Geriatric Quick Consult      Placement Problems      Do #3

Involve social work at an early date.

Knowledge Action
The social worker is a crucial member of the team when an elderly person is the patient.

The social worker is usually the primary point of contact for the patient's family concerning placement issues and often acts as the liaison between the family and the medical team.

The social worker can initiate home health visits for the patient to include blood pressure and blood glucose monitoring as well as wound care.

The social worker also provides the family with a list of nursing homes as well as adult homes or assisted living sites for the family to visit and decide upon.

The social worker works with the family to complete Medicare/Medicaid forms and can help the family apply for state supported scholarship money that is available for adult home living.

These applications can take up to 45 days to be approved, and without them, or the ability to privately pay, the patient will not be accepted to any assisted living home.
  • Get social worker ivolved.
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