How to Find a Senior Social Worker

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By bailey4
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Finding the right services for our loved ones can be essential.

When people start looking for elder care services they often aren't aware of the benefits of utilizing the valuable services of a senior social worker. They are often available free of charge, in many communities, to the elderly and their families. Using a senior social worker can make negotiating the often complicated world of Medicare and the services required as one ages much easier.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

The earlier you become acquainted with how to contact elder services in your area, the easier your life becomes. So my first step is simple, if you realize you have someone in your life or you, yourself, are reaching an age where services are going to start to be needed, start using my steps to research where the help is located.
Step 2

If the elderly person is already in a hospital, most hospitals have social workers attached to them. They specialize in facilitating families getting the information they need, helping them to understand what options they have under the rules of their private and public insurance plans, and planning for what happens when the hospital stay is over. There should be a plan in place for when they leave the hospital for any elder home care that will need to be provided. If the social worker hasn't visited you, ask for him/her. Seek out the information desk, ask a nurse, and find out how you reach the department to request someone visit you. Persistence is the key.
Step 3

While you may have the most brilliant physician when it comes to medical decisions, don't assume they are brilliant financial wizards when it comes to paying for the medical care. Go to the people who specialize in it which is why if your doctor says something is or isn't covered you should check with the social worker to be certain. People have wasted tons of money because doctors don't understand insurance as well as they understand the human body.
Step 4

If the elderly person is out of the hospital, try contacting the hospital that is associated with their primary physician. While the hospital may not take on the patient as a social worker project, they may be able to tell you, where in your community you can find the appropriate resources.
Step 5

Check the phone book or local website where the person lives to see if there is a senior center where the person lives. Many senior centers have social workers attached to them to help residents find the services they need. They are also available to help seniors and families transition as more services are required and to help them should placements be required.
Step 6

Should the elder live in senior citizen housing check with the management. Some complexes have social workers attached to the them to help determine eligibility, work with residents on issues that arise, help residents with a variety of physical, emotional, and financial problems, and as I discovered work with families when residents need to transition into other types of care.
Step 7

Finding a social worker helps those who are seeking elderly home care services and those who need nursing home care. Social workers can help family find appropriate home care agencies to keep an elder at home as well as finding an appropriate placement should the need become more severe. They can be incredibly effective at providing you with information and assistance in getting both and helping you work through the amazing paperwork that also goes with it.
Step 8

Obviously finding a social worker doesn't solve all your problems. However, having had used the services several times for two different family members, I will say their professional advice and wisdom is invaluable. As the rules continue to change for eligibility, what is paid for, what options are available, and a thousand other issues that arise, it is important to have people who stay current with the regulations. It truly is a full time commitment. Finding someone to assist is a great option.