“It takes a village” is an African proverb that doesn’t just apply to raising children. For Elizabeth Jensen, a Licensed Social Worker and Independent Living Director at Presbyterian Senior Living’s Kirkland Village, the phrase is just as pertinent to those navigating the complications of life in retirement.
At Presbyterian Senior Living, social workers play a key role in that village of support for older adults and their families as they face retirement and life after it. From planning holistic care to providing emotional support and advocacy, social workers ensure that all residents are empowered to live their best lives today and tomorrow and have their ultimate wishes respected.
As we celebrate Social Work Month in March, we honor these professionals who bring expertise, compassion, and dedication to providing quality services in adults’ golden years.
Connecting individuals to services
Elizabeth has nearly two decades of service at PSL. Her passion for working with older adults fueled her decision to pursue social work. At age 16, her first job was making up beds at a nursing home. She fell in love with it and pursued undergraduate and graduate degrees in gerontology before earning her social worker license.
From her early days in home health care to her leadership role at PSL, her focus has remained to help individuals successfully navigate aging. She is now zeroing in on how social workers can partner with the sales team when individuals and families face uncertainty about appropriate living arrangements. By collaborating closely, they can determine if independent living is the right fit and connect individuals with the right residential and care services that meet their unique needs.
“Moving is hard at any age, but the older you are, the harder it gets,” Elizabeth says. “We work closely with residents and their families to ensure a smooth transition, whether they are moving in completely independently or needing additional support.”
Often when Elizabeth has these conversations with potential residents and their families, the first step is to determine what level of care, if any, is required. One of the main challenges families face when planning for retirement is having open and honest conversations about current and future needs. Elizabeth and her team work proactively to bridge these gaps through early discussions and by connecting residents with essential services.
“We have some people come in completely independent and they really don’t have their children much involved in the admissions process. I don’t have a lot of initial involvement with the family in those cases,” she says.
Other times, individuals will move into a PSL community much later in life, when they might have greater needs. At that point, their family usually is much more involved.
“I get them hooked up with all the ways to make the transition a success,” she says.
Whatever stage of life residents are in when they arrive at Presbyterian Senior Living, social workers and the entire PSL team are ready and available to help them make the best choices for their situation.
Advocacy, empowerment, and holistic care
Alicia Fenstermacher, LSW, a Certified Dementia Practitioner who is Vice President of Purposeful Living at PSL, loves being part of the important contributions social workers bring to aging services.
“Social workers follow a strict code of ethics that ensures we approach every resident holistically,” Alicia says. “We assess physical, emotional, social, and environmental factors to create personalized care plans that promote well-being and autonomy.”
Beyond care planning, social workers serve as advocates, helping residents deal with complex health care systems, understand long-term care insurance, and access vital community resources. Their role includes promoting emotional well-being through support groups, offering grief counseling referrals, and overseeing community-building initiatives that create a sense of belonging at PSL communities.
Beyond policy and procedures, Elizabeth and Alicia love knowing they are touching lives in meaningful ways. Working alongside residents, social workers help establish deep connections within the community. While social workers point individuals to resources and help them choose options, often it’s fellow residents who check up on their neighbors, encouraging them to get involved, dropping off meals, and helping them stay socially and emotionally connected.
Elizabeth enjoys seeing how residents support one another in ways that complement formal care.
“We have residents still living independently in their 90s, even with cognitive decline, because their neighbors look out for them and we provide the right support,” she says.
The future of social work in aging services
Families readily see the difference in their loved ones who live in this type of community. Elizabeth appreciates receiving heartfelt thank-you notes and calls from grateful families and residents.
“It’s such a rewarding career,” she says. “You’re not just working with older adults, you’re working with their children, their providers, their entire support system.”
As PSL evolves to meet the needs of an aging population, social workers are at the forefront of ensuring compassionate, resident-centered care. Aging is an integral chapter in life. Alicia has long made it her mission to reduce ageism and advocate for older adults’ rights.
Elizabeth encourages individuals and families who are exploring independent living options to not wait too long before making a decision.
“Come early, when you can still enjoy all the amazing benefits of community life. And have those important conversations about end-of-life wishes,” she says. “It makes all the difference.”
As we celebrate Social Work Month, we extend our deepest appreciation to the social workers who dedicate their lives to helping fill this new season of life with joy and purpose.
