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[Link](Mouse over link to see full location), which follows a woman
through the long-term care system from the perspective of a social worker.
• Post a 200- to 300-word response to the following: What did you see as being the
greatest challenge for the case worker in this simulation? What other challenges do case
workers face when working with placement of the elderly in long-term care facilities? Do
you see any alternatives to Mrs. W’s long-term care situation? If yes, what are they? If
no, why not?
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A prospective social worker in this situation would have a lot of issues to consider, and it seems that the balance will shift as Mrs. W. ages. The goal should be to keep Mrs. W. as independent as possible and in her own home as long as she is able to be there safely. Because her only daughter is 1,500 miles away in another state, her access to support is an issue, however she is in a good state-of-mind and is relatively healthy. The stairs in her two-story home are a consideration, but provided she has first-floor access to her bed, bathroom and kitchen, that should not be a major impediment to her remaining at home. She can get by with home services because she also has friends and fellow church members to rely on. One alternative placement at this point could have been with her daughter in another state, but this would have disrupted Mrs. W's active social life and church activities. Later, the social worker must consider financial assett, the availability of Medicaid coverage and Mrs. W's needs for care and socialization. It is important that the social worker consider the loss of Mrs. W's support system that came with her disengagement from church and the death of her best friend. These are important factors to consider in deciding which services Mrs. W. needs next. Assisted living is appropriate because it provides the social aspects of group living while ensuring the necessary medical care and help with daily living. After Mrs. W's stroke and the onset of symptoms of Alzheimers disease, long-term care seems the only logical solution. Now, the social worker's biggest challenge to consider finacial constraints. I don't think I see any alternatives to long-term care at this point in Mrs. W's life. She has no primary care-giver in her family and she needs round-the-clock care. If she were able to get 24-hour nursing care in her home this still would not provide the level of social interaction a person should have. Mrs. W would be confined to her home. The best option appears to be long term care.
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