Local social worker receives certification

NORWALK — Norwalk Memorial Home has added a gerontology certified social worker to its care team. Laura Butler, a social worker for the Norwalk Memorial Home and the Fisher-Titus Transitional Care Unit, recently earned her certification for gerontology in social work. "We are very proud of Laura and grateful to have her expertise here at the Memorial Home and (the care unit) for our residents," said John Tucker, director of senior services at Fisher-Titus. "Gerontology is the study of aging, so this credential reflects her specialized training in the processes of aging and the resource available to the elderly and their caregivers." Butler has experience working as a clinical therapist prior to coming to the long-term care setting. She worked in lockdown psychiatric facilities, including geriatric psychiatric units. She joined Fisher-Titus in January. Laura has a master's degree in clinical social work with a trauma focus certification and now, a gerontology certification. "This certification helps me better understand how we can help our residents," Butler said. "In order to meet their needs, we have to understand what it's like for them including any misconceptions and assumptions we have about aging." The gerontology in social work certification required approximately 25 hours of work and covered in-depth application and understanding of the progression of Alzheimer's, death and dying, pain management, spiritual connection, understanding the effects of medications, mental health, signs and symptoms of elderly abuse including neglect as well as theories of what happens as individuals mature. Butler and one other social worker are responsible for discharge planning, care conferences, connecting residents and families to resources, collaborating with the care teams, and resident assessments.