Meet Parachute Health Hidden Hero Kristen Mallon, LCSW, a geriatric social worker at Maimonides Medical Center. We were delighted to catch up with her and learn a little about how she got started, what makes her tick, and who her own heroes are.
PH: Where are you from? Tell us a little bit about how you got into this line of work.
KM: I’m from Long Island, New York. My mother was a social worker. I witnessed her daily struggle firsthand and honestly never intended on following in her footsteps. My dream was actually to become an Interior Designer. I had always been very artistic and interested in that field. I was considering it as a career but I realized pretty early on that I needed to do something that felt more rewarding — I wanted to help people on a deeper level.
Midway through college I started taking psychology and social work classes. I was intrigued by the inner workings of the mind and all of the different mental health diagnoses. When I started interning and interacting with people in person, I realized not only that I liked it, but I was really good at it. So in a sense, social work kind of found me.
PH: What’s your favorite part of the job?
KM: My favorite part is being able to see the difference that I make in people's lives. And not only to see it, but to hear it in their own words. Prior to this, I had always worked with children; in foster care, in schools, and in those settings there really isn’t much time for gratitude. It came as such a surprise when my geriatric patients would verbalize how much I’ve helped them and impacted their lives. It feels amazing to hear that.
There are so many examples, but the compliment that touches me the most is when my patients tell me, and sometimes my Medical Director, that I’m a kind person who shows empathy and really cares about their wellbeing. A patient even invited me to her 100th birthday party this past summer, which was incredibly sweet.
PH: Can you explain a little bit about what a social worker does?
KM: Social workers are similar to psychologists in that we provide therapy, but it’s so much more than that, which is what drew me to it. In social work you wear so many different hats and can help people in a multitude of ways.
Social workers are similar to psychologists in that we provide therapy, but it’s so much more than that, which is what drew me to it. In social work you wear so many different hats and can help people in a multitude of ways."
—Kristen Mallon, LCSW
For example, my role in this practice is to ensure we’re treating the patient as a whole person, as opposed to just using the medical model. I focus on what’s going on in their lives mentally, emotionally, cognitively, financially, and socially. Most of our patients are above the age of 80, so I find that a lot of my time is spent tackling tangible things such as navigating through the long-term care/home health aide process, connecting to community resources such as senior centers, transportation programs, legal services, Holocaust survivor programs, etc. Another big part of what I do is order all durable medical equipment for our patients.
Overall, I’d say one of the most important parts of my job is providing caregiver support and education to those caring for our patients with dementia. This diagnosis brings so many challenges to families and caregivers, so I work closely with them throughout a very difficult time.
PH: That must be tough.
KM: It is tough, but I’ve been able to find a good balance. I give it my all while I’m here, but I make an effort to not take my work home with me.
When it comes to dementia, I find that it’s so important for me to advocate as much as I can for this population. In our society, those suffering with this disease are oftentimes treated as if they’re not even in the room. I work closely with caregivers and family members toward meeting their loved one where they’re at. I have a patient who attends an adult day center that I recommended her to. She participates in the dance class there — she loves it. Due to her cognitive status, she actually believes that she runs the dance class, and takes so much pride in it. She tells me all about it, and I listen. When she leaves my office, she’s beaming with excitement and gratitude for being listened to and believed. It’s so simple, but so important.
PH: Sounds like you fit a huge amount into every day. We’re glad Parachute Health has made some aspects of your job easier!
KM: Yes, it was very different before Parachute came along. I would spend hours standing at the fax machine, re-sending documents over and over with no luck. My patients would wait months to receive their equipment.
When I was first introduced to Parachute, it sounded too good to be true. Initially we had some technical difficulties but since then it’s been smooth sailing. I really appreciate the quick response time in the messaging section. But for me the best part is that my patients typically receive their items within a few short days. The doctors love it too; they’re relieved to not have to waste time hand-writing paper prescriptions. It’s been an absolute game changer for our practice.
PH: Tell us about a hero of yours, someone who helped shape who you are.
KM: I would say my grandmother. She was from Puerto Rico originally and moved to New York when she met my grandfather. She and I were incredibly close. I grew up with her, almost like a second mother. Unbeknownst to her, she was a model for me regarding how to treat people. She came from a generation where acceptance wasn’t exactly the norm, but she was warm and kind to every person she interacted with, regardless of who they were. She was so extremely giving and generous, and never expected anything in return. She’d even get mad when we’d buy her gifts! I’ve always been proud of the fact that my energy and qualities are similar to hers, even down to our sense of humor. It makes me very happy.
PH: And how about your favorite superhero?
KM: I’ve always loved X-Men. So I’d say Professor X is probably my favorite superhero. Judging by my obsession with how the mind works, you can probably figure out why. Plus, he always seemed to really care about people, which I like.