Every March is National Social Work Month. Social workers do a lot of hard jobs and they often do not receive much thanks or appreciation. March is a chance to celebrate the work they do and show them our appreciation for the work they do supporting the community.
When you think about social workers, you probably think about things like children’s services and case workers. While those are common social work roles, they’re just the tip of the iceberg. Social workers can havemany different roles and support a wide variety of people and needs. Social workers also play important roles in senior living and other aging related services.
7 Surprising Ways Social Workers Help you as you Age
For older adults, social workers can provide support, assistance, and guidance. Here are 7 ways a social worker can help you as you age that may surprise you.
1. In the hospital
One of the most common places you’ll find social workers is in the hospital. Hospital or medical social workersmay work in the emergency department or any other area of the hospital. They are frequently called to talk with patients and determine if there is a risk they may hurt themselves or someone else.
Social workers are also an important part of the process for getting discharged from the hospital. Working with a team of doctors, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and others, social workers can help make sure patients have what they need when they leave the hospital. Depending on the reason for being at the hospital and what you will need when you get home, a social worker can help with things like getting a walker or wheelchair, getting necessary medical equipment, and finding resources that can help provide support.
2. Getting support at home
Similar to the support social workers can provide in the hospital, social workers can support you at home. For older adults, one of the best ways to find a social worker who can help is by reaching out to the local council on aging or area agency on aging. They typically have social workers and case workers whose entire focus is on supporting older adults in their homes.
Working with a social worker at home, older adults can get help with a wide range of needs. Everything from finding caregiving resources and signing up for benefits or assistance to just having someone to talk to. If there’s something a social worker can’t do, they can find someone who can.
3. Counseling/therapy
A lesser-known role of social workers is providing counseling or therapy. Older adults are not immune to things like anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Fear and stigmas around mental health can keep many people from seeking help. There’s no need to feel scared or ashamed in seeking help. Sometimes, it’s just helpful to have someone to talk to, especially someone who understands what you’re going through and doesn’t judge. Plus, it can be a helpful way to decrease social isolation that can become common as we age.
4. Short-term rehabilitation and long-term care
Like at a hospital, there’s a wide variety of things a social worker does in short-term rehabilitation and long-term skilled nursing care. In both, their primary goal is to support the patient or resident with physical, mental, emotional, and social needs. However, many times they are also available to support their loved ones.
Many times, a social worker is the one who handles admission and discharge for short-term rehabilitation and long-term skilled nursing care. For admissions, they make sure all of the paperwork is in order, confirm insurance and billing, make sure a room is available, ensure the patient or resident will have what they need, and help to coordinate the move. When it comes time for discharge, the social worker can make sure that the patient or resident has what they will need to be safe when they go home or that the paperwork is ready for the new facility. While at the facility, a social worker can also help to make sure an older adults needs are being met and be a listening ear.
5. Hospice and palliative care
End of life care, better known as hospice, utilizes an interdisciplinary approach. This means a team of doctors, nurses, case managers, social workers, and other medical professionals work together to provide the best care and support possible to the patients and their loved ones. Social workers are typically available to offer mental and emotional support to their patients and their caregivers.
Palliative care is similar to hospice, but instead of being short-term end of life care, it’s longer-term support available after the diagnosis of certain chronic, life altering conditions. Like hospice, palliative care uses an interdisciplinary approach and social workers are part of a team. In addition to offering patients mental and emotional support, palliative care social workers may also help coordinate care or treatment.
6. Downsizing
You might be surprised to know that one of the ways a social worker can help older adults is with downsizing. If you’re ready to downsize, a social worker could help you make a plan for how to go through things and keep you on track to meet your goal. If you’re struggling to let go of things, they can help you understand why you might feel emotionally attached to some things. When you have things to get rid of, a social worker can also help you determine the best ways to do so, such as local organizations you could donate some items to.
7. Senior living
Can social workers help with senior living? Absolutely! Before moving to senior living, a social worker can help older adults and their loved ones navigate their senior living options. Sometimes, a move to senior living is prompted by a referral from a social worker who thinks it would be beneficial. After moving to senior living, a social worker can help when a resident has new needs arise or simply needs support.
Social workers work hard every day supporting each of us and the community. Celebrate them during National Social Work Month and let them know how much you appreciate them!
We’re grateful for the social workers that are part of our team at The Ohio Masonic Communities. If you want to learn more, we’d love to hear from you. Give us a call at 1 (877) 881-1623 or contact us here. We have three senior living communities across the state of Ohio – Browning Masonic Community in Waterville, Ohio, Springfield Masonic Community in Springfield, Ohio, and Western Reserve Masonic Community in Medina, Ohio.