ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an account of author's experience in treating Mrs. Ames, age seventy, who was admitted to Mount Sinai Hospital with the diagnosis of cerebral vascular accident, or stroke. In this case, the author's focus was on strengthening both formal and informal support systems. Whether it is the hospital-based home care team, a professional home aide, family members, friends, or neighbors, he feels that the home care social worker’s task is to perform skilled interventions, within a collaborative framework, to help those who have ongoing responsibility for patient care. At the beginning of a social work relationship, a family member such as Mr. Ames can become quite dependent, but the eventual goal is always to strengthen available home supports to function without professional assistance.
