Perhaps you’ve been inspired by the wisdom and resilience of an older adult in your life. Maybe you’ve helped an aging relative or friend navigate physical and emotional complications common to this season. You understand that walking alongside older adults involves purposeful and compassionate care.

A career in social work and geriatrics can be an ideal pathway for making a meaningful impact in your community and giving back to those who face new life challenges. A geriatric social worker serves older adults to address aging-related concerns and foster a positive quality of life at a time of significant change and vulnerability. 

 

What Is Geriatric Social Work? 

Geriatric social work, also known more broadly as gerontological social work, encompasses various aspects of life, including medical care, emotional well-being, and socioeconomic security for older adults. Professionals in social work and geriatrics advocate for communities and provide care for individuals and families. 

As the average life span in the United States continues on an upward trend, there is a growing need to respond to the complex needs of an aging population. Geriatric social workers are skilled in providing a wide range of services for promoting independence, autonomy, and dignity for older adults. 

Geriatric social work encompasses an understanding of laws, public policy, and knowledge about special services available for older adults. 

 

What Do Social Workers in Gerontology Do?

Aging adults encounter new concerns specific to this stage of life, and specially trained social workers can help. 

Geriatric social workers assist individuals and families in identifying strengths and needs for life planning, and they collaborate with other geriatric health care professionals in case management. They provide education, seek out resources, and coordinate services. At a macro level, geriatric social workers advance health care and social initiatives for communities and populations. 

Let’s consider three core areas of attention for social workers in gerontology. 

 

Working with Older Adults in Health Care

Aging commonly leads to medical concerns and complications that take both a physical and emotional toll. The federal program Healthy People 2030 has identified several high risks for older adults, including:

• Diabetes
• Osteoporosis
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Pneumonia
• Influenza
• Injury from falls

Health care social workers provide support and resources for people experiencing medical problems and those at risk. They promote community initiatives to prevent illness and injuries, and they guide individuals and families in prevention. A health care social worker specializing in gerontology works with older adults to maintain or improve quality of life.

Preventative measures like routine medical care, vaccines, and physical activity can reduce chronic illness, injury, and hospitalizations. Geriatric social workers may coordinate with other health care providers, advocate for quality care, and seek additional services for individuals and families. On a macro level, a geriatric social worker may lead community programs focused on preventative care and well-being for older adults. 

Geriatric social workers also provide practical and emotional support for older adults experiencing the onset or progression of illness. They may coordinate social services or help with residential transitions, and care may extend from an initial diagnosis all the way through palliative or hospice planning. A master's-level licensed clinical social worker may offer counseling and therapeutic services.

 

Mental Health and Social Workers in Gerontology

In older years, people often deal with complex life issues, including:

• Grief from the loss of friends and family members
• Caregiving in close relationships
• Disrupted social connections leading to loneliness
• New or chronic physical limitations or medical concerns
• Lifestyle changes related to finances
• Concerns with a sense of purpose or mental stimulation following retirement

These challenges often lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns. Statistics reported by the National Institute of Mental Health show that almost 14 percent of adults 50 and older have recently experienced some form of diagnosable mental illness. 

Mental health social workers are equipped to make referrals for services, and those who are clinically licensed are qualified to provide therapy. Licensed clinical social workers specializing in gerontology are trained to understand the unique mental health concerns that often arise later in life. 

 

Geriatrics and Socioeconomics

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) reports that more than nine million older adults in America face economic hardships that affect access to food and medical care. Further, AARP has sounded the alarm for housing security among older adults in the context of the broader residential shortage nationwide. 

A geriatric social worker may help at-risk adults identify government programs or nonprofit resources to alleviate financial difficulties and provide for basic needs. On a macro level, some social workers advocate for policies, legislation, and community initiatives to combat poverty and advance well-being for marginalized populations. 

 

The Job Outlook for a Geriatric Social Worker

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of social work jobs is expected to increase at a rate double the general growth rate for all occupations from 2024 to 2034 (a six percent increase in social work jobs, compared to a three percent increase for all occupations). Specialty areas are projected to increase even more than this, with an eight percent increase in the need for health care social workers and a ten percent increase for mental health and substance abuse social workers. 

Recent United States Census Bureau data shows that 18 percent of the country's adult population is now 65 or older. The federal initiative Healthy People 2030 expects a continued increase, with the number reaching 25 percent by 2060.

According to the American Geriatrics Society, there is a critical need for geriatric health care professionals, including social workers. Some forward-thinking states with high demand offer educational loan forgiveness to encourage growth in these professions. 

Social workers in gerontology may work in health care settings, community organizations, government agencies, or independent practices. There are career pathways for social work and geriatrics across the country with varying needs and opportunities. New York and New Jersey are considered among social workers' best geographic areas for salary potential. 

 

Pursuing a Career in Social Work and Geriatrics

If geriatric social work fits your interests and career goals, the first step is to earn a master’s degree in social work (MSW). An MSW program prepares you to meet the requirements for clinical roles in social work, including gerontology. Additional training and hands-on experience equips you with the necessary knowledge and skills for working with older adults.

The National Association of Social Work (NASW) offers the Clinical Social Worker in Gerontology (CSW-G) credential for qualified social workers. Eligibility includes: 

• An MSW degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education
• Requirements for continuing education 
• A minimum of two years of supervised post-MSW clinical social work employment in a qualified setting
• Current state licensure
• Adherence to the NASW Code of Ethics and the NASW Standards for Continuing Professional Education

 

Earn Your Online MSW at St. Bonaventure and Set Yourself Up for Success

With 100% online coursework, the online Master of Social Work program at St. Bonaventure University is designed to fit your schedule. Additional in-person practicum hours give you hands-on training, and you’ll benefit from 1:1 placement support in New York or across the United States near your home community.

St. Bonaventure is committed to service, respect for human dignity, and engagement in critical inquiry. The MSW program is clinically focused and advocacy-driven, where you build on your compassion to make a lasting impact in diverse clinical settings. You’ll be equipped to drive community change by uplifting marginalized and underserved populations through inclusive practice.

As you explore your future in social work and geriatrics, connect with an enrollment advisor to discover how the St. Bonaventure MSW program sets you up for success.