THE UTILIZATION OF SOCIAL WORK SERVICES IN HOME HEALTH CARE AGENCIES (NURSING HOMES).
Contributors: Walden University.
Published: 1995
Number of pages: 166
Subjects: Social Work.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: This study was conducted to explore the behavioral aspects of home health care agencies and their staff about social workers and the provision of social work services. It examined the relationship of beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions that staff have about social workers and how these affected the availability and utilization of social work services. purposive sampling included 12 Medicare-certified home health agencies throughout the state of Ohio. An administrative interview and a focus group of clinical staff were conducted within each agency using open-ended, structured questions.

Results included eight major conclusions; (a) All agencies had a good working knowledge of the roles, responsibilities, and tasks of social workers in home care. (b) Utilization of social work services were directly linked to staffing and availability, knowledge level of the agency, and if the social worker was treated as a team player. (c) All of the agencies indicated that their social work program was still new and was being expanded. (d) All of the agencies indicated they had very little knowledge of the Medicare standards related to social work. (e) Fifty-eight percent of the agencies reported that recruiting experienced, independent social workers was very difficult. (f) There were community service needs reported in long-term care services such as transportation, meals, day care, chore services, respite, and nursing home beds. (g) Major obstacles in providing social work were lack of knowledge among physicians and the public, lack of knowledge among home care providers, and that social work services were not reimbursed by Medicaid. And finally, (h) policy issues reported were lack of coverage by Medicaid and that social work was still not an independent skilled service.

These findings suggested there was a need to further explore the behavioral aspects of patients and families about social work and even among social workers themselves. In addition there appears to be a serious need for education, training, staffing, and consultation in the area of social work services in the home health care field.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-11, Section: A, page: 4554.

Thesis (PH.D.)--WALDEN UNIVERSITY, 1995.

School code: 0543.