COFFEE AND CONVERSATION: Generalist Gerontological Practice: A Biopsychosocial overview of Providing Care Management and Supportive Counseling to Older Adults

PSCSW Coffee and Conversation Program presents:

Generalist Gerontological Practice: A Biopsychosocial overview of Providing Care Management and Supportive Counseling to Older Adults

Presenter: Lisa Schilansky, LCSW

Date: November 16th, 2019

Time: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm

(Please arrive at 10 am for registration, refreshments and socialization.)

Location: TBD

Program Description: Adults aged 65 and older make up the fastest growing population in the United States. There is a growing need for geriatric social workers and a need for increased competency within the helping professions regarding the care of older adults. Older adults face unique biological, psychological, and social factors which impact their lives in ways that are different from younger adults. As social workers, we have the ethical duty to familiarize ourselves with best practices to provide support while honoring our clients’ right to self-determination. This workshop will explore some of these best practices in geriatric social work through systems theory, psychosocial development theory, and the problem-solving practice model. Ethical concerns around cognitive impairment, substance use, self-neglect, and social workers’ use of self will be explored as well.

Learning Objectives:

1. Explore the various social impacts on older adults’ lives including the relationship between caregiver and client and the effect of support systems (through the lens of systems theory), the impact of ageism in society, and helpful public benefits targeted for older adults.
2. Discuss the use of self and boundaries when working with older adults, particularly when navigating potential client biases. This will include an exploration of visible vs. invisible social worker characteristics and the role of ethics in potential self-disclosure.
3. Identify the unique psychological and biological factors impacting older adults and determine strategies for difficult conversations around polypharmacy, early stages of cognitive impairment, and end of life decisions while centering the clients’ self-determinism.

About the Presenter: Lisa Schilansky is a Licensed Social Worker specializing in geriatric practice, clinical case management, and agency development. A 2012 graduate of Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research, Lisa has studied and worked in various settings including food insecurity, refugee resettlement, and working with individuals affected by HIV. She currently works as a Social Worker and Grant Writer at ElderNet of Lower Merion and Narberth providing in-home supportive counseling and case management to older adults and adults of all ages living with low incomes in addition to serving as the primary grant writer.

Participants who attend this program must be present for its entirety in order to get the continuing education credits. (Please print this email and keep in your file along with your CE in case you are audited.)

Cost: No charge for PSCSW Members to attend; $20 for Non Members to attend. There is a $10 fee for anyone wishing a CE certificate.

Cancellation Policy: PSCSW Members: There is a $5 non refundable administrative fee for any cancellation up to 48 hours prior to this program.

Non Members: There is a $10 non refundable administrative fee for any cancellation up to 48 hours prior to this program. No refund will be issued if less than 48 hours notice is given for this program. This program is presented and hosted by PSCSW members. Both the presenter and host put a lot of time and preparation to make sure that attendees are receiving a wonderful program and feel welcome at the program. Just as in your professional life when someone cancels last minute, it has an impact on you. Please be cognizant of this when you register for this program.

Continuing Education Credits: FOR PENNSYLVANIA SOCIAL WORKERS, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS, AND PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS: This program is approved for credits for professional workshops sponsored by the Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work, a state affiliate of the Clinical Social Work Association listed in Section 47.36 of Title 49, Chapter 47 of the PA Code, State Board of Social Work Examiners. This program is also approved for credits for professional workshops for marriage & family therapists (Section 48.36) and professional counselors (Section 49.36).

FOR NEW JERSEY SOCIAL WORKERS: This program is approved for credits. Attendance at programs or courses given at state and national social work association conferences, where the criteria for membership is an academic degree in social work, are a valid source of continuing education credit (N.J.A.C. 13:44G-6.4(c)4)

PSCSW Members - Before you begin any registration, you must log in to the website to pay the member rate. If you register without logging in, you will pay at the nonmember rate. If you need assistance logging in, please contact the PSCSW office at: pscsw@pscsw.org.