By Nicole Long, MSW, LICSW
CEO of Old Colony Elder Services
During March, we celebrate Social Work Month and the many contributions of social workers.
Social workers are dedicated to helping people and communities thrive. Social workers also help people of all ages cope with life’s challenges. A major part of a social worker’s job is advocacy. Social workers stand up for equal rights of all people and work to ensure that services are provided to all who need them.
Social workers may be found in many different settings, from healthcare and mental health to education, local and state government, and social-service agencies.
Social workers assist individuals and families in navigating the various challenges of life in different ways. For example, a social worker can help patients in hospitals or rehabilitation facilities transition back to their home or community. A social worker can help determine if an individual can resume activities of daily living in their home. Will the individual need short-term caregiver support for assistance with mobility, bathing, dressing or meal preparation? Or will the individual require long-term assistance and daily home care? A social worker evaluates current and future needs and puts a plan in place.
Social workers also:
• Help individuals and families navigate housing and other community resources
• Provide mental health care for adults and children
• Assist those who are experiencing food insecurity or malnutrition
• Work to prevent, and address, neglect or abuse
• Assist with foster care programs
• Help individuals manage and cope with chronic illness or disease.
Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) has a team of licensed social workers who can provide guidance on a wide range of life changes and challenges. OCES is proud to provide independent, conflict-free assessments, care coordination, administrative support for in-home and community-based long-term services through many different programs, including in-home behavioral health counseling. Working alongside OCES’s licensed social workers are care managers, protective service workers, administrative staff, and an extensive network of providers.
OCES’s expansive services offer support through more than 20 different programs, including a nutrition program with healthy meals planned by a Registered Dietician, a healthy living program that includes management of chronic health conditions, and a family caregiver support program that provides caregiving resources. OCES provides community housing with supportive and congregate options. Our money management program offers budget and health insurance guidance, and the protective services program helps prevent, eliminate, or remedy situations involving the abuse of an elder.
Essentially, social workers provide guidance about a wide range of life changes and challenges – helping to prevent issues while presenting options for the future.
Join us as we celebrate social workers who are dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of so many in our community.
OCES is the largest provider of in-home and community-based services for older adults and people living with disabilities in the southeastern part of Massachusetts. We invite you to visit our website, www.ocesma.org, to learn more.
About the Author: Nicole Long is the Chief Executive Officer of Old Colony Elder Services (OCES). Founded in 1974, OCES is a private, non-profit organization proudly serving greater Plymouth County and surrounding communities. OCES is designated as one of 25 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES’s mission is to support the independence and dignity of older adults and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living. The agency offers a number of programs to serve older adults, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call 508-584-1561 or visit www.ocesma.org.
