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Being a social worker in homes for the aged: the real, the ideal, and the gaps between
- Authors:
- KOREN Chaya, DORON Israel
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 44(3/4), 2005, pp.95-114.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Various theoretical research studies, both academic and professional, have considered the important role social work plays in institutional settings. However, worldwide, very little empirical research has been conducted to examine how social work actually functions in homes for the aged. The study considered here helps to address this, by describing three key aspects of this issue: (1) the function social workers in homes for the aged in Israel actually fulfill (their “real” function); (2) the role that these social workers think that they should be fulfilling (their “ideal” function); and (3) the gap that separates “the real” (what social workers actually do) from “the ideal” (what social workers feel they should be doing). The study's research findings show not only that a gap exists, but also its essence. In the case of both the real roles social workers play in homes for the aged and what they perceive to be the ideal roles they should play, as well as in the case of the gap between the two, “paternalistic” activities were emphasized far more than “empowering” activities, which advocate or promote autonomy. The data obtained outlines possible future research directions, identified while attempting to understand the factors that contribute to the current reality of care in homes for the aged.
Impact of a social work residential care team on the discharge of hospitalised patients
- Authors:
- LEAHY Debra A., LORDING Penny
- Journal article citation:
- Australian Social Work, 58(3), September 2005, pp.285-300.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The Melbourne Health (MH) Social Work Residential Care Team (RCT) was established in 2002 as a new and innovative approach to aged care. The service employs three full-time social workers and an Allied Health assistant with previous experience in aged care. The RCT works across the MH continuum of care with inpatients recommended for residential care. The service is predominantly patient- and family-focused, but is also consultative to meet the education needs of MH staff and the community. This paper discusses the MH Social Work Residential Care model, reviews data collected since RCT implementation and the benefits shown for patients, their families and interdisciplinary staff. This paper discusses pressures and factors that impinge on the ability to discharge patients to residential care and explores recommendations for ongoing clinical practice as well as recommendations that the RCT has submitted to management for further consideration.
Engaging with the new system of safeguarding adults reviews concerning care homes for older people
- Authors:
- MANTHORPE Jill, MARTINEAU Stephen
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 47(7), 2017, pp.2086-2099.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Adult Serious Case Reviews (SCRs) investigate situations in which harm to or death of a vulnerable adult has occurred, or where abuse or neglect was suspected and local agencies’ responses were deemed in need of scrutiny. Under the 2014 Care Act, in England, SCRs have moved to a statutory footing, being renamed Safeguarding Adults Reviews (SARs). This paper reports an analysis of SCRs concerning older residents of care homes conducted in 2015. While there is a clear forensic methodology for investigating single cases that indicate multi-agency failings of safeguarding, ‘whole home’ or ‘collective abuse’ investigations are difficult to undertake, requiring review of numerous records and consultations. Failure to recognise abuse may reflect professionals’ uncertainties about thresholds for action when encountering poor care quality or abuse and the exclusion of social workers from involvement with the care and support of care home residents. SCRs sometimes comment on sub-optimal support for care home residents from local social work practitioners or hint at missed opportunities. Reflections on what needs to change in local systems of care and support may include new scope for the development of gerontological social work practice. (Publisher abstract)
Facilitating transition from hospital stay to nursing home admission: a hospital-based long-term care ombudsman program
- Authors:
- COX Carolyn, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 52(8), November 2009, pp.849-858.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The Older Americans Act requires all US states to establish Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs in nursing homes and personal care homes to resolve complaints of residents in nursing home or residential care facilities, but does not specify that hospitals that have special beds to provide skilled nursing care need such programmes, although many of these hospital patients subsequently enter a nursing or personal care home. This article describes how a medical centre in Missouri established a hospital-based Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program to address the need for patient advocacy in its skilled nursing facility, and looks at specific actions social workers can take to facilitate the establishment of such a programme in a hospital-based long-term care unit.
Empowerment in residential care for the elders: the case of an aged home in Hong Kong
- Authors:
- MOK Bong-ho, MUI Anita
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 27(1/2), 1996, pp.23-35.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
While empowerment is practised largely in oppressed communities of minorities, women and the disabled, it is an extremely useful concept and approach for social work practice in residential settings that are under undue bureaucratic and profession control. This article describes a pioneering empowerment project in a residential home in Hong Kong, which aimed at assisting residents to conquer their feeling of powerlessness and to speak up for themselves to improve their quality of life in the home. Argues that given the opportunity, residents of the home are willing and able to bet involved, organised and mobilized to promote their own well-being, and staff are able to see the positive side of empowerment and not feel threatened.
