You can read here testimonials from those involved in the Graduate School of Social Work's Gerontology program.
Adrian Kok, Associate Professor
Martha Jacob, Assistant Professor
Tami Jimenez, LCSW, ACSW, West Suburban Senior Services
Susan Wolski, MSW, care manager at Bright Star Home Health Agency
Gerontology will be where the jobs are. While 73 percent of social workers report working with adults ages 55 and over, only 4 percent specialize in geriatrics. By 2030, one out of five Americans will be over the age of 65. An unprecedented number of Americans are growing older, and living longer. The country needs 70,000 social workers who specialize in aging by 2020. The baby boomers will not be satisfied with just traditional home delivered meals and living in nursing homes. Older adults and their caregivers need competent, aging savvy workers to meet the demands of the baby boomers, to improve care for older adults and their caregivers, to design and to advocate for the aging friendly policies that will meet the multiple needs of the diverse aging population.
Our MSW degree with a certification in aging is unique. At Dominican, we lay the foundation by focusing on a wide range of aging issues, policies and aging infused electives at the foundation curriculum. At the second year, we delve further into the area of specialization within aging. We’v e been awarded three grants from the Council of Social Work Education and the Social Work Leadership Institute at New York Academy of Medicine to develop and build the gerontology initiatives at Dominican University. Our participation in the Curriculum Development Institute provided faculty with the knowledge on how to infuse the curriculum with gerontology competencies. We also have the Hartford Partnership Program where students are offered paid stipends to intern in multiple agencies serving older adults along a continuum of care. We tailor these internships to the professional goals of the students. We also offer the rotation internship model which will provide more experience and training for students to apply their skills to different groups of older adults. We were also one of 16 CSWE accredited social work programs to be offered a grant to develop a certificate program in aging.
Our graduate internship program places students in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, retirement centers, hospice facilities, hospitals as well as government agencies that will train students to become skilled practitioners, administrators and leaders in the field of aging. Our students graduate with practice behaviors and competencies that will make them competent in geriatric care. There’s clearly an important leadership role for social workers in aging care. They can make a difference.
Dominican students who specialize in gerontology at the undergraduate level will have an advantage in the job market. By 2030, one out of five Americans will be over the age of 65. The needs of these "Baby Boomers," who will not be satisfied with just traditional home delivered meals and nursing homes, will open up employment opportunities in senior housing, recreation, transportation, social services and many other fields. At Dominican, the gerontology specialization within the Sociology department provides undergraduates the background they need to pursue these employment opportunities. From paid internships through "shadowing" opportunities in conjunction with GSSW students, the undergraduates who specialize in gerontology find themselves especially uniquely positioned to go on to study social work at the graduate level.
Through our partnerships with the Kott Foundation and the Hartford Partnership Program in Aging Education (HPPAE), we provide grants and stipends for both undergraduate and graduate students interested in completing internships in gerontology. We tailor these internships to each student’s interest, allowing the student to work in a variety of different environments. In addition, Dominican's MSW degree with a certification in aging is unique. At Dominican, we lay a solid foundation by focusing on a wide range of aging issues, policies and electives. Dominican's GSSW has been awarded Specialized Gerontology Funding through the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) which allows us to provide additional resources to develop and implement gerontological competencies in all courses. Our graduate students rotate in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, retirement centers and hospitals as well as help make policy decisions in government offices. And because we partner with ethnically diverse organizations, at graduation our students, whether at the undergraduate or graduate level, have developed a deep understanding of the many faceted social service industry, making them highly sought after workers in the field of geriatric social work.
Tami Jimenez, LCSW, ACSW, West Suburban Senior Services
I do counseling and case management. I see mostly home-bound seniors and also run support groups here at the center. About 80 percent of my job is out in the field. I work with people who have special needs. They may be depressed, paranoid or simply lonely and disconnected from their families. I talk to them to see what is going on. Sometimes I am the first counselor they’ve ever talked to. It’s all about relationships.
I love hearing their stories. They have so much wisdom and knowledge. I just can’t describe how much I enjoy them. I worry about my clients and take special care and do my best to make them happy. That for me is my reward.
I absolutely love my job! From the first time I entered the facility, I could feel the energy. Seniors are the most appreciative group. They depend on you and say, “I love you.” You become part of their life.
Susan Wolski, MSW, care manager at Bright Star Home Health Agency
At Bright Star, we provide all levels of skilled and non-skilled help for clients who want to continue to live in their homes. My job starts by assessing a client at home or going to the rehabilitation or hospital where they are currently staying. I then visit their home, see what they need to stay there, order any equipment they need, and develop a care plan. My goal is to help my clients be independent and in control of their lives.
Recently I had a very challenging case. The family did not tell their mother that I was coming. My client was very upset and said she didn’t need or want any help. We sat down and talked about her family’s concerns and her needs. I explained that her family was worried about her living alone because she was not taking her medications. We covered her need to be independent and her family’s concerns about her health. By the end, she agreed to have someone come one day a week on a trial basis to help her make meals. After two weeks the caregiver became her angel and she decided she really liked having someone there. The family said “Thank God.”
Another one of my clients was an 80-year-old woman whose health was failing. Her children were very worried about her living alone and suggested she move into an assisted living facility. This lady had always been independent and wanted to stay in the home she had lived in for more than 30 years. I worked with my client, her family and physician to address all their concerns and developed a care plan where she could continue to live in her home, safely.
What you need in this business is patience and a good sense of humor. I am on call 24 hours, seven days a week. Some weeks I work more than 50 hours. I am out of the office most every day. It is very demanding but also very rewarding work. I am not looking to change careers. My clients are very appreciative and that makes it all worthwhile.
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