Imagine what two years of the pandemic might have been like without the help and support of social workers. From homes and hospitals to clinics and private counseling practices, social workers have worked tirelessly to help people of all ages navigate a multitude of challenges. Just as doctors and nurses have been indispensable in caring for the medical needs of their patients, social workers have been just as indispensable, addressing the tremendous mental, emotional, and societal needs exacerbated by the pandemic.
In the world of home care, geriatric care managers and social workers who help the elderly had an even greater challenge, as they were often denied access to their normal visits at home or in congregate settings like assisted living communities. While virtual visits became the new normal, many elderly clients found them difficult—if not impossible—to successfully manage. Yet, social workers soldiered on with a mission to keep their senior clients supported, engaged, and connected.
The Time is Right for Social Work
March is Social Work Month and this year’s theme is “The Time is Right for Social Work.” While it’s always the right time for help from a social worker, now, more than ever, is truly the ‘right’ time.
Social workers have been an integral part of our nation for decades and have played key roles in the development of programs and services to improve the health, social, financial, and cultural issues of society. Today, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are nearly 720,000 social workers in the US. That number is expected to grow by 12 percent by the end of the decade, making social work one of the fastest-growing professions in the nation.
And while the pandemic is no longer at its critical height, we are still grappling with caring for a huge population of Baby Boomers becoming seniors and likely needing more care and support over the coming years. For social workers, that means more demand for their services to identify needs, create program models, and serve as leaders in the services created.
BAYADA proudly supports our social workers, who make a life-enhancing difference in the lives of those we serve. They are instrumental in the delivery of quality care by collaborating with hospital discharge planners, pediatric and rehabilitation centers, assisted living communities, geriatric care managers, mental health providers, school social workers, and so many more.
If you are a social worker or plan on becoming one and would like to learn more search for social worker jobs at BAYADA
original publication: March 2019
updated publication: March 2022
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