Sometimes social work isn’t just about sitting with a client and talking. There are times when clients need action and have no one close who can help them. One client I have been seeing, for example, is an inpatient for rehabilitation following a stroke. He found himself unable to use the disposable razors offered by the hospital to shave. He wanted an electric shaver but unfortunately he has no family or friends who could pick one up for him. In that moment, in his mind that shaver was the most pressing issue for him and he was stressing about it therefore it was causing a negative effect on his rehabilitation. So I found myself going out and getting the shaver for this older gentleman and that was a relief for him and he could again focus on his rehab.

I have been able to see Crisis Intervention in practice when an elderly lady was admitted to rehab and had gotten an electricity bill in the post. She is a socially isolated client who had only a neighbour that she knew but not well enough to trust with her finances. She was very close to having her electricity turned off due to non payment as she has already been granted extensions previously while in the acute ward of the hospital. After coming to rehab I could see she felt this was a crisis to her and given that she only paid her bills with a bank book and in person at the bank and post office. Paying over the phone or online was not an option. The client certainly was not in any condition to travel to the bank so I used client self-determination and took the client to an interview room and helped her call the bank to find a solution. It is important to not do things for clients who can do it themselves only to help make happen. With the bank/electricity situation sorted this client was able to put her focus back onto rehabilitation.

Another incidence of crisis intervention occurred when an elderly gentleman had his wallet stolen on the hospital ward. His bank card and all his other cards were taken. It was urgent to get his old card cancelled and to get a new one issued. This situation was particularly tough because the client was agitated and angry and certainly didn’t want to be there waiting on hold. I just tried to keep him calm by talking to him and trying to change the subject several times. I started to get a headache and felt ill to my stomach. I didn’t think it was related to the situation but later when reflecting on the day I realised that my body signals where telling me I was not comfortable in that situation.

On reflection these are just a few theories I have seen in practice on my student placement at Geriatric Assessment and Rehabilitation Unit.