Social and emotional needs of geriatric surgery patients

This review of the social and emotional needs of 90 geriatric surgery patients identifies geriatric surgery as precipitant to crisis in social experience. The patient's personal growth and capacity to mobilize synergy within his/her social systems can be stimulated through the social work relationship. The role of the physician in facilitating that relationship to help patient and family handle stress related to medical crises and appropriate discharge planning emerges as crucial both in timing and understanding. With the exception of patients in a late phase of terminal illness and those confronted with exceptionally complicated medical-social realities, most of these patients were able, with adequate social work help and community support, to function outside an institution. Their movement through various levels of care in the health system required sustained social work help adapted to individual need.