Nursing home social worker vs social worker

The differences between nursing home social workers and social workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a nursing home social worker and a social worker. Additionally, a nursing home social worker has an average salary of $51,130, which is higher than the $50,102 average annual salary of a social worker.

The top three skills for a nursing home social worker include social work, nursing home and care plan. The most important skills for a social worker are social work, patients, and patient care.

Nursing home social worker vs social worker overview

	Nursing Home Social Worker	Social Worker
Yearly salary	$51,130	$50,102
Hourly rate	$24.58	$24.09
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	121,833	77,340
Job satisfaction	-	4.5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age	45	45
Years of experience	2	2

What does a nursing home social worker do?

A Nursing Home Social Worker works closely with the residents of a nursing home to identify their various needs and develop adequate assistance strategies. Their responsibilities include: treating the emotional, behavioral conditions and problems, assessing new clients to come up with a treatment plan that addresses determined needs, offer adjustment support for those that lack family support, facilitating group activities that encourage interaction with other residents, and conducting administrative tasks that are crucial to the day to day operations of a nursing facility.

What does a social worker do?

Social workers help their clients get through problems that they may be facing. Social workers help identify individuals or groups of people, usually families, who may need assistance, generally through a set of pre-determined criteria. They then determine the best ways to help their clients by interviewing them, getting to know them, and understanding the context of their lives. They create plans that will help their clients become better, such as integrating into a new environment, assisting them in their needs, or even rescuing them from their current place. Social workers have good interpersonal skills and communication skills.

Nursing home social worker vs social worker salary

Nursing home social workers and social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Nursing Home Social Worker	Social Worker
Average salary	$51,130	$50,102
Salary range	Between $39,000 And $66,000	Between $37,000 And $67,000
Highest paying City	-	Portland, OR
Highest paying state	-	Oregon
Best paying company	-	Health Advocates
Best paying industry	-	Government

Differences between nursing home social worker and social worker education

There are a few differences between a nursing home social worker and a social worker in terms of educational background:

	Nursing Home Social Worker	Social Worker
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common major	Social Work	Social Work
Most common college	University of Southern California	University of Pennsylvania

Nursing home social worker vs social worker demographics

Here are the differences between nursing home social workers' and social workers' demographics:

	Nursing Home Social Worker	Social Worker
Average age	45	45
Gender ratio	Male, 16.9% Female, 83.1%	Male, 19.5% Female, 80.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 19.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 3.3% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	Black or African American, 19.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 3.3% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	13%	13%

Differences between nursing home social worker and social worker duties and responsibilities

Nursing home social worker example responsibilities.

Assist resident and families with Medicaid applications, as well as, assist with Medicare.
Assist residents with Medicaid applications and coordinate related appointments.
Counsele veterans and Medi-Cal clients individually to provide behavioral interventions in order to address their anxiety, depression and anger.
Conduct unannounce alternating monthly visits with CNH and monthly visits with RCH.

Social worker example responsibilities.

Assist clients in achieving treatment goals such as anger, ADHD, grief, social skills, and manners.
Lead and co-le CBT and DBT skills-base groups with participants, as well as relapse prevention, mindfulness and process groups.
Support patient questions and issues regarding Medicare ESRD entitlement and Medicaid and assist in the completion of the appropriate documentation.
Coordinate IPU discharge planning patients to SNF, ALF, PCH or in-home care with necessary support for care.
Facilitate relationships with AKF and other patient assistance programs, VA, Medicare, Medicaid and other insurance providers.
Complete Medicaid and Medicare applications as needed.

Nursing home social worker vs social worker skills

Common nursing home social worker skills

Social Work, 50%
Nursing Home, 27%
Care Plan, 8%
MDS, 7%
Discharge Planning, 3%
Home Health, 2%

Common social worker skills

Social Work, 30%
Patients, 15%
Patient Care, 5%
MSW, 4%
Discharge Planning, 4%
Home Health, 4%

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Community and Social Services Industry
Nursing Home Social Worker
Nursing Home Social Worker vs Social Worker

Updated January 8, 2025

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