Aging

The elderly population continues to grow and social workers play an integral role in the care and placement of elderly and disenfranchised members of society. With spiraling medical costs and fewer affordable options for prolonged health care, social workers are leading the effort to initiate and support informal social support networks and home health care as an alternative to costly inpatient care. They have been developing innovative projects such as shared housing arrangements and job placement programs. In addition social workers are being called upon to provide services to adult children of the elderly.

Social workers, specializing in aging, work in expanded hospital and nursing home settings to assist the elderly and their families with vital services and information. In addition, social workers perform a variety of tasks at adult day care centers, within senior volunteer programs and through home-based services.