Amanda Smith is the 2025 recipient of the Rutgers-Camden School of Social Work Dean’s Award for Excellence in Social Work.
I am a Rutgers social work student, and I am interested in becoming a mental health clinician in the future. I had the opportunity to work with older and disabled individuals during my undergraduate internship placement, and I have learned so much over this past year! I was able to observe and eventually conduct health risk assessments and home visits. As I established a rapport with the residents at my internship, I began to notice some recurring themes. Although I am not yet a mental health professional, I was able to make some observations about potential areas of concern when it comes to mental wellbeing.
One of the first issues that I noticed was related to ability and chronic health conditions. People of all ages face struggles with their health, and an unwelcome decline in bodily function can cause frustration, distress, or even depression. Arthritis in the hands might prevent a formerly talented chef from being able to cook for themselves. Needing a colostomy bag might seriously damage someone’s self-esteem. It can be difficult to accept new limitations, especially when regaining function might not be a realistic possibility. Our bodies change over time and those changes may impact our sense of identity, which in turn can have consequences on our mental The health and mood.
A second area of concern was that the longer people live, the more likely they may be to accumulate trauma. One person might have survived childhood abuse, experienced violence, and endured a natural disaster. That same person may even have lost a child or spouse. There is simply more opportunity for tragedy to have been experienced in a long lifespan, which means older adults can have quite complex histories. Past events can have a major impact on present thoughts and feelings. Stigma and shame can also shape how a person views their past traumas and whether or not they’ve been able to find peace and healing.
And finally, a topic that truly shaped my internship experience: social connection. Humans are a social species, and having companionship and support is important to overall wellbeing for people of all ages. Unfortunately, older adults are likely to lose members of their social support system as time passes. People grow apart. People move away. People do not live forever. Grief and feelings of isolation can lead to depression and anxiety, among other mental health concerns. A shrinking social circle can really have quite an impact on a person’s mental health, physical health, and resiliency.
In class, we talk a lot about how working with individuals gives us insight into larger issues. I certainly got to experience this firsthand! Because older people tend to have more life experience, the patterns of challenges that I noticed were really highlighted by this population. However, these are problems faced by people of all ages. Some of these topics have even resonated with my own experiences and challenges in life. Grief counseling is an area of personal and professional interest particularly dear to my heart. As my educational journey continues into graduate school this year, I hope to learn how to best support people struggling with issues like these. I have much to learn about therapeutic practice and implementing effective interventions. I will keep what I have observed during my internship in mind as I continue my education, and I look forward to exploring these topics further in my professional future.