Service Learning Experience My service learning experience acquainted me to the Geriatric population in Tennessee. The facility that I choose to complete my assignment with is a Skill Nursing and Long Term Care facility. This facility provides inpatient and outpatient programs to help the residence reach their maximum level of independence. The residence at the facility will experience a variety of services to suit their individual needs. Services range from physical, occupational, speech and respiratory therapy to wound care and orthopedic rehabilitation services. Social Workers services are provided to each residence. The average length of stay for residence participating in the skill nursing program can be anywhere from 10 days to 30 days.
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The younger residence in their 50’s is primarily at the facility for physical and occupational therapy, with plans to return to their homes. The social workers at the facility interacts with each of the residence. They are responsible for meeting with the residence and their families. Completing a variety of assessments including a brief interview for mental status, resident mood interview, social service assessment, spiritual assessment and initial discharge plan. The unique needs of the residence became apparent when interviews were completed. Some of the residents requested that I schedule appointments for them at the salon, while others just wanted to chat and share stories and pictures of their families.
During our class sessions, there were several chapters and discussion that were related to my service learning experience. The chapters on Social Work and Services for Older Adults and Social Work and Services in Health Care were very instrumental in helping me to better understand the population. Our class discussions and the class speaker Chris M- helped me to identify with the role of Social Work in the medical setting. Mr. M discussed the importance of assessments and resources. He also explained his role as a Masters Level Social Worker with the Tennessee Veterans Administration in a hospital …show more content…
The roles that I encounter in my service learning experience were Counselors, the social workers at the facility regularly provided guidance to the residence and their families regarding such matters as long term care plans, or assisting them with decisions about their goals while at the facility. Brooker was another role provided by the social workers, linking the residence with home health agencies, care giver services, durable medical equipment companies, assisted living facilities and legal resources. The role of Case Manager was one of the services that was provided to every resident. The social workers provided and coordinated services for the residence when they were in the process of being discharged from the facility. Applying for programs to assist the resident at home, programs to help them financially and also programs to assist with needed medications that they could not afford. In some instances, the social worker would serve as a Negotiator to dispute the insurance company’s decision to discharge the patient before the patient is physically ready to go home. The social work would appeal the decision and provide the documentation needed as to why it would be beneficial to the patient for a longer stay at the facility. The
The younger residence in their 50’s is primarily at the facility for physical and occupational therapy, with plans to return to their homes. The social workers at the facility interacts with each of the residence. They are responsible for meeting with the residence and their families. Completing a variety of assessments including a brief interview for mental status, resident mood interview, social service assessment, spiritual assessment and initial discharge plan. The unique needs of the residence became apparent when interviews were completed. Some of the residents requested that I schedule appointments for them at the salon, while others just wanted to chat and share stories and pictures of their families.
During our class sessions, there were several chapters and discussion that were related to my service learning experience. The chapters on Social Work and Services for Older Adults and Social Work and Services in Health Care were very instrumental in helping me to better understand the population. Our class discussions and the class speaker Chris M- helped me to identify with the role of Social Work in the medical setting. Mr. M discussed the importance of assessments and resources. He also explained his role as a Masters Level Social Worker with the Tennessee Veterans Administration in a hospital …show more content…
The roles that I encounter in my service learning experience were Counselors, the social workers at the facility regularly provided guidance to the residence and their families regarding such matters as long term care plans, or assisting them with decisions about their goals while at the facility. Brooker was another role provided by the social workers, linking the residence with home health agencies, care giver services, durable medical equipment companies, assisted living facilities and legal resources. The role of Case Manager was one of the services that was provided to every resident. The social workers provided and coordinated services for the residence when they were in the process of being discharged from the facility. Applying for programs to assist the resident at home, programs to help them financially and also programs to assist with needed medications that they could not afford. In some instances, the social worker would serve as a Negotiator to dispute the insurance company’s decision to discharge the patient before the patient is physically ready to go home. The social work would appeal the decision and provide the documentation needed as to why it would be beneficial to the patient for a longer stay at the facility. The