Social worker

Counselling and emotional support

• Providing individual, couple and family counselling to help cope with the diagnosis and reduce its impact on their mental health.  For many people, this includes dealing with changes in their identity, and the complex nature of loss and grief.  Social workers can provide counselling to help people to cope with the emotional challenges of Parkinson’s, and maintain the quality of their relationships.
• Offering strategies to manage stress and anxiety related to living with Parkinson’s.
• Validating people’s unique responses to their diagnosis (with particular attention to people from culturally, gender or neurologically diverse communities).
• Recognising symptoms early and arranging early intervention for mental health issues. 

Supporting carers

• Supporting family members and carers to understand and respond to all aspects of the condition and its consequences.
• Providing referrals to carer support services, and respite services (in-home or residential).
• Ensuring access to benefits and entitlements. For example, the Carer Payment
• Managing stress, anxiety, and other emotional challenges
• Promoting the importance of carer self-care

Care co-ordination and case management

• Facilitating access to appropriate health care through referrals
• Advocating for access to other services to which people are entitled

• Developing personalised care plans that address the individual’s specific needs and goals.
• Integrating all professionals and services into coherent, unified approach tailored specifically to each individual.
• Monitoring outcomes and making adjustments to ensure optimal results of care.

Practical support

• Checking with people that the practical supports they are receiving meet their needs, respect their wishes and help them achieve their goals.
• Supporting people to communicate effectively with carers and service providers.
• Negotiation and advocacy with care providers to ensure that services an continue to meet their changing needs for allied health, personal care or accommodation.

Financial assistance

• Providing information on government payments and benefits and helping with the application process. For example, My Aged Care, the National Disability Insurance Scheme and the Carer Payment.
• Monitoring changing eligibility requirements and circumstances.

Maintaining social connection

• Connecting people to Parkinson’s specific support groups for social interaction and shared experiences.
• Identifying local resources and services that can provide additional support appropriate to people’s age, culture, community and situation.

Advocacy

• Advocating for responses to clients’ needs within the health, aged care and disability systems, ensuring their voices are heard and their preferences are respected.
• Ensuring that people receive the level and quality of service and support from either My Aged Care and the National Disability Insurance Scheme to which they are entitled.
• Monitoring care and support services to ensure that they are culturally appropriate, and trauma informed.
• Escalating appropriately when people’s rights are being ignored, including family violence.

Early advance care planning

• Educating people and supporting them through planning for their futures.  For example: Advanced Care planning, and Enduring Powers of Attorney.
• Helping people to create advance care plans or directives and articulate their end-of-life preferences and wishes.
• Discussing and arranging the means whereby any special aspects of those arrangements are to be respected (for example returning to Country; recognising Next of Kin).

How do I access a social worker?

Look to:

• State-based Parkinson’s organisation for advice on local social workers (they may have one on staff).
• Private health providers to identify possible coverage of social work services.
• NDIS or My Aged Care plan supports.
• The Find a Social Worker tool on the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) website, where you can search by location or type of service, to locate a social worker quickly and easily.