How to Become a Geriatric Social Worker

According to the World Health Organization, the number of people aged 60 and above worldwide is expected to reach 1.4 billion by 2030, up from 1.1 billion in 2023.¹ As the global population ages, specialized care for senior citizens is in ever-higher demand.

Geriatric social work, a major branch of the social work profession, plays a vital role in improving the lives of older adults. Serving as advocates for social justice, geriatric social workers fight for the rights and interests of senior citizens who may otherwise be at risk of neglect or exploitation.²

Their work goes beyond advocacy. They tailor care plans to the unique physical, social and mental challenges of the aging population. This level of care ensures that older adults get the support they need to live dignified and comfortable lives.² Because geriatric social work can make a positive impact on seniors’ lives, it's a fulfilling career if you're passionate about helping vulnerable individuals.

Read on to learn how to become a geriatric social worker, including the education, licensing and skill requirements.

Education and Training Requirements

You need at least a bachelor’s degree in social work to become a geriatric social worker.³ Training during the undergraduate program focuses on areas such as community planning, social welfare, mental health and the government’s role in social work. This degree, however, qualifies you only for entry-level positions in the profession.⁴

If you want to become a specialist and aim for senior roles in geriatric social work, obtaining a Master of Social Work (MSW) will serve you well. This advanced degree expands your knowledge and improves your skills in working with senior adults. By elevating your expertise in eldercare, a master’s degree helps you stand out as a better hiring choice.^3,4

Licensing and Certifications

Each U.S. state has a social work board that offers one or several license categories, acknowledging different scopes of practice. Requirements vary by state, but in most cases, you have to complete the following:⁵

• Meet minimum education requirements (bachelor’s or master’s degree, depending on the license)
• Pass a licensure exam (usually administered by the Association of Social Work Boards)
• Meet minimum experience requirements
• Pay license fees

After meeting all of the requirements, you become a licensed geriatric social worker. To retain that status, you need to maintain competence through continuing education. Continuous learning keeps you updated on new social work best practices, legal standards and intervention strategies.⁶

Obtaining a social work license is one way of demonstrating your qualifications and credibility. Another way is to obtain additional professional certifications in your field. One of the most reputable certifications for geriatric social workers is the gerontology and palliative care certification, which showcases specialized eldercare knowledge and advanced skills for helping people facing significant aging challenges.

Essential Skills and Competencies

Gerontology and social work require multiple competencies. While the skills discussed below are not comprehensive, geriatric social workers must have all these skills to understand their clients, tailor their care to their needs and defend their rights effectively:^7,8

• Empathy: The ability to step into senior citizens’ shoes gives you deep insight into their experiences and worldviews so you can better personalize your geriatric care to each individual’s unique needs
• Communication: Excellent verbal and writing skills are key for communicating with senior clients and their families, care providers and your fellow geriatric social workers
• Advocacy: Serving as promoters of social justice, geriatric social workers need the ability to argue for their clients, pursue policy reforms that support senior citizens and connect older adults to resources that improve the quality of their lives
• Teamwork: The ability to collaborate enables geriatric social workers to work effectively with teams of other healthcare professionals
• Cultural competence: To work effectively with older adults from different backgrounds, one must be respectful and sensitive to diverse cultural beliefs, histories, values and practices

Areas of Specialization 

In geriatric social work, your responsibilities may vary depending on your area of practice:

1. In hospice and palliative care, geriatric social workers support older adults who are dealing with serious chronic or terminal illnesses. They help clients manage their pain, ease their emotional stress and understand their treatment options.⁹ 
2. At long-term care facilities and nursing homes, geriatric social workers provide emotional support and develop care plans that improve the quality of life for older adults who need around-the-clock support they can’t get at home.¹⁰
3. Community-based and in-home senior care focuses on helping senior citizens living in their own homes or community settings. Here, the role of geriatric social workers includes assessing an individual’s medical needs, developing personalized care plans and monitoring clients’ progress.¹¹

Challenges and Rewards

Geriatric social workers can be exposed to the suffering of older adults and the pain family members go through as their loved ones age. No matter how professional you are, these situations can take a toll on you emotionally. The exposure can make you feel deep frustration, sadness, fear and concern. Switching off from work can be difficult, especially when you're caring for clients with complicated cases or who have no one else to look after them. Overwork often leads to burnout.¹²

Despite these challenges, geriatric social work is hugely rewarding. You experience the joy of making a massive difference in the lives of vulnerable individuals. Improving the quality of life for seniors and helping family caregivers manage the challenges of their loved ones’ old age make geriatric social work more than just a job: It’s a calling that gives you personal and professional fulfillment. This is one of the main reasons to become a geriatric social worker.¹³

Gain the Expertise You Need to Excel in Geriatric Care

Expand your knowledge and obtain the skills you need to elevate your career in geriatric care with an online MSW from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work. Faculty members with real-world experience and deep insight into social work principles designed the program’s comprehensive curriculum. For this reason, our online MSW program prepares you to make a real difference in the lives of the people you serve.

When joining the program, you can choose to include the gerontology and palliative care certification as part of your MSW coursework. Further, with the flexibility of online learning, you can advance your education on your own schedule, without compromising your professional or personal obligations.

Prepare to make an important impact on the world. To get started, schedule a call with an admissions outreach advisor today.