- Benefitscheckup.org: This website is run by the National Council on Aging. It helps you assess whether your loved one is eligible for programs before you apply, and which programs are available to them. All you have to do is answer some questions anonymously, and find out programs and services available.
- Benefits.Gov: The benefit finder questionnaire helps you find benefits your loved one may be eligible for ranging from disaster relief, healthcare assistance, financial assistance, loans, and more.
- Area Agency on Aging: Every county/city is mandated to have an Area Agency on Aging. This agency is a good resource to determine the social services available to your elderly loved one. They also provide social workers who assist the elderly in lots of ways. To quickly look for one near you, just type in google “Area Agency on Aging + State/City/County (e.g Nevada).
When To Bring In A Social Worker For The Elderly

- Is caring for your elderly loved one becoming overwhelming or too much to handle?
- Are you having a hard time understanding free programs or benefits your loved one is eligible for?
- Is your elderly loved one feeling depressed and/or lonely? Have you tried ways to make them happy and all seem abortive?
- Is your loved one’s chronic illness progressing, and you’re overwhelmed or unsure about the next step to take?
- Is your loved one preparing for discharge from a hospital or skilled nursing home?
- Do you or your family members need emotional support and counseling?
Where Can I Find A Geriatric Social Worker?

Who Pays For Geriatric Social Worker Services?
In most cases, social workers for the elderly work in various hospital and government settings, and are paid by those employers or through Medicare. However, there are some types of social workers also called Geriatric Care Managers (GCM). These professionals provide services for elderly loved ones and their families, especially when family members live far away from their loved ones. Medicare and most health insurance programs do not cover the cost of GCMs, and you’ll have to pay them out of pocket.Amy’s Eden Partners With Social Workers To Provide Your Elderly Loved One Quality Care
At Amy’s Eden, we get recommendations from time to time from local social workers in Northern Nevada who deem us fit to handle the care of their patients when they are discharged from hospitals or Rehab. Depending on the care plan already designed by the social worker, we provide your elderly loved one in-home care, or care in one of our assisted homes. Our caregivers diligently follow the care plan created by the social workers, and we stay in constant communication with them in case the care needs change, and the care plan has to change. We can also make recommendations of social workers to family members should they need one for any reason. If your elderly loved one resides in Northern Nevada and needs exceptional care to ensure the best quality of life as they age, we are just a call away. Contact us today to see how we can help you worry less about your loved one’s care. Social workers play a vital role in supporting elderly persons and communities, and their work has become more important in the last few years.Get Elderly Care Today
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