Social Service staff begin at admission by obtaining a complete social history and performing a full psycho-social evaluation of the new resident. A key responsibility in this early time is to assist the resident and his family in adjusting to the new life within Silvercrest. Education regarding patient rights, health directives and healthcare proxies is also of prime importance.

Social workers actively participate in the formulation of the comprehensive Clinical Care Plan (CCP) and facilitate communications between providers from different disciplines and the resident and family. They also are valuable counselors to residents and work together with psychology and psychiatry staff on various resident mental health issues.

Young residents can have particular problems adjusting to life within an extended care facility. To help address this problem, the social service team provides a young people's support group. Using this as a model, plans are under way to develop a similar forum for the families of residents in the dementia program.

Social Services also conducts the monthly "Residents' Council," attended by all interested Silvercrest residents. Here, broad education programs are presented, and feedback from any and all interested parties is chronicled. The quarterly "Family Council" allows residents and their loved ones to hear from department heads on a rotating basis, and gives all the opportunity to ask questions, express concerns and network with others.

Among Silvercrest's special resources is a full-time, nurse/case manager who works with Social Services to coordinate resident discharge and post-discharge care. Social workers carefully follow up to make certain that discharged residents receive all appropriate services once they are home.

The Division of Social Services shares Silvercrest's institution-wide commitment to education. Director Robert Herel has instituted a Social Service internship in cooperation with Stoney Brook University to provide young professionals-in-training with the needed experience in extended care practice. Also, in anticipation of a future geriatric fellowship at Silvercrest, the Social Services division has constructed a blueprint to be used in the training of young physicians needing education in the role of social services in extended care.

News bureaus describe the aging of the "Baby-Boom" generation as the "graying of America." Silvercrest is poised to do its part in the education of those who will see to the needs of this group, providing comfort, dignity and support.