Which healthcare professional determines a resident's needs and helps obtain support services such as counseling or financial assistance?

• A. Social Worker (SW)
• B. Speech Therapist/Speech Language Pathologist (SLP)
• C. Nurse
• D. Dietitian

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is coordinating a resident’s psychosocial needs and connecting them to available support services. A social worker is specifically trained to assess emotional, social, and financial factors affecting a resident, then help obtain resources such as counseling, financial assistance, housing support, transportation, and community or government programs. They also advocate for the resident’s rights and help with planning and accessing services that go beyond medical treatment.

Speech-language pathologists focus on communication and swallowing problems, not on coordinating broad support services. Nurses provide medical care and daily personal care, but they aren’t the primary professionals who arrange counseling or financial aid. Dietitians concentrate on nutrition and dietary plans, not on obtaining external support services. That combination of assessment, resource linking, and advocacy is what makes the social worker the best fit for this role.