Working with Older Adults in Integrated Health Care: Social Workers’ Perspective

Overview: As integrated models of health care become more common across the United States, social work has become more pronounced and important. Yet, there is minimal research documenting the experiences of social workers with older adults in these settings and this study fills that gap.Proposal text: Background
An estimated 80% of older adults in the United States are living with at least one chronic illness (National Council on Aging, 2021) and 20% have at least one mental health condition including depression and anxiety (Falk & Taylor-Schiller, 2019). Integrated health care is becoming more popular across the United States in an effort to provide more streamlined and effective care to patients by addressing physical and mental health concerns in the same setting (Mattison et al., 2017). Social workers are uniquely positioned to assist older adults by ensuring that their psychosocial needs are met (Joosten, 2014). However, there is limited research in the area of understanding the experiences and perspectives of social workers employed in integrated health settings who support older adults and this study fills that gap.

Methods
The qualitative study sought to answer the following research question: What are the perspectives of social workers working with older adults in integrated healthcare settings? Purposive sampling was utilized to interview 37 social workers with a minimum of two years of work experience in integrated health care who work with older adults. Data analysis followed the constant comparative method by Lincoln and Guba (1985). In order to provide transparency and credibility and to minimize bias, member checking and methodological journaling were utilized.

Results
Participants highlighted the benefits of integrated care, benefits to patients and positive personal experiences. Participants also discussed the unique needs of older adults in terms of chronic conditions, coping with losses, and preparing for end-of-life. Additionally, participants promoted having familiarity with policies such as Medicare and understanding medical terminology. Lastly, participants acknowledge engagement with family members is the primary source of support.

Discussion
This study fills the gap in the literature by noting the value of social workers in addressing the unique needs of older adults. This study sheds light on the various environments in which social workers provide services, the physical and behavioral health stressors facing older adults and the ways in which social workers can address these needs, as well as insight into the dynamics of working on an interdisciplinary team. This insight can contribute to social workers being more informed and prepared to work with older adults in integrated health care.

References
Falk, N. L., & Taylor-Schiller, C. (2019). Influencing Mental Health and Well-Being of Older Adults Through Advocacy. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 57(7), 13–15.
Joosten, D. M. (2014). Social Work Decision-Making. Health & Social Work, 40(1), 34–42.
Lincoln, Y., & Guba, E. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
Mattison, D. et al. (2017). Educating Social Workers for Practice in Integrated Health Care. Journal of Social Work Education, 53(sup1), S72–S86.
National Council on Aging. (2021, January 1). Get the facts on healthy aging. https://www.ncoa.org/news/resources-for-reporters/get-the-facts/healthy-aging-facts/