Unique Contributions of Social Workers to Geriatric Assessments for Community-Dwelling Older Persons

Interdisciplinary teams, which include social workers, improve care and outcomes for older persons; however, trends show some geriatric programs are replacing social workers with nurse case managers or community health workers to cut costs. This study aimed to identify the unique, discipline-specific contributions of social workers in comprehensive geriatric assessments. Semi-structured interviews and inductive qualitative analysis were conducted to examine the role social workers within an interdisciplinary team at one US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital. Nine individuals involved in geriatric care were interviewed, including social workers, advanced practice nurses, geriatrician, and pharmacist. The study identified three essential contributions of social workers: (1) diligence in identifying and addressing psychosocial issues that impact medical assessments and care plans, (2) problem-solving through indirect approaches, and (3) in-depth knowledge of community and VA resources. These findings highlight the valuable role of social workers in improving care and outcomes for community-dwelling older persons.