This completely updated guide for nursing home social workers reflects the latest trends and requirements for nursing home facilities and how they impact social workers. The most comprehensive guide to nursing home social work available, this second edition includes new chapters on changing expectations and new models for nursing home facilities (including the patient-centered facility), disaster planning, pain in older adults, and families and next of kin as legal representatives. Also included are policies that have been revised or added since the older edition was published, including information about the new Minimum Data Set (MDS 3.0), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), updated information on dementia, depression, and elder abuse, and more.

This book thoroughly explains the role and function of nursing home social workers and provides information and resources essential for them. Covered topics include chart and documentation; social work consultation; working in a multidisciplinary team; assessment and intervention; medication; understanding dementia, depression, and other mental health issues; ombudsman program; abuse, neglect, and mistreatment; the intake and discharge processes; resource allocation, legal issues, ethical issues, facility policies; room changes and the MDS 3.0. The book also contains a set of helpful forms including assessments, screenings, transfer/discharge notes, team meeting records, social service evaluation forms, and state health care proxy form examples.

Key Features:

• Comprises the most comprehensive guide to nursing home social work available
• Includes new chapters on culture and diversity; spirituality; disaster planning; pain in older adults; families, and health/financial legal representatives
• Contains updated materials on guidelines and studies related to nursing home social work
• Provides numerous useful resources such as running groups in the facility and staff training