Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 2 of 2
Older women and craft: extending educational horizons in considering wellbeing
- Authors:
- MAIDMENT Jane, MACFARLANE Selma
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work Education (The International Journal), 30(6), September 2011, pp.700-711.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Social work education and practice has traditionally been embedded within an understanding and application of theory and method derived from a range of sources. This article argues that fostering health and wellbeing amongst a growing ageing population will require flexible, imaginative and transformational approaches that encourage connectedness and acknowledge interdependence between older people themselves as well as those working in the caring professions. It calls on the findings of a small Australian research study of older women and craft making to explore how learning from diverse disciplines, such as critical gerontology and textile making, can illuminate understanding of wellbeing. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 9 women aged between 54 and 86 sourced from 2 craft groups in a town based in Victoria, Australia. The discussion examines notions of ageing that go beyond a focus on illness and deterioration, to enhance positive and diverse concepts of health in the context of everyday life. It then discuss the implications for social work education, with particular emphasis on ageing, and argue that by engaging with a diverse range of disciplines, social work education will be able to think about, teach and advocate for wellbeing in more expansive and useful ways.
Craft groups: sites of friendship, empowerment, belonging and learning for older women
- Authors:
- MAIDMENT Jane, MACFARLANE Selma
- Journal article citation:
- Groupwork, 19(1), 2009, pp.10-25.
- Publisher:
- Whiting and Birch
This research project explored older women’s experience of involvement in craft groups and the impact of this involvement on their sense of well being. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 9 women who belonged to two craft groups in Victoria, Australia. The two groups differed significantly in size and structure. One had a membership of 76 and included women of all ages; the other had a static membership of 6, all aged over 70. It was found that, while the focus of the groups was on domestic craftwork, the process of coming together as a collective appeared to have significant bearing on the holistic health of the women involved. The process of belonging and contributing to the craft group was a major source of personal support for the women, where reciprocity, friendship, learning and empowerment were derived from being part of the collective. The groups provided an avenue for mutual aid, addressing isolation, affirming individual and collective strength and wisdom, while acquiring new skills, and normalising concerns regarding health and family. Both of the groups contributed vast amounts of time, energy and expertise to raise money and support local charities and people in need. The authors conclude that such naturally occurring community networks contribute a great deal to the health and well being of older women. These low cost groups make significant contributions to the social and cultural capital of the community, while nurturing the lives and achievements of older women.