The New Social Worker Vol. 19, No. 3, Summer 2012 | Page 32

From the publisher of THE NEW SOCIAL WORKER®

DAYS IN THE LIVES OF
GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIAL WORKERS:
44 Professionals Tell Stories From “Real-Life” Social Work Practice With Older Adults
Linda May Grobman, MSW, ACSW, LSW, and Dara Bergel Bourassa, PhD, MSW, LSW, Co-Editors

The third volume in the Days in the Lives of Social Workers series focuses on social workers’ experiences with
older adults. This collection of first person narratives brings to life the variety of ways in which social workers work with and on behalf of this growing population. The stories describe micro, mezzo, and macro level
gerontological social work.
Gerontological social work is a growing and exciting practice specialty! The stories told in this book will
transform your thinking about what this type of work entails.You will gain a better understanding of the issues
facing older adults and their social workers, and you may be inspired to pursue this career path.
Organizations,Web sites, additional readings, and a glossary of terms are included to assist readers in further
exploring these areas of social work practice.
Stunning photographs by social worker/photographer Marianne Gontarz York are featured to expand readers’ visual images of real people as they grow older.These photos depict older adults in a positive and realistic
manner, whether they are active, frail, receiving care, or giving care.

Table of Contents

PART 1—COMMUNITY
Chapter 1—The Blessings of Meals on Wheels
Chapter 2—Adult Protective Services
Chapter 3—Working With Immigrants in a Community Senior Center
Chapter 4—When the White Cane Comes in Handy:
Helping Older Adults Navigate the Health Care System
Chapter 5—Geriatric Community Care Management
Chapter 6—Community Senior Services
Chapter 7—Best Practices in a Community Setting
Chapter 8—A Day in the Life of a NORC
Chapter 9—Gas Masks, Self-Affirmation, and War in Israel

PART 2—HEALTH CARE—HOSPITALS, HOME HEALTH, AND HOSPICE
Chapter 10—Firsts: Mrs. Blue Visits the ER
Chapter 11—Social Work in Outpatient Rehabilitation
Chapter 12—Hospital Social Work: A Fast-Paced Environment
Chapter 13—Welcome to Geriatrics! Life as a VA Social Worker
Chapter 14—Do Unto Others: Life Lessons Learned
as a Medical Social Worker
Chapter 15—A Typical Day: Social Work in Home Health
Chapter 16—A Day in the Life of a Hospice Social Worker
Chapter 17—The Need for Hospice Social Workers in Skilled Nursing Facilities
PART 3—NURSING HOMES
Chapter 18—Social Work in a Nursing Home
Chapter 19—The Mount
Chapter 20—Life as a Nursing Home Administrator
Chapter 21—Investigative Social Work: The Nursing Home Surveyor
Chapter 22—A Day in the Life of an Ombudsman

ABOUT THE EDITORS

Linda May Grobman, MSW, ACSW, LSW, is the publisher, editor, and founder of The
New Social Worker magazine. She edited the books Days in the Lives of Social Workers
and More Days in the Lives of Social Workers, and co-authored the book The Social
Worker’s Internet Handbook. Linda received her MSW from the University of Georgia and has practiced in mental health and medical settings. She is a former staff
member of two state chapters of the National Association of Social Workers.
Dara Bergel Bourassa, PhD, MSW, LSW, is Assistant Professor and Director of the
gerontology program at Shippensburg University Department of Social Work and
Gerontology. She received her BSW and MSW from the University of Pittsburgh
and her PhD from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, where she completed
her dissertation entitled, “Compassion Fatigue as it Relates to Adult Protective
Services Social Workers.” She became interested in working with older adults during her undergraduate social work field placement in a suburban hospital.

Chapter 23—Long Term Care Ombudsman: Another Perspective
PART 4—SPECIAL POPULATIONS
Chapter 24—Working With Geriatric Inpatients in Acute Mental Health
Chapter 25—Stella’s Orchestra: Social Work in Rural Geriatric Mental Health
Chapter 26—Social Work at the Alzheimer’s Association
Chapter 27—Parkinson’s Disease and Social Work Practice
Chapter 28—A Social Work Perspective on Geriatric Addictions
Chapter 29—Working With Homeless Older Adults
PART 5—NONTRADITIONAL METHODS AND SETTINGS
Chapter 30—Tapping Into the Creative Parts: Art Therapy With Older Adults
Chapter 31—Integrative Touch and the 15-Minute StressOut
Chapter 32—A Win-Win Partnership: Intergenerational Social Work
Chapter 33—Social Work in a Law Firm
Chapter 34—Geriatric Care Management in Private Practice
Chapter 35—Caregiver Psychoeducational Support Groups:
Gerontological Social Work in Business and Industry
PART 6—POLICY AND MACRO PRACTICE
Chapter 36—Community Organizing in State Government
Chapter 37—Gray and Gay: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Aging
PART 7—STUDENT, EDUCATOR, AND RESEARCHER
PERSPECTIVES
Chapter 38—Field Placement in Geriatric Case Managemen