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Social Work Speaks Abstracts
Senior Health, Safety, and Vitality
Like other Americans, the elderly are a diverse group — in age,
life experiences, income, education, health, functional abilities,
living arrangements, access to support services, race, ethnicity,
and culture. But with little research on their needs, there is no
comprehensive policy on aging as a guide of social work practice.
A few things are known, however. Among these are issues of economic
security, housing, health and mental health, abuse, and caregiving
roles that present challenges for the elderly, their caregivers,
social work professionals, and the society as a whole.
Two concurrent realities characterize the status of caregiving today
as it relates to the elderly. While more than 75 percent of adult
caregiving is provided by family members of all ages (mostly females),
uncounted millions of grandparents are providing substantial daily
caregiving for their grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even
great-great grandchildren. The issues of middle-aged adult women,
many of whom also are caring for their own children, caring for aging
relatives, and grandparents caring for grandchildren present challenges
and the need for external supports. At the same time, few NASW members
are adequately prepared to deal with aging issues either in institutional
or community-based settings. NASW advocates efforts on a number of
fronts to deal with the current situation. Among these are:
- development and promotion of academic programs
that address senior issues;
- promotion of optimal health and well-being of
people as they mature;
- preservation of social security and, in fact,
expansion of income resources for retirees;
- special attention to the needs of older women;
- comprehensive, affordable, and accessible health
and mental health care;
- expansion of recognition and reimbursement for
social work in meeting the needs of the elderly and their families;
- prescription drug coverage;
- expansion of supports for seniors such as housing
and transportation; and
- enhancement of the social worker’s role in areas
such as retirement planning, case management, and caregiver support
and services.
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