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Critical educational gerontology: what has it got to offer social work with older people?
- Author:
- HAFFORD-LETCHFIELD Trish
- Journal article citation:
- European Journal of Social Work, 17(3), 2014, pp.433-446.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Critical educational gerontology argues for a moral goal of learning in later life to develop alternative visions for democratic social change whereby older people are empowered to resist and overcome various forms of discrimination. If the development of critical consciousness within the older people's social movement is an important precursor to critical action where the self is a key site of politicisation, different approaches will need to be developed and fostered within social work with older people. Adopting a learning and educational approach within practice could facilitate a more liberating approach to achieving sustainable support and emphasise self-directed support. Embedding older people's experiences within a critical paradigm recognises the political nature of educational interventions in later life. This paper argues that learning offers a collective and negotiated enterprise with which empowerment could be promoted and older people given more control over their lives in accordance with the core aims of social work. It examines the potential contribution of critical educational gerontology to social work with older people with reference to practice examples and aims to stimulate debate about what is needed to further embed this approach within different models of practice. (Publisher abstract)
Funny things happen at the Grange: introducing comedy activities in day services to older people with dementia: innovative practice
- Author:
- HAFFORD-LETCHFIELD Trish
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 12(6), 2013, pp.840-852.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This paper shares outcomes from the evaluation of a community project where comedy activities were introduced into a day centre for older people with dementia as a result of a partnership between the day centre, a local university and a specialist comedy provider. Four workshops were provided using improvisatory activities and comedy, as a medium to engage older people in reflecting on aspects of their care environment. The main output resulted in a 30 minute ‘mockumentary’ of the ‘Her Majesty the Queen’ visiting the day centre, in the form of a digital reusable learning object to be used by social work and mental health professionals. The evaluation demonstrated some additional outcomes for those involved and highlighted the benefits of laughter and fun in promoting a positive climate. (Publisher abstract)
Tetley's adventures: a multigenerational arts project for people living with dementia and early years children
- Authors:
- HAFFORD-LETCHFIELD Trish, BRIGHT SHADOW
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 16
- Place of publication:
- London
Short report outlining a multigenerational arts based project led by Bright Shadow in partnership with LEYF’s Luton Street Nursery and a site within Notting Hill Extra Care services for older people, during June-July 2015. The report gives a brief overview of the partners involved, describes the activities undertaken during the project and provides a reflective evaluation of the outcomes of the project. The aim of the evaluation was to identify any benefits from the participant’s perspectives, including new skills, 'feel good' factors such as developing friendships, sense of control, sense of achievement and sense of self. Based on the experiences of the project leaders, the report makes some recommendations on the value of intergenerational work in supporting wellbeing of older people living with dementia and community engagement using arts based approaches. The report also highlights the limitations of undertaking time-limited and small scale interventions, which can be difficult to evaluate in terms of their impact beyond the immediate ‘feel-good’ factors. (Edited publisher abstract)