Social Worker Finds Joy In Working With Baltimore's Elderly
Roland Park Place is the only full-service, accredited not-for-profit continuing care retirement community also known as a CCRC or life-care community, in Baltimore City. As such, it offers a continuum of care from independent living, to assisted living to comprehensive and skilled nursing care, all of which are available to Baltimore's senior community. It offers more than 200 residences and is non-denominational.
Katie Miller, LCSW-C has worked at Roland Park Place since 1992 specializing in gerontology and dementia care. Her prior background includes a B.A. in social work from McDaniel College and an M.A. from the University of Maryland School of Social Work. She has also had to meet the requirements of the State of Maryland to obtain and maintain her LCSW-C licensure.
What inspired you to get involved with caring for the elderly?
"I've been around long-term care all my life and always enjoyed being around older adults. My mother was a social worker, my grandparents were administrators of a nursing home, and my father then took over the facility from my grandfather. Given my family background and experience in long-term care, it felt like a really natural fit."
How does your educational background relate to your current role?
"My social work education taught me to look at the 'big picture' when working with a person or family and to put together the pieces of people's lives to understand all of the influences on their decisions. I was also taught to evaluate the different roles each person must assume each day to get a sense of who they are and what it is they are dealing with in the current crisis."
How has your education helped to further your career and contribute to your success?
"Continuing education keeps me informed of the current and best practices in the ever-changing landscape of social work. I also get to learn innovative ways of providing care. Continuing education also gives me an edge on any medical advancements."
"For example, the latest focus within the long-term care industry is what we call 'person-centered care.' We are encouraged to not only meet someone's basic physical needs, but also to prioritize compassion, dignity, respect and shared decision-making, something we social workers advocated all along!"
What is some advice you can offer others looking to go into social work specializing in elder care, geriatrics, or long-term care?
"I think people shy away from working in eldercare because it seems sad and depressing. To find the joy and fun, you really need to get out there and see it. People who are interested in working with older adults really need to visit sites - either an adult day care program, long-term care facility or a continuing care retirement community to get a look at the opportunity and rewards available."
Susan Brown originally spent many years in banking/finance before confronting her addictions. She has now been in recovery for 20 years. Her current interests, in which she has several certifications, are metaphysics and the healing arts. She has written for Examiner.com since 2009 and also writes for Om Times.