Within the Johnson County Area Agency on Aging, there is a team of Eligibility and Options Specialists who are comprised of professionals from a variety of educational backgrounds, including social workers.

The EOS team includes 14 staff members and two supervisors.

“When I started college, I majored in advertising and communications but learned that wasn’t the place for me. I shifted my focus a bit, and it wasn’t until I entered the school of social work that I felt at home,” said Lindsey Wurtz, Aging Services supervisor. “I’m so grateful to have found my place because it has led me to working with a variety of populations where I can help instill hope and dignity with people who truly deserve it.”

A typical referral results from an older adult contacting the AAA information and referral team to find out if there is help available. An intake is created summarizing the person’s needs. The intake is assigned to a social worker who collaborates with the individual to determine their goals and steps needed to reach them.

The social worker’s role is to help the client under - stand eligible services while honoring the client’s choice in these matters. They complete an eligibility assessment and then work with the client to choose the specific services they need. The social worker will review with the client their current support system and help them fill in the gaps with contracted home health providers, so they can avoid future injury and remain in their home longer.

Once the social worker connects the client to an in-home service provider, they begin the process of arranging their visits with the agency that best meets their needs. Through the help of the AAA social workers, a person who was once unsure of what to do next, now has a clear plan of care and a lifeline to a social worker who is knowledgeable about local options and resources.

The EOS workers follow a code of ethics which helps guide their work with clients. This code includes service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity and competence.

While the list of ways in which AAA social workers provide interventions is lengthy and diverse, this is just a small glimpse as to the worthwhile and beneficial work that is done daily with the clients they are honored and privileged to serve.