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Navigating the Complexities of Senior Care: An Interview with SilverStay's Erin Oczkowski, Clinical Social Worker

Writer's picture: Patrick MishPatrick Mish

Updated: Oct 30, 2024

When a loved one is in the hospital, facing the reality of needing care outside the home, families are often left feeling lost, overwhelmed, and unsure of where to turn. Erin Oczkowski, a Clinical Social Worker with SilverStay, has made it her mission to guide these families through some of the most difficult decisions they'll ever have to make. With  expertise in elder care and complex medical needs, Erin is not just an advocate for patients—she's a lifeline for families navigating the healthcare system's most complicated transitions.


Erin's journey began as a discharge planner and Social Worker in a nursing home. She later moved to the hospital setting as a social worker. In these positions, she quickly realized how challenging it was for families to navigate the healthcare system, especially the complexity of transitioning loved ones from hospitals to long-term care or assisted living facilities. 


"My career expertise is in working with the aging and medically complex population, especially those with dementia, Alzheimer's and other cognitive impairments," Erin explains. "My undergraduate degree in psychology and Master's Degree in Social Work with a concentration in Mental Health, alongside my real-world experience, gave me the tools I need today to help families deal with medical challenges they weren't necessarily prepared to handle and help safely transition their loved ones from one stage of life to another on their own."


Today, Erin's role as a Transitions Specialist at SilverStay allows her to offer critical support, ensuring the best outcomes for patients and their families. Her unique expertise guides families through the often complicated process of managing complex medical needs with care and compassion. 


However, Erin's work does not just positively impact families. She, alongside the team at SilverStay, alleviates the challenges faced by hospital staff trying to coordinate safe patient discharges. 

 

"When I worked in the hospital setting, SilverStay was my partner in helping place patients in appropriate care facilities. The partnership with SilverStay helped me conduct my other day-to-day duties, and I knew SilverStay would help get the transition done well. They would help coordinate the transition in a timely manner while ensuring that everything was done precisely and safely with the patient's best interest in mind."

 

Erin highlights the importance of this partnership, especially since hospitals are designed for short-term, acute care. Prolonged stays can lead to complications—additional illnesses, physical decline, and financial strain. Through SilverStay's services, patients transition to more appropriate care settings like assisted living, freeing up valuable hospital resources and ensuring seniors and other vulnerable populations receive the care they need.

 

"The hospital is meant to be a short intervention for an emergent situation or when patients have a clinical need that can't be addressed in any other setting," she explains. "And it's the most restrictive environment [the hospital], so the patient shouldn't be in that setting long term. Of course, the transition process has challenges, particularly when working with patients and families dealing with complex medical, cognitive and psychosocial needs.”


But the transition process isn't just about logistics—it's about emotions. Erin recognizes how difficult it can be for families to place their loved ones in assisted living or other care settings, especially when they've been the primary caregivers. She recognizes the importance of helping families navigate their changing caregiver roles as they transition their loved one from home to an assisted living or a nursing home.


"There are a variety of emotions involved when families have to make these big transitional decisions," Erin reaffirms. "And you know what I always try to reassure them of is there is no one who can work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and do it alone because being a caregiver is a 24/7 responsibility."

 

As SilverStay continues to grow its staff and expand its partnership reach in the Northeast, Erin is excited for the future. "I'm just always really proud of SilverStay and what we do," she says. "I love our mission and focus of providing solutions for medically and financially complex clients and our guideposts of patient-centered care. It's very important  to me as a social worker."


Through Erin's dedication and the broader work of SilverStay and its team, individuals and their families are finding much-needed support during some of the most challenging times in their lives. SilverStay isn't just about placing patients in facilities—it's about providing a bridge between hospitals and long-term care, giving families peace of mind and a sense of optimism for the future.


If you'd like to learn more about SilverStay, contact placement@silverstay.com, 410-874-8498 or visit https://www.silverstay.com/our-team.

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