Seeing your mother, father, or another family member grow older can be an enriching experience as you foster new memories together. However, it can also be stressful and frustrating to see them become unable to engage in the same activities that they were once able to.
While that’s hard for any caregiver, it’s equally tolling on the mental and emotional health of the individual themselves. This is where social workers can be extraordinarily helpful in addressing the unique challenges faced by your elderly loved ones.
Here’s everything you need to know about geriatric social work, as well as how it can immensely benefit you and your loved one’s lives.
What Is Social Work?
Social work is a profession devoted to helping people solve and cope with the problems that occur in their everyday lives. Social workers can help anyone of any age find new solutions to common issues.
Social workers are determined to promote social wellbeing, help people from all backgrounds overcome their individual challenges, and advocate for social and economic justice. They provide advocacy and counseling to get vulnerable populations back on the right track.
To become a licensed social worker, an individual must obtain a master’s degree and meet licensure requirements. While they are not medical doctors and cannot prescribe medication, they can administer assessments and treatment methods that have been recommended by a physician.
There are many different subsections of social work, and geriatric social work is one of them.
What Is Geriatric Social Work?
Elderly individuals experience a number of individualized challenges that are not as common among other populations. Geriatric social workers are helpful for managing these issues with a level of empathy (and training) that other specialists might not be able to achieve.
Geriatric social workers often act as a bridge between the client and the rest of the care team, helping to coordinate care with other providers in order to provide the highest quality outcome. They spend a lot of time with you and your loved one, developing a deep personal connection to improve both your family member’s happiness, as well as your own.
The Importance of Geriatric Social Work for Elderly Individuals
While physical wellbeing is often a focus of elderly care, the mental aspects are often neglected. With that said, senior mental health is just as important as physical health.
At least one in four older adults experience some form of mental disorder. Two-thirds of seniors with mental health problems do not get the appropriate treatment that they need, which may be a reason why people over the age of 85 have the highest suicide rate of any age group.
This emphasizes a problem that needs to be addressed, and for that reason, social workers may very well be a lifesaver. Geriatric social workers understand the unique challenges of aging and are well equipped to offer emotional support and guidance.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSWs) can also provide psychotherapy. While they cannot prescribe medications for the treatment of mental health conditions, they can help treat mental health conditions through therapy. They can also help build a treatment plan and guide a course of action. This will take into account your preferences as a caregiver, as well as the preferences of your loved one.
Social workers understand the difference between normal and abnormal signs of aging. They can refer your loved one to the appropriate medical professionals so that they receive the best course of treatment possible.
Social workers are also important in geriatric care as they work alongside you and your family member for the foreseeable future. You’ll work together to establish short-term and long-term goals, and your social worker will assist you in reaching these goals over an extended period of time. Over time, they’ll build a more comprehensive understanding of your individual situation and can help guide you with that familiarity and understanding in mind.
Additionally, social workers can alleviate some of the stress and pressure that might exist between you and your loved one for whom you care for. Caregiving can be rewarding, but also stressful. Social workers can help you cope with and manage any emotional or relationship issues that might arise as you navigate caregiving.
Social workers may also assist older individuals by helping them get back into doing activities that they are no longer able to do. They can provide resources for programs and treatment methods that might be useful, as well as help coordinate discharge and transitional treatments after extended inpatient stays.
Social Work vs. Therapy
There are different types of social work — some that focus on helping to provide guidance on a big-picture level, and others that can provide counseling and psychotherapy.
Psychologists who practice therapy typically focus on individuals with mental health disorders. They provide treatment methods to help individuals cope with their feelings and enact new behaviors to healthily overcome their emotional challenges.
On the other hand, social workers may provide a wider range of services to address the overall needs of a client. They can coordinate care to help individuals find new ways to approach problems, or like psychologists, licensed clinical social workers can provide talk therapy to directly help their patients.
