Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing
Chapter 12:
Older Adults: Needs and Services
Empowering Programs with Resourcesthat Enhance Social Work Education
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing
Social Work: A Competency-Oriented Education
Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Defines Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAs)
- Developed 10 “Core Competencies” and 41 Related “Practice Behaviors”
Every student should master the Practice Behaviors and Core Competencies before completing the program
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing
Resources Aligned to EPAS 2008
The Textbook –
- “Helping Hands” icons call attention to content that relates to Practice Behaviors and Competencies
- “Competency Notes” at the end of the chapter help put the Practice Behaviors and Competencies in practical context
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing
Resources Aligned to EPAS 2008 (cont’d)
The Practice Behaviors Workbook developed
with the text provides assignable exercises that assist in mastering the Practice Behavior and Competencies
Additional on-line resources can be found at: www.cengage.com/socialwork
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing
Framing the issueThe number and percentage of people reaching old
age are greater than they have ever been throughout
recorded history
EP 2.1.3a, 2.1.7b
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing
Physiological aging• Growth and physical maturation continue
throughout the life cycle• Scientists have not yet determined why we age• Social workers who specialize in working with older
adults should be sensitive to physiological changes
that are typical processes of growing old
EP 2.1.7b
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing
Theories of aging• Continuity theory• Activity theory• Developmental theory• Exchange theory
EP 2.1.7a
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing
Retirement
• No universal definition exists• Income is usually drastically reduced • Future of the Social Security system is a concern• One’s health declines with age • Most older adults rely primarily on Medicare • More research is needed
EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.3a, 2.1.7b
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing
Older adults and their families• Most older married couples express general
satisfaction with their marriages• When older adults encounter health problems they
often turn to their adult children for support• Families continue to be a viable resource for older
adults
EP 2.1.7b, 2.1.9b
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing
Care-giving• Who are care-givers?• Economics of care-giving• Impact of care-giving• Care-giving and work• Care-giving and health
EP 2.1.7b, 2.1.9b
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing
Death and dying
• Every culture shapes attitudes toward death as well as life
• Most of us are not prepared for coping with either the death of others or our own death
• Hospice care/living wills• “Voluntary” and “involuntary” euthanasia have
introduced controversy into the dying process
EP 2.1.7b, 2.1.8a
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing
Aging and mental health
• The mental health of older adults is not appreciably
different from that of the population in general• Dramatic changes in the mental health of
individuals are seldom caused by the aging
process alone
EP 2.1.7b, 2.1.9b
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing
Aging and the ecological/systems perspective
The way that an individual interacts within the
environment strongly influences that individual’s
mental health and perspectives about growing old
EP 2.1.7b, 2.1.9b
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing
Aging and the environment
• Social isolation and loneliness often appear to produce maladaptive behaviors
• Overmedication can cause memory loss, disorientation, or loss of vigor or appetite
• Depression may be caused by bereavement, anxiety related to income, a limited social network, relocation, or health concerns
EP 2.1.7b, 2.1.9b
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing
Income security concerns• Having enough money to live on • Not being able to work to supplement Social
Security income• Uncertain future of Social Security benefits • Having enough money to meet support and
social services needs
EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.9b
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing
Health and health care services• Developing health problems in later life • Chronic diseases in old age• Refusal to seek treatment until health conditions
become severe or life threatening• Cost of prescription medicines• Government’s role in providing health care for the
aged
EP 2.1.7b, 2.1.9b
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing
Abuse and neglect
• Little is known about the abuse and neglect of theelderly
• Self-neglect is perhaps the most common• Abuse usually occurs when the older adult is living
with a relative• Adult protective services are designed to shield
older adults from harm
EP 2.1.7b
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing
Long-term care
• Only 5% of older Americans experience health problems that require long-term care
• Third-party payments to health care providers spawned long-term care industry
• Majority of long-term care facilities are proprietary (for profit)
• Alternatives to long-term care facilities
EP2.1.1a, 2.1.7b, 2.1.9b
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing
Housing
• Rate of substandard homes among the elderly
exceeds those for other age groups• Government housing for the aged is difficult to
secure• Housing alternatives for the more economically
secure aged are needed
EP 2.1.7b, 2.1.9b
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing
Transportation• Most older adults travel some distance to procure
the necessities of daily living• Transit systems for the aged are limited• Absence of transportation has resulted in many
older adults becoming homebound• Budget cuts have significantly reduced
transportation options for the elderly
EP 2.1.7b, 2.1.9b
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing
People of color as older adults• Life expectancy is shorter• The percentage of the elderly living below the
poverty line is high, especially for persons of color• Percentages dramatically higher for households
headed by women
EP 2.1.4a
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing
Services for older adults• Magnitude of need is great• Availability of services varies across communities• Budget cuts have adversely affected availability of
services• Need outstrips availability of services
EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.9b
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing
Social work with older adults
• Generalist practice at the micro level most commonintervention
• Many opportunities exist for creating a more responsive opportunity structure for the aged at the community level
• Many schools of social work have established specializations in gerontology
EP 2.1.1a, c
Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing
Social work with older adults (cont’d)
• US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an overallincrease of 22% for social work jobs between 2006 and 2016; that figure increases to 24% for medical and public health social workers and 30% for mental health and substance abuse social workers.
EP 2.1.1a, c