Program Information Description updated: 12/5/10
Program approved for: BASW Senior[ x ] MSW 1st Year [ x ] MSW 2nd Year [ x ]
Parent Agency Name :
Institute on Aging
Agency Phone Number: 414-750-4111
Website: www.IOAging.org
Agency Name:
Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention---Friendship Line
Agency/Program Address:
3330 Geary Blvd. San Francisco, CA 94118
Program Name: Medication Oversight Project (MOP)
Name of Internship Contact Person:
Wendy Withers, LCSW
Contact’s email: wwithers@ioaging.org
Phone Number(s): 415-750-4180x235
Program Description:
The Institute on Aging’s Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention and Grief Related Services (CESP) includes the
Friendship Line (FL), a supportive telephone service established in 1973 to help seniors living alone at home. The Medication Oversight Program was initiated in March of 2008 and is designed to assist older adults adhere more closely to their medication regimen. Medication mismanagement is a primary cause of premature institutionalization of seniors and 30% of all senior hospitalizations is due to medication problems. MOP is an ongoing research project of the IOA, involving a local pharmacy which provides medi-sets, UCSF Pharmacy Students, and many referral sources, such as agencies, hospitals, senior living facilities, etc.
Clientele Served:
The client population served ranges in age from 65 to 100 and is from many ethnic backgrounds and socioeconomic status. The health of clients varies from agile active adults to those who are bedridden or in wheelchairs.
All of them live alone at home and some have various other services provided, such as cleaning, shopping, etc
Mental acuity also varies from sophisticated awareness to early Alzheimers. Disease. Many of them have delightful stories/histories to share and are glad for the services of MOP
.
.Intern Asignments
The student conducts intakes and psychcosocial assessments during home visits . He/She
continues to make home visits to monitor the effects of new medication management and stays in touch with the referring agency He/She may also conduct counseling/therapy sessions with those clients who want and are able to respond to counseling, thereby assuming a small caseload of clients for 1 to 1 counseling. In addition, the student will serve 4 hours a week on the Friendship Line, can observe group therapy, receive weekly individual supervision and monthly group supervision. There are many areas available to students who want to conduct research projects.
During this fieldwork placement, students will be introduced to all administrators and department heads of IOA.
The student is also to attend the professional day long workshops presented by the IOA free of charge. :
Intern Training & Educational Opportunities (See last sentence above.):
The interns will attend an orientation to the entire IOA agency and will attend a day long training for those
volunteers who serve on the Friendship Line. There are many departmental trainings, on topics such as elder abuse,which students may freely attend. IOA receives information about many outside trainings and will notify students about these.
Intern Benefits: (Include stipend, conferences, car, food, etc.)
There is no stipend or other compensation here, but as mentioned, the student can attend the day long IOA Workshops free of charge.. Access to own car is helpful but not required. Also the students will be invited to any and all IOA parties! .
Other Special Placement Procedures or Requirements (Including Dates of Internship, Special Application Forms and Deadlines):
Internships are open beginning June, 2009. An application form will be sent to all interested students and an interview with
MOP Coordinator, Wendy Withers is required. No deadlines.
We are open to having 4 interns here per semester and they can either be BASW’s, and/or MSW first or second year