Implementing functional assessment in older adult care: the experience of direct care staff
- Author:
- SPENCE William
- Journal article citation:
- Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 12(4), 2011, pp.197-209.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The Revised Elderly Person's Disability Scale is a 53 item functional assessment tool. This paper reports on a study exploring the views of qualified and unqualified staff on its use across NHS, local authority and private residential older adult care facilities in one local authority area. The study used an action research approach where findings were used to further develop services. The article presents findings from structured and semi-structured interviews with a total of 20 care staff qualified in nursing or social work and 9 unqualified staff, in older adult care institutions. It includes examples from the interviews. Participants reported that use of the scale contributed positively to the planning and delivery of care, that it proved straightforward to use, that there were benefits in client assessment, and that it contributed to the identification of staff training needs; unqualified staff reported their greater involvement in the care planning process as a result of its implementation. The article discusses the findings, including implications for staff training, and concludes that use of the scale is shown to have the potential to contribute to care improvement.
By invitation only: social work involvement at the end of life in long-term care
- Authors:
- MUNN Jean Correll, ADORNO Gail
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life and Palliative Care, 4(4), 2008, pp.333-357.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia
Three focus groups consisting of 3 to 5 social workers from long-term care facilities in North Carolina were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide to examine how they viewed their roles with dying residents. Each group included social workers from both nursing homes and assisted living facilities and some social workers who were responsible for residents at both levels of care. Of the 11 focus group participants, 9 were female. Nine reported some training in care for persons at the end of life. The study found that long-term care social workers had difficulty articulating a clear role in dealing with residents and families of residents at the end of life, desired to become more involved, and encountered barriers associated with involvement. They were most likely to become involved at the request of nursing staff. Social workers also found hospice involvement positive, but expressed some difficulty integrating this service. Time and space were elements that influenced involvement. The authors comment that lower social worker to resident ratios, clearer articulation of the social work role, and additional end-of-life content in social work education are recommendations that are supported by these data.
Civic engagement for nursing home residents: a call for social work action
- Authors:
- ANDERSON Keith A., DABELKO-SCHOENY Holly I.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 53(3), April 2010, pp.270-282.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
It has been shown that older people benefit emotionally and physically from continued, or new, civic engagement in their lives. For those in residential care, the opportunities for such intervention are limited and social exclusion may come into play. Societal barriers, such as age discrimination and transportation issues may prevent civic, social inclusion of nursing home residents. This review gives theoretical perspectives on civic engagement (e.g. the value of multiple roles in life for older people in residential care, similar to when they were younger and fully engaged in society), reviews previous research (e.g. on the physical and mental health benefits of volunteering) and explores the challenges and barriers faced by nursing home residents and staff. Good practice does exist in some residential homes, with school programs engaging residents and school children in activities or, for example, the Red Hat Society in the United States which visits nursing homes, encouraging older women to make cards and crafts for individuals, in need, elsewhere in society (e.g. homeless or hospitalised families). The authors claim social work has a formal role to play in promoting such ideas and activities and call for social work professionals, to develop, implement and evaluate interventions that increase civic engagement opportunities for this undervalued, say the authors, group of older people and thereby increase their social inclusion and improve their quality of life.
Social work practice with ethnically and racially diverse nursing home residents and their families
- Editors:
- KOLB Patricia J., (ed.)
- Publisher:
- Columbia University Press
- Publication year:
- 2007
- Pagination:
- 259p.
- Place of publication:
- New York
This book is a companion for service providers who work with ethnically and racially diverse older people and their families in nursing homes and other care settings. It provides demographic, historical, cultural and practice information to facilitate understanding of and providing services to older adults and their families. Individual chapters cover each of the following groups: African American elders; American Indian elders; Chinese American elders; Italian American elders; Japanese American elders; Korean American elders; Mexican American elders; Puerto Rican elders.
Guide to the links between national occupational standards and national care standards for older people in care homes in Scotland
- Author:
- SCOTTISH SOCIAL SERVICES COUNCIL
- Publisher:
- Scottish Social Services Council
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 12p.
- Place of publication:
- Dundee
National occupational standards describe best practice in particular areas of work, are statements of competence, provide managers with a tool for a wide variety of workforce management, quality control and specification tasks and are the basis of training and qualifications.This document matches these standards with National Care Standards for older people in care homes in Scotland.