Gerontological Practice: Supportive Counseling and Care Management for Older Adults
$65 | 3 CEUs
$65 | 3 CEUs
This workshop will explore best practices in geriatric social work through systems theory, psychosocial development theory, and the problem-solving practice model.
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Adults aged 65 and older make up the fastest growing population in the United States. There is a growing need for geriatric social workers and a need for increased competency within the helping professions regarding the care of older adults. Older adults face unique biological, psychological, and social factors which impact their lives in ways that are different from younger adults. As social workers, we have the ethical duty to familiarize ourselves with best practices to provide support while honoring our clients’ right to self-determination. This workshop will explore some of these best practices in geriatric social work through systems theory, psychosocial development theory, and the problem-solving practice model. Ethical concerns around cognitive impairment, substance use, self-neglect, and social workers’ use of self will be explored as well.
Older adults face unique biological, psychological, and social factors which impact their lives in ways that are different from younger adults.
Participants will be able to: 1) Describe the various social impacts on older adults’ lives including the relationship between caregiver and client and the effect of support systems (through the lens of systems theory), the impact of ageism in society, and helpful public benefits targeted for older adults; 2) Discuss the use of self and boundaries when working with older adults, particularly when navigating potential client biases. This will include an exploration of visible vs. invisible social worker characteristics and the role of ethics in potential self-disclosure; 3) Identify the unique psychological and biological factors impacting older adults; and 4) Determine strategies for difficult conversations around polypharmacy, early stages of cognitive impairment, and end of life decisions while centering the clients’ self-determinism.
Participants will gain an understanding of the impact of race and ethnicity on lifelong income earning potential and later effect on older adults resulting in economic stratification; as well as, explore the unique needs of LGBTQ older adults.
Presenter: Lisa Schilansky, MSS, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in geriatric practice, LGBTQ adults, clinical case management, and agency development. A 2012 graduate of ²ÝÁñ³ÉÈËÉçÇø Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research, Lisa has studied and worked in various settings including food insecurity, refugee resettlement, and with individuals affected by HIV. Most recently she spent five years working as a Social Worker and Grant Writer at ElderNet of Lower Merion and Narberth providing in-home supportive counseling and case management to older adults and adults of all ages living with low incomes. Currently, Lisa works as a therapist focusing on older adults, grief, LGBTQ adults, and life transitions.