|
|||||
|
|
The Role of the Gerontological Social Worker in Assisted Living |
|
| Authors: | Terry L Koenig Jung Hee Lee Noelle L Fields Kelley R Macmillan |
| Institution: | 1. School of Social Welfare, University of Kansas , Lawrence, Kansas, USA tkoenig@ku.edu;3. School of Social Welfare, University of Kansas , Lawrence, Kansas, USA;4. College of Social Work, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio, USA;5. School of Social Work, University of Maryland , Baltimore, Maryland, USA |
| Abstract: | This qualitative study reports on thirteen assisted living (AL) administrators' perspectives of the role and the importance of the AL social worker in addressing the unmet needs of older adults as they move and transition into AL. Participant interviews were analyzed using the constant comparative method. Administrators described 5 AL social work roles: (a) decision-making and adjustment coordinator; (b) resident advocate; (c) mental health assessor and counselor; (d) family social worker; and (e) care planner. Implications include directly examining AL social workers' views, analyzing costs and benefits of employing AL social workers, and developing social work practicum sites within AL. |
| Keywords: | assisted living gerontological social worker adjustment decision-making |