title: The role of the gerontological social worker in assisted living.
abstract: This qualitative study reports on thirteen assisted living (AL) administrators' perspectives of the role and the importance of the AL social worker in addressing the unmet needs of older adults as they move and transition into AL. Participant interviews were analyzed using the constant comparative method. Administrators described 5 AL social work roles: (a) decision-making and adjustment coordinator; (b) resident advocate; (c) mental health assessor and counselor; (d) family social worker; and (e) care planner. Implications include directly examining AL social workers' views, analyzing costs and benefits of employing AL social workers, and developing social work practicum sites within AL.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Welfare, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66044, USA. tkoenig@ku.edu
authors.forename: Terry L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.forename: Jung Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Noelle L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Fields
authors.forename: Kelley R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Macmillan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D040561:Assisted Living Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019090:Case Management; D003376:Counseling; D003657:Decision Making; D005853:Geriatrics; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000639:trends*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008603:Mental Health; D010865:Pilot Projects; D024382:Professional Role; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012947:Social Work; D035502:Trust