Each March, National Social Work Month recognizes the impact social workers deliver while providing services to people of all ages. Social work is at the heart of every program and service DOROT offers to keep older adults connected, engaged and living independently as valued members of the community.
In fact, nearly 28% of DOROT’s staff are licensed social workers who either work directly with older adults individually or in groups or who work across the organization in developing and administering programs and volunteer opportunities.
Critically, the support we provide older adults is strength-based and client-directed, honoring their autonomy and meeting them where they are. Our focus is on advancing the goals older adults have for themselves, fostering connection and community, and helping them access the resources they need.
Below, we hear from some of the incredible social work teams who make our work possible!
DOROT’s Friendly Visiting Social Workers provide training to Friendly Visiting volunteers and provide support to both volunteers and older adults for the duration of their relationship. Here's what some of our Friendly Visitor Social Workers say about their fantastic work and impact:
Tell us a little about your day-to-day as a social worker in this area. What’s your favorite part? Daily, I respond to various concerns and inquiries from volunteers, older adults, and colleagues. The favorite part of my day is knocking on my older adults door and being able to be the warm, first face of DOROT for many people. Its always an adventure and a chance to get to know a story personified!
What’s one word you’d use to describe this role’s impact on yourself and others? Enlivening, Listening, Possibilities, Profound
How are the older adults you work with feel as we mark the third year of the pandemic? While many older adults are comfortable welcoming others into their home or attending onsite programs, there are many others who are unsure if they want to and may feel more comfortable in their own space. Regardless of where each individual stands, I am grateful for the opportunity to support all of my clients where they are at.
For DOROT Westchester's Social Work team, working outside of a city life environment with fewer commuting and transportation options can affect building connections with older adults.
How does working outside of a city life environment affect your work with older adults? The challenges of a suburban setting are indeed factors of our social work in Westchester. We rely on cell phones, GPS, and a tank of gas to make face-to-face connections in the homes! Transportation (and rush-hour traffic) is always a consideration. But phone connections help bridge the geographic challenges. When DOROT expanded to Westchester over 15 years ago, we started a Telephone Friends program that has remained an instrumental way to connect older adults with volunteers who are not necessarily close in location to each other. And the silver lining of the Covid Pandemic has been to open the myriad online programs to our Westchester older adults who are otherwise unable to travel to participate in them.
What's your favorite part of your role? One of my favorite parts of my social work role is making matches between volunteers and older adults for our Telephone Friends and Friendly Visiting programs -- when I find a point of connection that is unique and meaningful. I have matched people who attended the same high school; who speak a common language, including: French, Polish, Russian and Polish; who were both teachers; or who enjoy going to dance performances. These connections bring great joy to both the volunteer and the older adult.
What’s one word you’d use to describe this role’s impact on yourself and others? Fulfilling, Gratitude, Compassion, Understanding
For our Synagogue Social Workers, their day to day means working closely with local synagogues on programs for their communities.
Tell us a little about your day-to-day as a social worker in this area. What’s your favorite part? Being a social worker in Synagogue Partnerships means variety. From running groups for seniors living alone, to one-on-one home visits and zoom visits, to supervising Pastoral Interns to planning programs for our synagogue communities, I can use so many skills and aspects of my professional self. The one-on-one work is the most treasured aspect of job, as I feel like I can really enter the world of the older adult that I am working with, to try to understand who they are and how we can work together to improve their life.
What’s one word you’d use to describe this role’s impact on yourself and others? Compassion
What have you learned from working so closely with community partners? Each one of our partners has its own unique character. By spending time getting to know our communities through their key stakeholders, we can tailor our support to older adults and caregivers within those communities. I have great admiration for the caring committees and clergy within our synagogue partners for elevating the needs of their older adult congregants and for investing in a partnership with DOROT. It’s an honor to partner with our synagogue communities and to build synergies that build on each of our strengths.