Social Workers for Seniors: What They Do & How They Help

As they age, seniors face numerous challenges that make them one of the most vulnerable populations in our society. Physical limitations, health problems, and social isolation can make it difficult for seniors to ask for help when they need it or to advocate for themselves when they don’t receive the care they deserve.

Just like the social workers who serve children and families, geriatric social workers specialize in helping folks over the age of 65 find solutions to these common problems. In this post, we’ll explore social services for the elderly and how you or your loved ones can get in touch with a social worker for seniors.

What Does a Senior Social Worker Do?

Senior social workers help protect the elderly from those who might try to take advantage of their vulnerabilities, and spend their time working to improve the quality of life for their clients.

Social workers for the elderly are specially trained to help seniors navigate their unique care requirements and access government resources to help tackle these problems head on. For example, an elderly person who is struggling to pay for medication could visit senior social services for help getting financial assistance.

What Do Social Services Do for the Elderly?

Local social services support for the elderly may vary, but geriatric social workers should be able to support you and your loved ones in the following ways:

• The biggest aid you can expect to receive from a social worker for seniors is helping your loved one gain access to aging care resources. There are dozens of programs in place to aid the elderly, but unfortunately, many people never use these tools because they simply don’t know they exist! Whether it’s alerting you to local programs you can take advantage of, or demystifying Medicare or Medicaid’s elderly care services, a social worker trained for elderly care can help.
• If your loved one is planning to come home after an extended hospital stay, a social worker for elderly patients can help develop a plan to transition your loved one back into their home, including transportation and in-home care.
• If you’re finding it challenging to keep lines of communication open between you, your seniors, their healthcare providers, and insurance companies — senior social services can help break down barriers to communication and ensure vital information is making it to all the right places.

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Social Services Help for the Elderly at Home

Depending on where you live, senior social services may offer programs that can support your loved ones from the comfort of their home. A geriatric social worker can help you explore options for things like in-home meal delivery, assistance with daily living activities, and specialized medical transportation. Some cities or townships may even offer things like help with pest control or making modifications to the home to improve safety and accessibility.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the responsibility of caring for your aging relative or need help understanding which resources and programs your loved one might qualify for, social services for older adults can help you feel in control again.

To learn more about our home care services, contact our caregiving team today at 1-800-GRISWOLD or find a Caregiver near you.