Download The Social Work Experience

Social Work with Older Adults
The Social Work Experience
5th Edition
Mary Ann Suppes &
Carolyn Cressy Wells
Chapter 9
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© 2009 Allyn & Bacon
Impact of the Industrial Age
• The elderly became less valued for their wisdom and
experience.
• Early Social Workers worked with the elderly in their
homes and in institutions to alleviate social problems.
• The Depression highlighted poverty among the elderly and
lead to the creation of the Social Security Act in 1935.
• The AARP has become a formidable advocate for the
needs of the elderly.
• Social Workers can specialize in work with the elderly and
earn NASW Gerontology credentials
© 2009 Allyn & Bacon
Profile of Older Americans (65+)
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Over 12% of the population
50% live in only 9 states
Almost 50% of women are widowed
19% of men and about 9% of women are employed
More than 10% live in poverty
40% of African American and Hispanic women live in
poverty
• 90% rely on Social Security benefits
© 2009 Allyn & Bacon
Profile of Older Americans (cont.)
• 50% of those in institutions suffer from
Alzheimer’s disease
• 4.9 million have Alzheimer’s disease
• 80% own their own homes, of these, one third
spend 25% of their income on housing
• At least one chronic health condition
• 27.3% of those living in the community have
difficulty with activities of daily living
• Families provide 75% of personal care
• Ethnicity affects life span expectations
© 2009 Allyn & Bacon
Social Work with
Families of Older Adults
• Employ a strengths perspective to redefine roles
and expectations
• Older adults care for spouses, siblings, and
grandchildren
• Families require support for the care of both older
adults and children simultaneously
• Social Workers offer families case management,
support groups, stress management, parenting
education, respite care, adoption support,
advocacy, information, and abuse investigation
and monitoring
© 2009 Allyn & Bacon
Empowering Diverse Older Adults
• Minority groups are vulnerable to poverty
• Social Workers work within the cultural context of
the family within their community
• Social Workers use a strengths perspective
encouraging prevention approaches
• Homosexual men and women are likely to have very
different perspectives on growing older
• Encourage older adults to engage with advocacy
groups like AARP and the Gray Panthers
© 2009 Allyn & Bacon
Social Policy and Older Adults
• 1935: SSA provided for pension insurance
• 2006: Pension Protection act requires
employers who offer pensions to fully fund
them (just over 20% of companies)
• Tax-sheltered Annuities offer opportunities
to save for retirement, but are subject to
stock market risks
• 2017: the income from Social Security (SS)
taxes will be less than the benefits paid out
© 2009 Allyn & Bacon
Social Policy and Older Adults (cont.)
• 2040: SS taxes will only cover 70% of benefits
owed
• SS taxes are only paid on annual income up to
$90,000
• Housing assistance has been reduced by Block
Grants
• When a long-term care Medicaid beneficiary
dies, states will likely sell the family home to
recover costs.
1965 Older Americans Act
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Established the Administration on Aging
Information and referral
Transportation
In-home assistance
Legal services
Nursing Home Ombudsman programs
Nutrition programs
Support services for family caregivers
© 2009 Allyn & Bacon
The Continuum of Care
• In-home services allow older adults to remain in
their homes
• Community Services allow older adults to remain in
their familiar community
• Assisted living and special housing programs allow
older adults some independence with access to
skilled medical care when needed
• Nursing homes provide the level of care needed to
recover from serious injury or illness and provide
long-term care when needed
© 2009 Allyn & Bacon
End-of-Life Issues
• Social Workers may discuss spiritual issues with
older adults and need to be conscious of their
own beliefs and values
• Social Workers teach relaxation and meditation to
facilitate self-care
• Some states have policies and procedures related
to self-determination for those who are
terminally ill (predicted to die within 6 months)
• 43 states offer Hospice services including medical
care, counseling for patients and families, and
bereavement services
© 2009 Allyn & Bacon