亚色影库

While studying psychology as an undergraduate at the University of San Francisco, Conor McDermott Welch, MSW 鈥�20, took a class鈥擜dulthood and Aging鈥攖hat set him on a path to Boston College School of Social Work (亚色影库SSW) to pursue a master鈥檚 degree in social work with a clinical specialization focused on Older Adults and Families.

In that life-changing class, McDermott Welch learned from U.S. Census data that by 2050, the number of Americans aged 65 and older was projected to be 88.5 million, more than double the 2010 projected population of 40.2 million. His professor postulated that due to an ageist and death-phobic culture in the U.S., the country would be financially, spiritually, and emotionally unprepared to deal with this reality. Confronted with this startling information, McDermott Welch knew he wanted to be part of the solution.

To that end, he opted to pursue an MSW and become a social worker rather than a mental health counselor. As he sees it, the field of social work is ideally suited to advance his goals of working with seniors and with the institutions that shape macro policies that affect this population.

After his first semester at 亚色影库SSW, McDermott Welch applied to the Spier Fellows in Aging program. He was one of five MSW students selected for its inaugural cohort. The program鈥攍ed by Associate Professor Christina Matz鈥攁ims to 鈥渇oster excellence in geriatric social work education and to build a workforce of trained social work professionals who can support the health and well-being of our rapidly aging population.鈥� McDermott Welch is grateful to be a Spier Fellow. 鈥淚 value being able to rely on and learn from a tight community of students, professors, and professionals with shared values but different perspectives and experiences,鈥� he says.

As a Spier Fellow, McDermott Welch spends three days a week working with seniors: two at the Brookline Senior Center, which is part of that town鈥檚 , the organization responsible for planning and providing comprehensive services in collaboration with other town agencies and community service providers to improve the quality of life for Brookline residents aged 60 and older. He also spends one day a week at the (HSL) independent residences in Brookline. HSL鈥攁n affiliate of Harvard Medical School鈥攊s the largest nonprofit provider of senior health care and living communities in New England.

McDermott Welch provides one-on-one support to seniors鈥攐ften male clients鈥攁s he is the only male social work intern at both organizations. He conducts informal needs assessments to determine which services his clients require and then helps them engage resources aimed at preserving their independence, such as help paying bills, home health assistance, transportation, or food delivery.

Beyond delivering practical guidance, providing companionship and emotional support are paramount to his work. 鈥淚 start by building a trusting relationship,鈥� says McDermott Welch, who considers trust a critical component for a productive relationship with his clients. 鈥淪ometimes the flood gates open up and I am privileged to hear incredible life stories.鈥� McDermott Welch recounts the time a client, whom he was helping deal with caregiving issues for his wife with Alzheimer鈥檚, shared intense stories about his role as a soldier in WWII.