Geriatric Social Work: Long-Term Facilities
Social Work 100
Kristen Hunt
200324817
University of Regina
Geriatric Social Work: Long-Term Facilities
Social workers who are employed in homes for the elderly perform many different purposes, including helping older adults adjust to life in their new residences, advocating for their clients’ needs and rights, providing supportive counseling and making psychosocial assessments. I believe the majority of society associate the social work profession with only the child welfare system. I therefore chose to explore the role of a social worker with older adults in an attempt to acquire knowledge of another area of practice. I feel that this area of practice is particularly important because of the increasing rate of aging Canadians. In Saskatchewan alone, the population of individuals aged 65 and older is expected to increase to one in five people by 2021 (Government of Saskatchewan, 2012).
The initial role a geriatric social worker begins when a new client enters a care home. They begin by completing a psychosocial assessment. An assessment is done to determine the level of care required by the new client and to assess whether specific services, such as counseling or psychiatric care, are needed. After an assessment is completed, the social worker discusses their findings with a team comprised of many different lines of work, which could consists of medical staff, occupational therapists, physical therapists and other professionals. They collaborate to create a treatment plan to address the client’s needs. A common aspect of geriatric assessment is a specialty in dementia diagnosis and treatment. Often times the social worker will ask for a comprehensive physical exam. This may include tests such as labs, CT scans, or bone density scans as part of the process of ruling out physical causes for dementia (Holzaepfel, 2014).
A geriatric social worker also acts as a counselor. When a...