Geriatric Social Workers Job Description: Employment Opportunities, Wages and Earnings, Required Skills and Education, Job Outlook
Submitted by: Cheska Davenport
Job Overview: Geriatric social workers are persons who help out the elderly to adjust to the various changes and challenges of aging. They formulate and implement programs as well as manage agencies which offer advocacy, counseling and special services for the aging citizens, and their roles include evaluating the needs of their clients and arranging services such as meal delivery, housing, legal and medical assistance and transportation. They also come up with recreational activities and programs for the elderly.
Education, Knowledge and Training Required: Some geriatric social workers land on the job with only a high school diploma, but it is recommended that one should have a degree in social work in order to become highly qualified for the said career. Most universities and colleges offer degree programs in social work, as well as in nursing and geriatrics, which could be taken up in order to better understand the needs of the elderly. To those who want to work in apply for higher positions in the field of geriatric care and administration, they must take up more advanced studies, such as a master’s degree in social work.
Skills and Abilities: Aside from the knowledge and technical expertise, geriatric social workers should have the passion for the job, and these include caring and enthusiasm for the elderly. They should be patient, flexible and friendly, and as well be attentive to the needs of their clients, and as well maintain a good disposition with their colleagues and other workmates. They should have empathy and tact, so that they can communicate properly with the elderly and their respective family members. They should also know how to stay calm, cool and collected especially in times of crisis or urgencies.
Tasks: Just like any social worker, geriatric social workers provide assistance to persons who are in need of social services, such as food, clothing and shelter, only that they cater to the specific needs of the elderly. They help aging citizens find homes, such as nursing homes or communities which could provide them with their necessities.
They also serve as the point of contact of the elderly towards community services such as legal and medical assistance, as well as process their paperwork in order for them to achieve the services that they need to use or consume. Through geriatric social workers, senior citizens find it easier to live day by day especially given their age, it would be a bit difficult for them to move and act on their own, at least physically.
Earnings and Job Outlook: There is a strong demand for geriatric social workers especially nowadays that the population of senior citizens is increasing at a rapid rate. At present persons in this career earn an average of $41,120 per year, but this figure may increase depending on the social worker’s skills and expertise.
Cheska Davenport is a career search strategist who focuses on creating power resumes and providing job search advice that aim to help individuals achieve their target goals in the job market.
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