Overview

The Importance of Social Work in the Care of Older Adults

The field of social work has a rich history dating back more than 100 years. Yet many people don’t fully appreciate the contributions of social workers, who improve the health, well-being, and quality of life of their clients. The contributions of geriatric social workers, who care for older adults, are even less well-recognized. For years, geriatric social work was marginalized compared to other specialties, such as child welfare, mental health, and substance abuse. But the current reality of shifting demographics, in which a growing number of Americans are entering the ranks of older adults, demands a radical shift in focus for the nation’s priorities.

The number of older people, particularly those over age 85, is growing and becoming more diverse, and they need more assistance to remain active and independent. As people age, they have more complex health care needs, some experience financial difficulties, and they may become less and less able to coordinate their own increasingly complex needs. Social workers formulate care plans based on comprehensive assessments to manage the interconnected physical, social, and socioeconomic factors that affect the health and well-being of older adults.

Aging-savvy social workers serve as navigators and expediters, enabling older adults and families to understand and choose among the bewildering array of available health and social services. They empower older adults and families to find appropriate services. They also facilitate family support, provide counseling and direct services, and coordinate care delivered through professional systems.

While the need for social workers trained in geriatrics is escalating, not enough social workers choose this career path. The Hartford Foundation began funding the Geriatric Social Work Initiative in 1999 to address the impending crisis of a growing older adult population being compounded by a shortage of geriatric social workers.

The aim of the Geriatric Social Work Initiative is to increase the competence of social workers to improve the care and well-being of older adults and their families. To accomplish this, the initiative employs innovative strategies aimed at educating all social workers in aging issues, recruiting more social work students to specialize in geriatrics, and supporting academic social workers who conduct research and teach. As a result, it has fostered a growing national network of social work faculty, students, academic administrators, and practitioners committed to gerontological social work and the quality of life of older adults and their families.

The essential role of geriatric social workers, like those trained through programs funded by the Hartford Foundation, is demonstrated in the story of 86-year-old Beatrice as she recovers from a traumatic injury.

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