How can we control health and other social service costs through integrated models of care while improving results for older Americans? How can we expand the role of geriatric social work in promoting the health of all older adults?
On February 28, 2011, the Council on Social Work Education’s National Center for Gerontological Social Work Education (CSWE Gero-Ed Center) and the John A. Hartford Foundation co-hosted a meeting of more than 30 leaders from business, government, education, philanthropy, health care, and not-for-profit organizations to discuss these and other timely questions related to the aging of the baby boomers within the context of chronic care, rising health care costs and health care reform.
The meeting provided an engaging venue to discuss how social work is central to integrated and cost-effective models of care and to examine how providing better support to older Americans can be transformed into a compelling cause. Participants agreed that social work has a vital leadership role related to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, accountable care, community-based innovations in prevention, and cross-professional coalitions. New approaches to workforce development, delivering social work education, and addressing the increasing diversity of the older population are also critical.
Participants’ overwhelming support for social work’s primary role in health and long-term care will help guide the work of the CSWE Gero-Ed Center in forming new partnerships, charting future directions, and securing additional funding.