Aging comes with various hurdles, like declining health and legal issues. Families and their elderly parents can seek out the tailored services of a geriatric social worker to help them jump over these hurdles and improve the quality of life for the seniors. Here’s how to find one.
What is a geriatric social worker?
A social worker who specializes in meeting the ongoing healthcare and lifestyle needs of the elderly is known as a geriatric social worker. This professional helps not only the senior but the entire family navigate the myriad of issues surrounding the aging process.
What does a geriatric social worker do?
Offering services, such as direct counseling, the coordination of care, locating community resources, and maintaining case records, geriatric social workers promote seniors’ independence. Promoting safety and autonomy are priorities, as are advocating for and protecting the rights of the elderly.
For example, families may have difficulty navigating the many complex government programs designed to support the elderly, such as Medicare, Meals on Wheels, Energy Assistance, Prescription Assistance, Legal Aid, Home Repair and Modification Assistance, or Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program.
A geriatric social worker experienced in assisting older adults helps families understand how to apply to and benefit from these programs. If issues arise regarding program services, the social worker possesses the expertise to resolve these issues and continue or commence the delivery of benefits.
Another important responsibility of geriatric social workers is to assess the older adult’s immediate living environment and recommend enhancements. Non-medical home care may be advised to give the older parents extra support with the activities of daily living, for instance.
Families struggling to come to terms with end-of-life issues find ample support from geriatric social workers. These professionals dip into their vast range of elder care experience to properly advise families on the best ways to emotionally and physically support their aging parents.
When should families hire a social worker?
Normally, families seek out the services of a geriatric social worker when they face a crisis, such as when the aging parent is admitted to the hospital. However, hiring a social worker should be done before a crisis hits or when the family is unable to resolve care issues independently.
This may mean when conflicts with the aging parents arise, whether that may involve no longer living alone or driving due to safety issues. If physical or emotional needs go unmet, families should turn to a social worker to learn new ways to fulfill these essential life needs.
Aging parents may suffer from a range of crises, such as depression, dementia that renders them unable to practice self-care, or family disagreements about treatment decisions. A social worker also intervenes when older adults become victims of elder abuse, domestic abuse, or neglect.
Seniors who feel lonely and isolated benefit from geriatric social workers who coordinate relevant volunteer services. Volunteers at the other end of a grief support hotline, for example, compassionately assist older adults in dealing with losses, the grief that follows, and depression.
How do families get a social worker for their elderly parents?
The support geriatric social workers provide to seniors and their families is invaluable. Adult children might consult with their local Area Agency on Aging to find a list of available professionals. The mission of each AAA is to help seniors live independently in their homes, if they desire.
Avenues that lead to finding the right geriatric social worker include looking up the state board of social workers. Families might also consult the elderly parent’s doctor for recommendations of qualified geriatric social workers. Similarly, other care providers can direct them to the right professionals.
A local hospital or medical clinic may have a geriatric department through which social workers offer their services. If so, the social worker collaborates with the medical team, consisting of physicians, nurses, medical assistants, mental health professionals, and other staff.
Upon choosing a geriatric social worker in a hospital setting, the family and aging parent receive a treatment plan developed after an initial healthcare assessment. The social worker coordinates care, maintains patient records, and helps patients and families locate resources.
Day health programs may be a part of nearby hospitals. These programs provide daily activities and supports to keep seniors at home instead of in a nursing facility. The social workers in the day health programs counsel the elderly, coordinate activities, and connect families to resources.
Do families pay for social work services?
Social workers rarely require direct payment from families and their aging loved ones. Rather, Medicare reimburses the cost to the medical providers who deliver social work services to the senior. Medicare funds are typically divided into therapies or medical social workers.
Families that work with a geriatric social worker may be directed to various home care services, such as Assisting Hands Home Care, that elevate their aging parent’s daily life. Our professional caregivers prioritize the physical, social and emotional health of the older adults we serve.
We offer compassionate senior companion care, which fulfills not only the daily social needs of the elderly but their physical and emotional needs. Caregivers stimulate seniors’ minds with card games, pleasant conversations, outings to nearby destinations, and enjoyable leisure activities.
In addition to reducing their loneliness and isolation, our caregivers support the elderly with the activities of daily living. Our non-medical senior care services include help with hygiene tasks, healthy meal preparation, grocery shopping, medication reminders, light housekeeping, and transportation.
Families place full confidence in our senior home care agency, as our professionals are background-checked, insured, bonded and licensed. Caregivers are experienced in delivering quality elder care, are trained to respond quickly to emergencies, and know CPR and first aid.
Whether a social worker refers you to Assisting Hands Home Care or you learn about our quality care elsewhere, you’ll find our dependable services to be an invaluable part of your aging parent’s care plan. Schedule your in-home consult with our Sarasota and Tampa, Florida, locations today at (813) 868-6782.
