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Working with Aging Clients with Dr. Donna McElveen

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Working with Aging Clients with Dr. Donna McElveen Program Transcript DR. DONNA MCELVEEN: My advice would be not to shy away from the aging population. It's a very rewarding and growing aspect of social work. As a social worker working in the area of aging, I worked with those clients who were beginning to have physical decline and cognitive decline, but I also worked with their families as they struggle to take the caregiver role and determine what the best care is for their senior. Also, working in an area where maybe people are dealing with loss and grief over an Alzheimer's diagnosis or the ultimate loss through a death.

Social workers spend a lot of time working with families when they work with aging clients. A social worker working with the aging population can find opportunities for that work in hospitals, nursing homes, adult daycare centers, and also home care. In all settings, you'll probably find yourself engaging in some family meetings, multidisciplinary team meetings, assessments, as well as brokering services for aging clients who are trying to live in their home without being institutionalized.

If you are a student interested in the aging population, I would suggest that you really explore your community for opportunities to intern in this area, to see what you can learn about the population. Maybe get involved in a few agencies that support seniors, the Alzheimer's Association, or senior care line.

A lot of students coming into social work don't really look at this field as part of something they want to do, and I just want to encourage social workers to explore it, give it a chance. It's a population that needs our service and it's growing, so there are a number of opportunities. I would hope they would consider it.