Both social workers and therapists are especially important for older individuals, and sometimes they can be the same person. They can help to restore the quality of life for many people by promoting emotional and mental wellness to keep your loved one happier for longer.
Is Social Work the Same as Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy is another specialty that many people confuse with social work. While there is some overlap and both play a valuable role in geriatric healthcare, there are also some important distinctions.
Occupational therapists are concerned with helping patients do the things they want and need to do on a regular basis. As one ages, problems with joints and muscles can make it more difficult to accomplish activities of daily living, such as bending down to pick up a box. This can also have an effect on the ability to complete leisure activities, like tennis or golf.
Those who work in occupational therapy can provide techniques and exercises to help people overcome these physical barriers and improve their quality of life.
While this is similar to social work in that they view the whole person rather than just a specific ailment, social work does not involve physical therapeutic techniques to address these types of physical shortcomings. But, a geriatric social worker may recommend occupational therapy as part of a care plan.
Social Work for Caregivers
Social work isn’t just an important aspect of wellbeing for your loved one. These individuals can prove necessary for your wellness also.
Social workers play a key role in monitoring for signs of caregiver burnout. Additionally, they can be essential in helping you learn to cope with changes in your loved one’s behavior.
You play an active role in the life of your loved one, and a social worker knows this. They’ll act as a resource and active listener for you to express any concerns you might have as a caregiver, as well as any hesitations you might have for your loved one’s course of treatment.
Other Types of Social Work
While geriatric social work is naturally useful for individuals at an older age, there are many other sections within social work that may also be applicable to you or your loved one.
Substance Abuse Social Work
Instances of substance abuse in older populations are on the rise. And since older adults are more likely to experience mood disorders or physical problems, many tend to turn to substance abuse in order to find relief.
Social workers who focus their efforts on substance abuse can act as caseworkers for those with complex needs. They can coordinate discharge from rehabilitation centers or other long-term facilities, helping those overcoming addiction to assimilate back into society.
Additionally, medication abuse in older individuals is more common than you might think, as geriatric patients tend to have more prescriptions than other patient populations. If your loved one has a dependency on one of their medications, a social worker can interact with physicians to try to uncover a better course of treatment instead.
Justice and Corrections Social Work
While those who specialize in justice and corrections social work tend to primarily work in police departments and correctional facilities, there may be some overlap where they’d be helpful to you and your loved one.
Although rare, there may be circumstances in which malpractice suits or improper care have affected the wellbeing of your family member. The legal process can be extremely challenging to navigate, so a justice and corrections social worker can help guide you through the process and help you achieve a more desired outcome.
Hospice Social Work
End-of-life planning is one of the most daunting tasks that you’ll be faced with as a caregiver. You shouldn’t be forced to overcome those challenges on your own.
Hospice and palliative care social workers can help you and your family navigate end-of-life care, understand treatment plans, and manage the stresses associated with the financial and physical implications.
In Conclusion
Social work is a profession that seeks to help clients solve and cope with problems. For elderly individuals, this often involves coordinating care between physicians, navigating social relationships within family and friends, and assessing a clear path to reach long and short-term goals.
Geriatric social workers have a level of empathy for seniors that many other physicians aren’t able to match. They will build a deep connection with you and your loved ones to advocate for their continued success in both mental and physical wellbeing.
Beyond geriatric social work, elderly individuals may also benefit from social work related to substance abuse and mental health, justice and corrections, as well as hospice care.
All in all, it’s an all-encompassing service that can greatly improve you and your loved one’s well-being.
Lightyear Health’s talented team of social workers is relentlessly committed to improving the aging process within skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. Get in touch to learn more about what we can do for you.
Sources:
What is Social Work? | Council on Social Work Education
Seniors and Mental Health | PAHO
What are Gerontological Social Workers? | SocialWorkLicensure.org
Counseling vs. Social Work: What’s the Difference? | SocialWorkLicensure.org
What is Occupational Therapy? | AOTA
Substance Use in Older Adults DrugFacts | National Institute on Drug Abuse
