How LVNs And Social Workers Benefit Our Senior Loved Ones

We all like to be appreciated for what we do, which is part of the reason why some people in the Burbank area and elsewhere enjoy working in the home health care, including those who are able to offer 24-hour care.

Though most nurses do what they do purely to help patients, no thanks needed, it’s still welcomed when they do get some kudos for it. Compliments also may be more difficult to come by, say in a hospital environment, where people are often in more serious health and less likely to feel like expressing gratitude.

The team at Accredited Home Care does try to make sure all of our staff always feels appreciated, but we also know the feeling is usually better when it comes from a patient or client who is genuinely and sincerely happy with the interactions they receive.

Some LVNs love providing home health care since there’s often so much variety in settings and patients.

It goes both ways – nurses and other employees like it when they are complimented for doing their job, and their clients also feel appreciated and cared for, something that’s especially important for those who choose to live independently.

While they do get to live by themselves and don’t have to go through the moving process to relocate to an assisted living community, the only occasional drawback is a lack of social interactions.

Friends or family might visit and some may even live at the same place. But if they’re receiving home health care and related therapy, they may not be able to go out and visit others very easily.

This also increases the risk of loneliness, which is becoming understood to be something that actually can be harmful.

Sometimes referred to as “America’s quietest health risk,” loneliness or social isolation can sometimes lead to emotional problems and ultimately physical problems.

Not having regular human contact can also lead to conditions like depression, fatigue, high blood pressure and a weaker immune system. Plus, because someone is feeling some or all of these conditions, they may be less likely to want to do something to help, such as exercise or see a doctor. If those feelings of loneliness continue, it can increase the risk of further developing future health problems.

So a regular visit from a home health care professional, be it a nurse or therapist, can not only address any medical needs but can be a positive social experience that a patient or client can look forward to. A nurse also might look forward to these visits as well so everyone wins.

Social workers

A similar experience can be had by social workers who are assigned to many of these same clients. They are providing useful services by helping clients deal with and adjust to some of the non-medical aspects of their current conditions and lifestyle, such as paperwork and access to different community resources.

But at the same time, they’re also providing a welcome visit and trying to bring messages of good cheer. It can be easy for people to become confused, frustrated or scared about their current situation, especially if there’s unfamiliar terms and complicated legal matters.

So a social worker can help them understand what’s happening, learn what they want and need, “translate” some of the legal jargon and paperwork, and help them get the help they need. In some cases, they can also observe and evaluate someone’s mental and emotional states.

Learning and appreciating the role of a social worker is important, since it can give people hope.

This is a good month for people to want learn more about the opportunities for this profession: March is officially National Professional Social Workers Week, which is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of the more than 800,000 social workers around the country.

People already in the field are encouraged to get involved in educating people at a local level, such as contacting local media and submitting articles or offering to be a source for any social work-related stories.

One of the highlights of the month is World Social Work Day on March 17, when the industry acknowledges the role of not just social workers in their area but people in this line of work around the globe.

Similar goals

Like nursing, the role of a social worker can sometimes be challenging as well as rewarding at the same time.

They can work with people who aren’t feeling well mentally or physically. Perhaps someone has had a recent stroke or a significant physical injury and isn’t sure what to do next with their lives. Perhaps they’re beginning to suffer from dementia and not sure what that will be about.

So a social worker or a nurse may have the role of providing comfort and health services as well as useful information. A patient may welcome the visit and the attention but also appreciate what they’ll be learning.