SOCIAL SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS: UTILAZATION AND FUTURE DIRECTION 1
Summary of the Article
The article examines the utilization of social services for the elderly and provides an
overview of the purpose and funding of these services. Social Security is a government program
that provides income to vulnerable people, including seasoned grown-ups. This program is
funded through the FICA, which deducts a tax from workers’ paychecks and is matched by
employers. Medicare is a wellbeing protections program that benefits the elderly and adults with
disabilities. Medicare is a program that has diverse parts that covers healthcare. Medicare Part A
and Part B are funded through Social Security, but recipients pay the premiums (Kero & Ernst,
2019). The article discusses the ethical, legal, and policy implications for social services for
older adults.
Service Delivery Explored
The article explores two main social services available to older adults, Social Security
and Medicare. Social Security is a government program that provides income to powerless
people, including seasoned grown-ups. Social Security was set up in reaction to the lack of
income elderly individuals experience in the 1930’s. Today, Social Security pays out one trillion
dollars yearly to one and six American. There are approximately forty-three million beneficiaries
whose Social Security pays sixty-four billion dollars annually. Social Security pays for this
program by deducting income from workers’ paychecks (Kero & Ernst, 2019).
Medicare Part A covers: hospitalizations, nursing, hospice, and domestic care. Medicare
Part B covers outpatient care, domestic care, therapeutic hardware, and administration care;
however, retirees pay a monthly premium. Some retirees chose to pay for extra benefits known
as Medigap. Medicare Part C is another supplementary healthcare protection that retirees pay for
SOCIAL SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS: UTILAZATION AND FUTURE DIRECTION 2
out of pocket (Kero & Ernst, 2019). Medicare Part D is a supplementary program that covers the
costs of prescriptions drugs.
Human Service Professionals
Human benefit experts support expanded subsidies for the elderly. There are more people
drawing Social Security than paying for Social Security and therefore, the human benefit experts
anticipate a gap in services (Kero & Ernst, 2019). This means that the current system of taxes
and payments may not be enough to sustain Social Security programs in the future. Professionals
are therefore advocating for reform of the funding structure of Social Security so that it can
better meet the needs of an aging population.
Professionals are advocating for increased funding for Medicare and Medicaid. Experts
are pushing Medicare Part C to be subsidized rather than coming out of the retiree’s pocket.
Experts are advocating for increased funding for home and community-based services to elderly
(Kero & Ernst, 2019). The benefit of increasing funding for home and community-based
services is that the elderly can stay in their home and remain independent. Professionals are also
advocating for increased funding of nursing home services so that nursing home residents can
receive quality care. Finally, professionals are advocating for increased funding for programs
that provide mental health services and other forms of support to older adults. These services can
help older adults maintain their mental and physical health, as well as their sense of well-being.
Professionals are advocating for increased funding of social services for older adults so
that they can receive the quality care they need and deserve. This includes advocating for reform
of the funding structure of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, as well as home,
community-based services, nursing home services, and mental health services for older adults
SOCIAL SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS: UTILAZATION AND FUTURE DIRECTION 3
(Kero & Ernst, 2019). By advocating for these changes, human service professionals can ensure
that the needs of an aging population are met.
Recommendations for Service Delivery
When it comes to service delivery for older adults, it is important to understand the
purpose and funding of social programs, explore alternative funding mechanisms for Social
Security, become familiar with Medicare and its components, and explore the ethics, law, and
policy of service delivery. Social Security could be a government program that gives pay to
defenseless bunches, counting more seasoned grown-ups. The program financed through the
FICA needs to be reformed to save the Social Security retirement program (Kero & Ernst, 2019).
When it comes to ethics, the law and policy of service delivery, it is important to understand the
ethical and legal implications of service delivery. It is necessary to explore the policies and
procedures that are in place to ensure the delivery of quality services to the elderly. This includes
ensuring that all social services are provided in a timely manner, and that all services are
provided in a manner that is respectful, responsible, and equitable (Kero & Ernst, 2019).
Ultimately, service delivery for older adults requires a comprehensive approach that
considers the ethical, legal, and policy implications of service delivery. By understanding the
purpose and funding of social programs, exploring alternative funding mechanisms for Social
Security, becoming familiar with Medicare and its components, and exploring the ethics, law,
and policy of service delivery, human services professionals can make decisions about the
healthcare and the funding for their elderly clients (Kero & Ernst, 2019).
Conclusion
SOCIAL SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS: UTILAZATION AND FUTURE DIRECTION 4
Reference
Kero, K., & Ernst, J. S. (2019). Social Services for Older Adults: Utilization and Future
Directions. Med Surg Nursing, 28(5), 323-326.
