March is National Social Worker Month, and as such it affords us an opportunity to recognize the Social Workers on staff here at Gurwin; to acknowledge their efforts, skill and advocacy work. The Social Workers responsibilities include helping sub-acute residents achieve as high a level of functioning as possible and to facilitate a safe and appropriate discharge home. The long-term care social workers help residents (and their families) adjust to placement and to live an independent lifestyle as is dictated by the residents’ level of functioning.
To assure a high quality of life for each resident, the social workers approach their role with a holistic perspective, appreciating the correlation between social, psychological, physical, and spiritual well-being. The social workers must constantly be aware of factors affecting a resident’s well-being, working as a member of the multidisciplinary team treating our residents by establishing goals and a plan of care to meet individual needs. The team works cohesively and collaboratively to assure the resident’s needs are identified and met.
Social Workers in a health care setting act as resident advocates, championing their rights and assuring the resident’s dignity is honored and their quality of life is maintained. We assist with patient education, ensuring either the resident or the family members are making informed decisions. We also make sure the resident/family member is aware of their right to complete an Advance Directive, giving direction towards end of life care and allowing as much control as possible in an often uncontrollable situation. The sensitivity and skill the social worker possesses ensures that residents’ wishes are carried out with dignity and grace.
Our social workers come to know our residents and their family members very well; they help with such personal issues in such an intimate and often stress-filled setting, and this can sometimes take an emotional toll of these caring individuals. At Gurwin, we are incredibly fortunate to have a staff of social workers who rise to the occasion and do it well. It’s fitting that we have a time to say thank you to our social work staff, for their professionalism, skill, compassion and dedication to their residents.
