Along with the estate planning attorney, life insurance underwriter, and medical professionals, a successful estate planning team should also include social workers.  Because the entire estate team revolves around the client, it is vital to consider every option you may need in the future.  Although you may be healthy and vibrant at the time you establish your estate, it is impossible to predict our health needs in the long-term future.  As the old adage goes, hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

              Often, people confuse the roles of a social worker and a case worker.  There is, however, a marked difference between the two.  A case worker deals only with cases that are assigned to her from an employer.  A social worker, on the other hand, offers a broad range of services to her clients including emotional support and any other services a client may need.  Most social workers hold a bachelor, master or doctoral degree.  Most states require licensure for practice and offer credentialing programs for advancing their practice.  Since social workers work for the best interests of their clients, they may intervene in multiple situations by providing individual, couple, or family counseling while working with community groups to help in the development of resources to assist clients in meeting their own needs.  Social workers can offer a plethora of referrals that will assist and enhance adaptations needed by a client for any acute or chronic conditions.      

              Without the help of social workers, finding the correct information and help can be difficult.  When Jim, a forty-six year old computer consultant, was informed by his doctor that he was showing signs of insulin resistance, Jim did not know where to turn for help.  He found on an internet search that insulin resistance is the beginning stages of diabetes.  His doctor advised that Jim lose weight, however, Jim needed much more support.  A social worker intervened in Jim’s case and provided him with the needed resources to fight diabetes.  The social worker provided Jim with a support group to help guide Jim in the process of fending off the disease.  The social worker also provided Jim with a dietician who educated Jim on how to change his diet and develop a food plan that would help him achieve his goals.  With these additional resources from the social worker, and the guidance of his doctor, Jim was able to lose forty pounds and keep the disease of diabetes at bay.

              The psychosocial assessment that is taken during the establishment of the estate provides the basis for a social worker’s intervention.  The written assessment evaluates a client’s resources, strengths, and support systems.  The assessment helps a social worker to determine your needs based on the following:

• Past coping behaviors
• Family support
• Living arrangements
• Education level
• Employment
• Leisure interests
• Financial situation              

With the assessment, social workers are also able to address the client’s emotional response and reaction to illness, the impact of a disease on the family, the effect on the client’s relationships and duties, as well as any other personal or social problems. 

              One vital role of the social worker on the estate planning team is that she provides information for other health care professionals.  With the social worker’s connections to the community, she can help other health care professionals in your treatment and management.  The social worker is also able to help guide you through the health care system, which can be a harried and frustrating experience, to say the least.

              While the importance of social workers on an estate planning team is often overlooked, they are a vital presence that can help to guide your future.  Because you are the general manager of your own estate planning team, it’s important to assimilate all the needed members that will best suit you if or whenever that time may come.  Considering all the options of your future health can be disheartening, however, it will bring you peace of mind to know that you have adequately assembled all the needed components of the team for your comfort and financial well being for many years to come.