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Social work practice with older people
- Author:
- RESEARCH IN PRACTICE FOR ADULTS
- Publisher:
- Research in Practice for Adults
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Place of publication:
- Dartington
Online resource providing a range of practice tools to support social work with older people. The tools focus on the case study of a retired couple who are dealing with the consequences of ageing. The case study moves through seven time periods as their circumstances change and the responsibilities for caring develop. The resource includes an action planning tool and a critical reflection tool. An introductory webinar outlines how to use the resource. (Edited publisher abstract)
Best practice with older people: social work stories
- Authors:
- JONES Karen, WATSON Susanna
- Publisher:
- Palgrave Macmillan
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Pagination:
- 216
- Place of publication:
- Basingstoke
Social workers often have to handle a great deal of negativity in their working lives. This book celebrates social work practice at its most positive and influential and, in doing so, contributes to a growing literature on critical best practice. Focused on 12 unique and compelling stories of social work with older people, the book is arranged in four parts covering these themes: relationships; working creatively in organisations; difference and disagreement; and rights, risks and good judgement. The authors provide a fresh and realistic insight into life as a social worker, and the dilemmas and difficulties that practitioners typically face. They illustrate how knowledge, theory and research are integrated in professional decision-making and action. They show social workers analysing their own cases, and include reflective questions to help readers formulate their own learning, thereby to develop their own practice. This book provides students on qualifying courses with an invaluable perspective on real life practice, and gives qualified practitioners the opportunity to reflect on and better their own practice. (Edited publisher abstract)
A role for social workers in improving care setting transitions: a case study
- Author:
- BARBER Ruth D.
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Health Care, 54(3), 2015, pp.177-192.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
High 30-day readmission rates are a major burden to the American medical system. Much attention is on transitional care to decrease financial costs and improve patient outcomes. Social workers may be uniquely qualified to improve care transitions and have not previously been used in this role. The authors present a case study of an older, dually eligible Latina woman who received a social work driven transition intervention that included in-home and telephone contacts. The patient was not readmitted during the six month study period, mitigated her high pain levels, and engaged in social outings once again. These findings suggest the value of a social worker in a transitional care role. (Edited publisher abstract)
Promoting advance care planning through the National Healthcare Decisions Day initiative
- Author:
- BLACK Kathy
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life and Palliative Care, 6(1-2), January 2010, pp.11-26.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia
National Healthcare Decision Day (NHDD) is a nationwide campaign aimed at increasing advance care planning among adults throughout the US. The goals of the initiative are to encourage Americans to express their wishes regarding future healthcare decision making; to rally a national media campaign to promote the importance of planning in advance for care; and to mobilise national, state, and community organisations to develop a wide range of educational activities. The movement culminates in an annual day of multiple events throughout the country designed to inundate the public about advance care planning. Since its inaugural event on April 16th 2008, NHDD has been a growing success. In this article the author describes the initiative and discusses the importance of advance care planning. The role of social workers in advance care planning and the promotion on NHDD is discussed. A detailed description of a successful event conducted in a suburban Southeastern community is provided to illustrate the activities and roles performed by social work. The author comments that social workers have much to offer people and their families, their respective organisations, and their state and the nation in advancing the goals of advance care planning through the NHDD.
Listening: a psychosocial intervention in an end-of-life case of trauma and emotion in the “space” of a residential care facility
- Author:
- ROBERTSON Matra
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life and Palliative Care, 4(3), 2008, pp.214-228.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia
The author examines the context of social work practice in end-of-life care by describing and discussing her interview experience with an elderly patient who was reported as depressed, hopeless and suicidal after being placed in residential care. The patient had ischemic heart disease and congestive cardiac failure. The role of listening to the patient is stressed. The author comments that for individuals at the end of life who experience hopelessness, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicidal thoughts, psychosocial factors of their health care and even the arrangement of their living spaces in the hospice or residential care facility environment may contribute to their anxiety. In order to challenge those institutional interventions in end-of-life care that may pathologise those experiencing hopelessness the author suggests that social workers in palliative care reconsider and advocate for the place of listening. She emphasises the need for social workers in palliative health care to recognise the delicate nature of the relationship between hope, place and trauma to enhance care for both the dying person, and their families.
