One of the most pressing needs for this industry, however, is to be able to show the payers that the services are being effective. There has been a usual lack of research and information concerning the benefits that the client/patients have received, especially in regards to the money that is being spent. Perhaps the services bestow intangibles such as privacy and dignity that can not be readily measured.

This author personally knows of only one GCM in the Salt Lake City, Utah area.  Margy M. Campbell, LCSW, CCM, CFP, calls her services Age Connections out of Bountiful, Utah. Her business card lists the following:

“Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Financial Counselor, and Private Geriatric

Case Manager, Guardian, Conservator, and Directed Payee.”

From her business card, it appears that she is following the standard practice for a GCM.

Although the GCM movement provides one basis for human services care for the elderly, it is not comprehensive enough to serve the many interests of the older population as a whole, since it emphasizes long term care. It is still critical to look at the needs and concerns of the 65+ population as measured by research and then the requirement to find sources and programs already existing to help the older individual succeed. Currently unmet needs should be evaluated and advocacy for changes must be pursued. This paper may also be a useful prototype in training gerontology students to be empathetic, to empower, and to advocate for their individual elderly clients.

POPULATION TRENDS

Demographic changes in the United States include two major areas of concern. One major change is the graying of America. The median age is now 36 years and is expected to increase over the next 45 years. The fastest growing age segment of the U. S. population is those persons who are 85 years old and above with a surprising increase in those over 100.

The other major shift is in the diversity of the American population due to both immigration and a higher birth rate for non Euro-Americans. The current birth rate for white families is not even at the replacement rate of 2.1 children, but at less than 1.8 children per couple while others in the population are having a higher number of children per couple.

Rosen and Zlotnik (2001) recognize these demographic shifts and, in their article, evaluate the preparation that has been done by gerontological social work education. They state that literally all social workers will need to have a gerontological background in the near future because of the many needs that will occur in this century. One of those needs include intergenerational households that could include four to five generations living in the same residence.

Since social workers are “…trained to consider physical, mental, and social aspects of a person,” (Rosen and associate, 2001) the generations who live in the household of the patient/client will need to be included in any strategy to help that person. They also point out the increasing diversity of the population as shown in current demographic studies gives an added educational need for more diversity training. Students preparing to work in this environment need the tools to deal with these two major demographic shifts.

In considering the future of social work in general, Rosen and Zlotnik (2001) suggests that gerontological social work is to be the strongest growth area in all of social work practices, yet has the least attention being paid to these needs.  There is a tremendous lack of education for students in this area whereas the authors of this article suggest that every social work student should have a strong basis in gerontology.

Suppes and Wells (1991) textbook, as one example, does have a chapter on social work with the elderly that gives some good information, especially about the elderly in long-term care. It also gives some information on the Government programs involved with the elderly and touches lightly of other subjects such as adult caregiving. However, if we base the need on Rosen and Zlotnik (2001) article, this textbook is woefully short of the real need of gerontological training for social work students.