Social Workers: Essential Members of the Caregiving Team

Social workers: different roles and specialties

​Most people encounter social workers in hospitals, particularly during discharge planning. But the profession extends far beyond that setting. “Like other health care professionals, social workers often specialize — whether in child welfare, medical care or mental health — and practice in hospitals, social service agencies, private practice and community organizations,” explains Jodi Kay Benusa, founder of USA Geriatric Services.​

Because caregiving intersects with medical, emotional, financial and sometimes legal concerns, families may work with social workers across multiple specialties. The types of social workers caregivers are most likely to encounter include:​

Geriatric social workers. These social workers are trained to support older adults and their caregivers through the challenges of aging. Many times, they conduct a psychosocial assessment to identify your loved one’s emotional, social and mental health needs, as well as any medical factors affecting their well-being, which helps them guide you. They help families understand what to expect as their loved one’s needs change, navigate long-term care planning and access community resources. These professionals can assess a loved one’s ability to live independently, advise on housing transitions such as moving to assisted living and provide guidance on age-related conditions like dementia.​

You can find geriatric social workers in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities and community organizations. In private practice, they typically deliver individualized, ongoing support and guidance on a direct-pay basis, usually covered by insurance.​

“When families don’t know what to do next or where to turn, I help identify what’s missing and connect them to the right support,” says Stephanie Muskat, a private-practice social worker and host of the Caregiver’s Compass podcast.​

Medical social workers. They work in health care settings such as hospitals or rehabilitation centers to support caregivers with medical challenges, including managing care transitions, treatment plans and insurance issues. They handle discharge planning, ensuring necessary equipment and services, such as oxygen, hospital beds or home health aides, are in place, and act as a bridge between caregivers and medical teams to keep care clear and coordinated.​

Because social workers are employed by hospitals and other institutions, some families assume their primary loyalty is to the organization’s bottom line rather than to the patient. While they are constrained by institutional policies, social workers act as a liaison between the health care team, hospital, patients and caregivers.​

Hospice and palliative care social workers. They support caregivers of those with serious or life-limiting illnesses, including during end-of-life care. They help families navigate difficult decisions and logistics such as advance directives, DNR orders and funeral planning, while also providing emotional support. Their role is to ease caregiver stress and help families through the grief process. These social workers are most often found through hospice agencies, hospital-based palliative care teams and community hospice organizations.​

Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs). A licensed clinical social worker is a mental health professional able to provide psychotherapy and emotional support. For caregivers, LCSWs help address burnout, anxiety, depression, chronic stress and complicated grief, while also supporting caregivers through guilt, role changes and the emotional toll of caring for a loved one.​

“It is crucial to find someone with a specific ‘caregiver lens.’ A therapist might be trained in general mental health but fail to understand the unique nuances of the caregiving experience, such as the specific types of grief, guilt and shame involved,” says Muskat. “Caregivers often feel invalidated when a professional doesn’t understand the emotional complexities of their role.”​

LCSWs can be found in hospitals, hospice and palliative care programs, community mental health agencies, long-term care settings and private practice. In medical settings, they often help caregivers navigate the health care system and major care decisions, while in private practice they mainly provide ongoing therapy and coping strategies. Because private-practice LCSWs are frequently covered by insurance, they are an accessible option for caregivers who need both emotional support and practical guidance.​

“Different LCSWs are trained in different modalities. Many, including myself, use an integrative approach, combining treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy with grief therapy. This allows us to tailor the therapy to the unique needs of a caregiver, rather than using a one-size-fits-all model,” says Andrea Cangiano, a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in caregiver therapy.​

Community social workers. They are often employed by nonprofits or local government agencies, such as the Area Agencies on Aging, and help caregivers find and access local resources. In addition to making referrals, they often act as care navigators, helping families understand eligibility rules, complete applications and coordinate services across multiple programs. They connect caregivers to respite care, transportation, support groups and financial assistance and can also help with practical needs such as home modification programs. They’re especially helpful for identifying low-cost or state-funded services that caregivers may not realize are available. Because most private-practice LCSWs are frequently covered by insurance, they are an accessible option for caregivers who need both emotional support and practical guidance.​

Specialized support for specific needs

​While many social workers can be found in health care or community organizations as well as private practice, you can also find them in places you may not expect or have thought of.​

Elder law practices. They increasingly bring social workers onto their teams to support the “human side” of major legal transitions. While the attorney focuses on contracts and compliance, the social worker helps families manage the practical and emotional realities of these decisions. As Kriseman explains, "A lot of elder law attorneys are hiring social workers to help families navigate the logistics and emotional stress of legal transitions, particularly when someone is on the fence about qualifying for Medicaid to enter a nursing home."​

Religious organizations. Social workers in community settings such as churches and synagogues may lead educational programs, community outreach or long-running support groups that provide a safe space to discuss sensitive topics like caregiving burnout and guilt. They may also offer guidance during crises, helping congregants navigate sudden health changes and related challenges, says Kriseman, who runs a support group through her synagogue.​

Disease-specific organizations. Groups like the Alzheimer’s Association, American Cancer Society and the National Kidney Foundation often employ social workers to support families managing long-term health conditions. They provide dedicated “navigators” who guide caregivers, lead support groups, offer educational resources and help families develop strategies to cope with the ongoing challenges of caring for someone with a chronic illness.​

How to partner with social workers

​Caregivers may work with several social workers over time, each offering guidance, emotional support and practical help as needs evolve. “Hospital and community social workers do incredible work, but they’re overwhelmed,” says Benusa. “When you hire someone privately, you get focused attention and ongoing advocacy, not a one-and-done conversation.”​

If you’re considering hiring a private-practice social worker, make sure they are licensed in your state. “There are people out there who say they can provide certain services, but legally, they can’t,” explains Muskat, adding that not every social worker can support caregivers. “It depends on their experience. Caregivers are often in crisis, and they deserve someone with the right skills and training that meet their specific needs.”​

For Goldberg, hiring an experienced social worker like Kriseman helped him better deal with the unfamiliar territory of hospitals and assisted living facilities. “I’m a lawyer,” he explains. “Why would I know how to navigate this world?”

Kriseman’s background in grief counseling also proved critical. Goldberg’s father was overwhelmed by the loss of his wife, and Kriseman worked with him directly while also advising the staff at his assisted living community on how best to approach him during difficult periods.​

“Having a social worker provided me with so much clarity when everything felt chaotic,” admits Goldberg. “She knew the system, she knew the right people and she helped us make hard decisions with confidence without feeling fear and guilt.”​