THE POWER OF GERIATRIC SOCIAL WORK

NASW's theme for Social Work Month (March) this year is "The Power of Social Work. Community Needs. Human Connections." Elizabeth Clark, PhD, ACSW, Executive Director of NASW, partially defines this power as "the ability to do, to act, and to influence…to bring about positive social change and help right the wrongs of society" (NASW News, 3/02).

Do we feel powerful as social workers in the field of geriatrics? Do we feel we have the ability to make significant changes to benefit older adults? Do we feel pride in our profession? Do we feel valued by society?

No doubt many of us have met with blank stares when telling people about our work. Perhaps we were met with sympathy because our jobs must be "so depressing." Many of us have also felt powerless and frustrated, thinking we make little or no difference in the work we do.

Now, more than ever, we need to take pride in our profession and utilize our unique knowledge and skills to bring about positive change - for individuals, families, facilities, and social policies affecting older adults. As we have known for some time, the population is aging, and skilled geriatric social workers will be in increasing demand. According to the testimony of Elizabeth Clark, submitted to the Special Committee on Aging U.S. Senate hearing on 2/27/02 (read the entire testimony, "Patients in Peril: Critical Shortages in Geriatric Care" online at www.thepowerofsocialwork.org), the critical shortages in health care with the aged will include social workers, and the projected need for social workers in this field will increase 35% by 2010.

As our profession becomes more in demand, it will undoubtedly become more valued in our society. More importantly, we need to realize our own value now and our power to make positive and significant change. We are working with people at a very challenging life stage. Most of our clients are dealing with changes in independence, social roles, physical health, mental capacity, finances, and social and familial relationships. Most have endured numerous losses. We have the potential to make a significant impact on peoples' lives during this tumultuous time. In addition, we have the potential to influence change on a larger scale: the policies and practices of our facilities or agencies; the resources available to help older adults remain as independent as possible; and social policies governing Medicare, Medicaid, nursing home regulations, etc.

We certainly have the power "to do, to act, and to influence" if we choose to use it. Whether we lobby to bring about better prescription coverage for seniors or advocate to ensure that a nursing home resident is able to make her/his own end of life decisions - we have the power to bring about positive change. We should also have tremendous pride in our work. We are in a profession not for pay or prestige, but to help make peoples' lives better. Geriatric social work is a unique challenge - and well worth it!

Lori Ammon, LSW