How a Social Worker Can Support Your Elderly Loved One

Some people feel nervous about the thought of a social worker getting involved with family. But social workers, particularly those who work with the elderly, are not there to call the police or get you in trouble. The role of their profession is to provide assessment skills and community resource referrals. 

A social worker’s primary mission is to assist with the well-being of all individuals and help them meet their basic and complex needs. If you are caring for an aging loved one or are feeling caregiver burnout, know that there are resources available to help. There are many emotions that a caregiver like yourself goes through while caring for an aging loved one, and you need support. That’s where a social worker can come in. 

At Joyful Companions, our Home Care Coordinators help provide resources to you and your loved one. Let’s take a look at how social workers can help support your loved one. 

What Is a Geriatric Social Worker?

Aging is a complicated matter, and the role of a geriatric social worker is to help you navigate the twists and turns. They are well-informed about the local community that can benefit your loved one, and can help coordinate efforts to manage your loved one’s life. 

For example, if your loved one has a hospital stay, a social worker can help manage the transition back home or help arrange in-home care. 

Bridging the Gap

Between doctors, in-home care companions, patients, and families, there are many communication lines that can end up siloed. This makes it difficult to ensure everyone is on the same page with regard to your loved one’s care. 

A social worker can help bridge these gaps in communication between providers. They also support family members in having difficult conversations, with suggestions on how to talk about care services and ideas for how to support your loved one. In addition, some social workers are experienced at working with long-term care insurance companies or other programs you may be entitled to. 

Programs & Resources

Finding, contacting, and coordinating with aging care resources in your area can be time-consuming and difficult. Social workers have connections with these resources and programs and can help find the ones that would most benefit your loved one. 

Social workers can also provide input about end-of-life care and hospice eligibility.  

When to Contact a Social Worker

You may be wondering when you should contact a social worker to help you with your loved one. While every situation is different, there are a number of questions you can ask yourself to determine if a social worker would add benefit to your loved one’s care. 

• Are you struggling to keep up with your loved one’s care?

• Are you struggling to find affordable resources and programs to help?

• Are you overwhelmed trying to plan a loved one’s chronic illness?

• Do you need assistance with end-of-life programs?

• Are you struggling emotionally with your loved one’s diagnosis or aging progress?

• Do you need more support outside of the home?

• Does your loved one need help coordinating care when returning home from a hospital stay?

• Do you live far away from your loved one and are unsure of the resources in their community? 

Answering “yes” to any of these questions means you could benefit from a social worker’s help. Never be afraid to ask for help. 

Find a Home Care Coordinator From Joyful Companions

If you are looking for a social worker or home care coordinator in the Twin Cities area, Joyful Companions can help. We have several licensed social workers on staff who can help coordinate your loved one’s care and resources. 

With help from Joyful Companions, you can ease the stress on your shoulders and help you find balance while caring for an aging loved one. 

Call us today at 763-544-0401 for more information or request a free in-home consultation.