Caregiving - How Social Workers Help |
Excerpt from the book "What Social Workers Do," by the late Margaret Gibelman, DSW |
Social Workers and Case Management
Geriatric case managers are social workers who specialize in assisting older adults and their families with a variety of needs. They help their clients access community services so that older adults may continue to live in their own homes. Case managers provide services in many areas including finances, nutrition, health, family relationships, transportation, and housing. Specifically, they may arrange meal deliveries, find appropriate housing, assist with tax forms, locate homemaker agencies, and arrange for doctor appointments. These professionals use their knowledge about the aging process to develop comprehensive care plans that promote health and well being among their older clients.
Geriatric case managers provide some of the following services:
- Visiting with clients to assess and identify care needs
- Developing a care plan of needed services
- Acting as a client advocate in locating community services
- Coordinating care with professionals, agencies, and programs
- Counseling clients and family caregivers
- Monitoring progress in terms of needs met
- Empowering clients to use their own life skills
- Educating community groups about the needs of older adults
Related Articles:
|
Margaret Gibelman, DSW was professor and director of the PhD Program in Social Welfare at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University, New York. She is the author of the book What Social Workers Do. |