First do no harm
- Author:
- THOMPSON Neil
- Journal article citation:
- Social and Public Policy Review, 3(1), 2009, Online only
- Publisher:
- University of Plymouth
- Place of publication:
- Plymouth
Social work has for some considerable time professed a commitment to empowerment as a fundamental value. However, professing a value and making it a reality as a genuine underpinning of practice can be two different things. This paper presents an account of a case in which the actions or inactions of social work staff left individuals feeling distressed, disempowered and traumatised. The dissatisfaction in the case arose due to a lack of liaison and lack of a thorough assessment and the failure of authorities to respond adequately to complaints made. By describing and analysing the actions taken, the paper shows how a lack of genuine commitment to empowerment can have extremely detrimental effects. In doing so, it exposes the dangers of forms of practice that are not person-centred or based on partnership. Lessons are highlighted in the areas of case records, assessment, managing conflict, personal/professional boundaries, recognising grief, and providing information.
Female caregivers' reflections on ethical decision-making: the intersection of domestic violence and elder care
- Authors:
- KOENIG Terry L., RINFRETTE Elaine S., LUTZ Wendy A.
- Journal article citation:
- Clinical Social Work Journal, 34(3), September 2006, pp.361-372.
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Place of publication:
- New York
As our population ages, increasing numbers of social workers and other therapists will provide counselling to women who are caregivers of frail elders. These female caregivers often face complex ethical dilemmas in caring for a frail elder. Furthermore, these dilemmas are compounded by domestic violence in the caregiver/frail elder relationship initiated before the onset of caregiving. Illustrated with case examples, this article presents an ethical decision-making model based on an empowerment framework for helping practitioners work with caregivers who face difficult dilemmas impacted by domestic violence. Implications for strengthening clinical practice with these caregivers are discussed.
Challenges to providing end-of-life care to low-income elders with advanced chronic disease: lessons learned from a model program
- Authors:
- KRAMER Betty J., AUER Casey
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 45(5), October 2005, pp.651-660.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This American study explored the challenges in providing end-of-life care to low-income elders with multiple comorbid chronic conditions in a fully "integrated" managed care program, and it highlighted essential recommendations. A case-study design was used that involved an extensive analysis of qualitative data from five focus groups with interdisciplinary team members, two in-depth interviews with administrators, and open-ended survey responses from social workers detailing death experiences of 120 elders. Seven major themes characterized primary end-of-life care challenges: (a) the nature of advanced chronic disease; (b) the incapacity of support systems; (c) barriers to honoring care preferences; (d) challenges with characteristics and needs of participants; (e) needs of complex family systems; (f) barriers with transitions; and (g) barriers with culture and language.
Social work and older people with dementia: meeting their housing needs
- Authors:
- MEANS Robin, MORBEY Hazel, McCLATCHEY Terry
- Journal article citation:
- Practice: Social Work in Action, 14(3), 2002, pp.5-14.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Discusses the potential contribution of both home improvement agencies (HIAs) and assistive technology to social work with older people with dementia. Argues that social workers have much to gain through working closely with specialist housing agencies and that this is most likely to happen if staff map availability of such support in their locality.
Older Americans and AIDS: some guidelines for prevention
- Authors:
- WILLIAMS Edith, DONNELLY Jerre
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work: A journal of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), 47(2), April 2002, pp.105-111.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Social workers provide older people with varied services in diverse settings and are in a position to assume leadership in slowing the spread of AIDS. The major risks among older people include sexual activity without contraception, alcohol and drug abuse, blood transfusions before 1985, and misdiagnosed diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinsons, respiratory disease and sexually transmitted diseases. This American article discusses guidelines that can help social workers provide prevention education to older people.