A Guide for Nursing Home Social Workers

"The book makes a unique contribution to the literature by thoroughly representing challenges and rewards of contemporary nursing home social work practice...Beaulieu's decades of social work practice illuminate every chapter, her years of networking with colleagues in Massachusetts and nationwide enhance every paragraph, and nuggets of insight earned through successfully establishing meaningful relationships with residents and families are reflected in every word. She knows her stuff and through this book shares it with others who are committed to enhancing the quality of life of nursing home residents through excellent social work services." From the Foreword by Mercedes Bern-Klug, PhD, MSW, MA The University of Iowa School of Social Work This completely updated guide for nursing home social workers reflects the latest political, economic, and cultural trends and requirements for nursing home facilities and how they impact social workers. It is the most comprehensive guide to nursing home social work available and includes new chapters on changing expectations and new models for nursing home facilities (including the patient-centered facility), disaster planning, pain in older adults, and families and next of kin as legal representatives. Also included are policies that have been revised or added since the previous edition was published, including information about the new Minimum Data Set (MDS 3.0) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and updated content on dementia, depression, elder abuse, and more. The guide explains clearly the role and function of nursing home social workers and provides essential information and resources that will enable them to knowledgably and compassionately assist residents and their families. Covered topics include chart and documentation; social work consultation; working in a multidisciplinary team; assessment and intervention; antipsychotic and other medications; understanding dementia, depression, and other mental health issues; the ombudsman program; abuse, neglect, and mistreatment; the intake and discharge processes; resource allocation; legal and ethical issues; facility policies; room changes; and the MDS 3.0. The ways in which ethnicity and culture affect nursing home admission and stays are also addressed. The book additionally contains a set of helpful forms, including assessments, screenings, transfer/discharge notes, team meeting records, social service evaluation forms, new HIPAA forms, and examples of state health care proxy forms. Key Features: Comprises the most comprehensive guide to nursing home social work available Includes new chapters on culture and diversity; spirituality; disaster planning; pain in older adults; new models for nursing homes; and families as legal representatives Provides new information about MDS 3.0 and HIPAA Offers numerous useful resources, such as running groups in the facility and staff training Contains helpful forms for assessments, screenings, transfer/discharge notes, new HIPAA forms, and many others