Before social worker Valerie Daniel joined Morris Hall, she was a program coordinator at Temple University, assisting grandparents who were raising their grandchildren. She quickly discovered a simple truth. “People are people. No matter how old or how young they are, their issues are the same,” she says. “Everyone wants to feel cared for and secure.”

Q: What is the social worker’s role at Morris Hall?
As a social worker, I help monitor the emotional health of our residents and make sure their social needs are met as well. I am involved in the admissions process and act as a liaison between the staff and their family members. Social workers facilitate family and individual counseling, lead support groups, provide education and identify resources.

Q: What brought you to Morris Hall?
There is a level of care and an intimacy of care you don’t find too many places. The staff here is pleasant and attentive and they understand that Morris Hall is home for our residents. And it’s a beautiful home. It’s comfortable and homey. There is age-appropriate music playing in the halls, like Bing Crosby. It’s the attention paid to the small details that makes such a difference to our residents.

Q: What attracted you to social work?
It’s a natural extension of my personality. My mother will tell you that, as a child, I always brought home people who needed extra care. I took a real fancy to social work because it is such a nurturing profession. I can’t imagine anything more rewarding than taking care of other people.