Chapter six in this book discusses the role of social
workers in nursing homes. Nursing homes today are a mix of private for-profit,
private non-profit, and tax supported and non-profit. “The earliest
institutional form of care for the elderly, mentally or physically ill or
handicapped, and other dependent persons in America was the variously termed
county home, poorhouse, poor farm, or almshouse” (Fort Cowles, 2003, p. 231). Social workers have many functions in
nursing home. The book describes 23 nursing home social work functions that was
developed from 1988 to 1989 by NASW's Nursing Home clinical Indicator Work
Group. The main functions of social workers in the nursing home are to assist
the residents and their families with the transition into the nursing home by making
them feel comfortable. "The functions of the social work program should
include but not limited to individuals, families, and significant others;
health education for residents and families; advocacy; discharge planning;
community liaison and services; participation in policy and program planning;
quality assurance; development of a therapeutic environment in the facility;
and consultation to other members of the long-term care team" (Fort
Cowles, 2003, p. 256. The social work program is directed toward providing
services to meet the social and emotional needs of each resident and also their
families.
Reference:
Fort Cowles, L.A. (2003). Social Work in the Health Field: A Care Perspective. Binghamton, NY: The Hawthorn Press.
Fort Cowles, L.A. (2003). Social Work in the Health Field: A Care Perspective. Binghamton, NY: The Hawthorn Press.
I think it is really interesting what a social worker does in the nursing home and for the residents and families. I really like how detailed your post was; it really covered everything we learned throughout the chapter. Nursing homes are a great invention, I feel like, and cover a great cause.
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