ACSW study plan

Define the core biopsychosocial theories of aging and explain how each shapes social work assessment

Differentiate normal aging changes from pathological conditions across sensory, cognitive, and musculoskeletal systems

Map the continuum of long-term care settings and identify the social worker's role in each

List common chronic conditions of later life and their psychosocial consequences

Analyze elder mistreatment types, risk factors, and mandatory reporting obligations

Apply a capacity and guardianship decision framework to two written vignettes

Summarize Medicare, Medicaid, and community-based service eligibility rules

Identify age-related pharmacokinetic changes and their implications for medication adherence

Contrast curative, palliative, and hospice care philosophies and eligibility criteria

Explain the Medicare hospice benefit structure including levels of care

Describe pain and symptom assessment tools used at end of life

Outline psychosocial and spiritual assessment domains in palliative care

Apply grief and bereavement frameworks to distinguish anticipatory, normal, and complicated grief

Demonstrate advance care planning facilitation steps including health care proxy discussion

Compare case management models and define the social worker's coordination role in end-of-life care

Identify ethical dilemmas in end-of-life decision-making and articulate a resolution process

Conduct a biopsychosocial assessment and write a service plan with measurable objectives

Apply screening tools for depression, cognition, and caregiver burden and interpret cutoff scores

Explain care coordination, referral, and follow-up documentation standards

Differentiate advocacy, brokerage, and case-finding functions in case management

Compare organizational structures and governance models in health and human service agencies

Interpret budgets, cost reports, and productivity metrics to evaluate program viability

Outline supervision, staff development, and performance improvement processes

Identify licensure, accreditation, and regulatory compliance requirements affecting practice

Apply family systems and developmental frameworks to youth and family assessment

Describe child welfare processes including screening, investigation, and permanency planning

Explain screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment for substance use

Differentiate substance use disorder criteria, levels of care, and recovery-oriented approaches

Synthesize all seven domains into an integrated practice framework for older adults with co-occurring needs

Complete timed practice sets weighted to the two heaviest domains

Review missed items and correct knowledge gaps with source citations

Rehearse ethical decision-making across at least three domains