Good day class,
My name is Ebony Grier. I am from New Jersey, but have been here in Atlanta for 14 years. I am a wife, a boy mom of 3, and also a dog mom to an old English bulldog named Zoey and a wild little schnauzer named Cane. I love traveling, taking walks to decompress, sushi and Mexican food, and going to the spa. I am currently a senior majoring in social work. After I graduate, I want to go back to school and get a master’s degree in social work. I want to work with elderly patients in particular when I become a medical social worker. I want to be someone who makes older individuals feel acknowledged, appreciated, and respected, since I believe that they frequently require both practical and emotional care. I would be able to counsel patients and their families, advocate for their needs within the healthcare system, and connect them with resources if I worked in this sector. As someone who works in dialysis, I’ve dealt with numerous dialysis patients who have health and mobility issues, and I have personal experience with older people from my family. These encounters have taught me the value of tolerance, support, and advocacy in maintaining the worth and quality of living of senior citizens.Since many of the patients I work with in dialysis are elderly and deal with a variety of health issues, I desire to learn more about how to support older adults more effectively. In order to be more successful in my role, I want to understand how to meet not just their medical needs but also their independence, quality of life, and general well-being.
“Later life” or “older adulthood” signifies a stage in life where people can face greater health issues but also have a wealth of knowledge and experience to pass on, in my opinion. When I hear these words, I picture a period of time when preserving dignity, care, and support becomes crucial to preserving quality of life.
Around age 65, I believe I will be seen as an older adult. By then, I see myself aging gracefully. Even though I am aware that my autoimmune condition might cause health issues, I still want to feel and look healthy. In order to be active and present for my children as well as my future grandchildren, I still intend to look after myself and husband. I envision myself giving back to my community, still traveling when I can, spending time with my family, and appreciating the small things in life. Family get-togethers, witnessing my adult boys flourish in life and knowing that my work and love have benefited the lives of others are the things that will make me happy.
One issue with aging that I worry about is dementia. I’m concerned since it can impact relationships with loved ones, independence, and memory. I’m hoping to reduce my risk and maintain my mental health for as long as possible by continuing to be physically and mentally active, eating healthily, and interacting with others.
Hello. I believe it takes a special kind of person and strength to work with individuals who are going through a difficult stage in their lives. I too have a goal for advocating and speaking up for older adults unable to do so themselves or not having the right of support.
I felt that “aging gracefully” personally. I look at my parents and grandparents and I am amazed at how healthy and young they look, and I hope that for myself. Dementia is a disease seen more and more over the years and I too fear this when thinking about aging.
Hi Ebony,
Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful introduction! I admire your dedication to social work and how your current experience in dialysis has already shaped your passion for serving older adults.
Your commitment to honoring the dignity and quality of life for seniors is inspiring, and I can see how your empathy and advocacy will make you a strong medical social worker.
I also love how you balance professional goals with personal joys like family, travel, and self-care, as it shows the importance of wholeness in our field. I look forward to learning from your insights this semester.
Hi there Ebony,
We must stay in touch! I’m currently in my Master’s program for Social Work. I originally started my career as a dialysis technician, and during that time I realized how much I enjoyed working with the elderly.
As a young mother, I didn’t always have the patience, but over time I discovered that I preferred the paperwork and advocacy side rather than direct clinical work. I transitioned into billing and insurance, and even in that space, I still found myself connecting with older adults.
I truly believe my passion comes from seeing how vulnerable populations—such as children, individuals with diverse needs, and the elderly—are often taken advantage of or treated poorly. I find so much fulfillment in advocating for them.
I also admire how you continue to age gracefully while not letting your autoimmune illness hold you back. That’s inspiring!
Hi Ebony,
I really enjoyed reading your post. It is great that you already have hands-on experience working with older adults through dialysis because that gives you a strong understanding of what they go through. I can tell you truly care about making sure they feel respected and supported which is so important. I also liked what you said about wanting to age gracefully while staying active for your family. That really stood out to me.
Ebony,
I am impressed that you want to pursue hospital social work (or maybe I’m impressed that you have decided) and particularly that you wish to work with older adults. There aren’t many social workers who make that statement, so I say YAY!! To Zoe and Cane, my Sunny (14 year old yellow lab) says hello. There are times when they really are fur babies – no insult to the 3 year old.
Your fear of dementia is shared by many of your classmates, and pretty much everyone who thinks about getting older. Not everyone gets dementia – but aging does slow the memory down. I think you will appreciate the podcast with Jim Fox. It is at times difficult to watch, but I think we will all learn a lot about this disease.
And I think you will enjoy Aronson and Cruikshank, as both of them take totally different approaches to thinking about aging.
I look forward to many conversations.
Dr P