CDA Essentials 2019 • Volume 6 • Issue 7

39 Issue 7 | 2019 | I ssues and P eople  Social workers can help you navigate a facility and introduce you to patients . Social workers are often very familiar with an LTC facility, residents, and schedules. Where I work, a team from the University of British Columbia Geriatric Dentistry Program visits our residents. When the team arrives, I act as a guide and help them connect with the residents.  Social workers can help patients deal with dental anxiety. Oral health treatment can be stressful for many residents. Those with cognitive impairment may not be able to articulate or express their feelings of fear or anxiety. Social workers are professionally trained to provide socio-emotional support and communicate effectively with people with communication challenges. In the course of my work, I get to know residents well, so I often know in advance who may feel dental anxiety. I help residents prepare for Interdisciplinary Collaboration How Dentists Can Team Up with Social Workers In many settings, dentists collaborate with nurses, doctors, dietitians and occupational therapists. Working with social workers can also improve oral health care for patients, especially in long-term care (LTC) facilities. As a social worker, I’ve seen first-hard the benefits—to both dentists and patients—of having a social worker as part of a health care team. dental visits and sometimes accompany them during visits. I provide emotional support suited to each resident’s individual needs, by, for example, holding their hand, giving them verbal reassurance, or asking them to express their feelings. Afterward, I follow up with residents about their experiences.  Social workers can liaise with and support family members of patients. For residents who can no longer make their own decisions about dental care and treatment, family members often step in. This can be difficult emotionally for family members, especially if treatments may cause discomfort or anxiety to residents. I often provide emotional support to family members and help them parse advice from dentists. Sometimes just discussing the pros and cons of an oral health treatment can be very helpful, both practically and emotionally, for a family member who needs to make a decision for a loved one. Theviewsexpressedarethoseofthe authoranddonotnecessarilyreflect theopinionsorofficialpoliciesofthe CanadianDentalAssociation. Karen LokYiWong Karen Lok Yi Wong, BA, MA, BSW, RSW, RTC, CT is a registered social worker and registered therapeutic counsellor, certified in thanatology, in British Columbia, where she practises with older adults in a variety of contexts including long-term care.