The Concept of Diversity as an Important Part of Social Work - Essay Example

?INTRODUCTION Social work, in its broad sense, is dedicated to addressing the issues of living (NASW of Ethics, 1999). Although addressing health issues is an important part of improving and ensuring the well-being of people in question, social issues such as oppression and discrimination should likewise be taken into consideration. Recognizing the concept of diversity is an important part of social work. Historically, individuals assigned to certain diversity groups because of one or more characteristics they possess are victims of unjust treatment by the members of majority. Because such treatment adversely affects the well-being of diverse individuals, it is thus the task of social workers to, firstly, make members of diversity groups to feel that they should receive the same treatment in society as others do. Secondly, social workers must, with every chance they get, to teach society about the rights of diverse individuals to all members of the society, thus preventing or decreasing the chances of discrimination or oppression. Finally, social workers should address chances of unfair treatment being received by diverse individuals. The application of social work is a case-to-case basis, no plan of action can be applied to two different scenarios. Thus, to determine the plan of action in a specific case, the assessment of needs and risks should be done for every individual or institution in question. In this paper, I will discuss the case of a British geriatric couple, Jo and Vivian, who are anxious about the possibility of being sent to a nursing home because of their medical condition. Before visiting the couple, I will enumerate the needs and risks this couple has, and with this, I will give a list of pre-interview list of means to address the issues of Jo and Vivian.. NEEDS AND RISKS In this part of the report, the needs and risks of Jo and Vivian are discussed. Identified to be potentially embattling the couple because of their conditions are financial problems, worsening of their health conditions, unfair, and unethical treatment. Each are discussed in detail in the following sections. Financial problems Because health care costs usually occurs unplanned, many families taking care of a member with a sustaining serious injury, battling a chronic illness or surviving with an incurable disease, are burdened with financial challenges. In the case of Jo and Vivian, such difficulty initially started when Vivian had to resign to take care of Jo, who, in that time, was starting to feel the debilitating effects of arthritis. Making things worse, Vivian suffers from depression, and needs to undergo medication also. Without someone else to pay for their basic and additional needs, the lack of resources to pay for their special health care makes them susceptible to other risks, such as injury and complications Further health issues. Even without illnesses, geriatric individuals such as Jo, age 87, and Vivian, age 63, undergo physical changes that impair their ability to perform day-to-day activities, as many and as often as they could back in their younger days. As a person ages, he/she develops poor eyesight, hearing loss, weak balance, and painful walking. The risk of injuries resulting from these age-dependent physical limitations must be addressed accordingly. To address these health issues, they need someone to look after them on a regular basis, providing them their food, helping them take a bath and change clothes, giving them the right amount of medicines on the time it is needed, and ensuring the injury-free environment at home.. Unfortunately, Sam, the district nurse, and Chris, the good friend, are not enough to help the couple in their regular activities such as eating and taking a bath, simply because they are not with Jo and Vivian most of the time. Usually, a member of their nuclear family takes the responsibility of taking care of their elders, either by sending them in nursing homes or taking care of them in the comforts of their own home. But in this case, Jo and Vivian do not have children. Thus, someone dedicated to the well-being of the couple is necessary. In addition to the physical weakness and pain they face, the many problems the couple is facing, and their decreasing ability to deal with them independently, a risk of developing depression is something to be expected. Uselessness and unimportance are just some of the few things that most old people feel. It is important that they have someone to make them feel better about themselves. That, despite their age, they still have something to offer to society. Possibly, Jo and Vivian need a counselor, a family member, or a close friend to improve their affect and overall well-being. Social treatment Their disability to attend to their own lives, as degrading as it might sound to the couple, is a reality. Their caregivers must be wary of oppression that this couple might face, as it is common among persons with disabilities (Depoy and Gilson, 2008). For example, the pension of Vivian from his/her former employers should be made sure to be given even without Vivian having to work hard fixing the papers for it, even to the point of suffering oppressive treatment from the employers by delaying the release of pension. Vivian, with her mental health issues, may also suffer discriminatory exploits from society. Possibility of unethical treatment Related to the unfair social treatment, is the possibility of unethical treatment by health or social workers they get to work with. Especially in United Kingdom (UK), wherein prior to 2004 social workers are unlisted. Thus, the practice of social work was not regulated. Thankfully, registration started on 2003, and the legal practice of qualified social workers, who follow a code of ethics, started on 2005. I will ensure that all social workers tasked to work with Vivian are registered. I will not expect misunderstanding of the code, as the code of ethics do not demand moral decisions from each of the social workers, as UK’s code is that of practice, and not of ethics (Reamer and Shardlow, 2009). Aside from the registered social workers, I will always guide the social care workers tasked to work on the case of Jo and Vivian. Since UK’s code of practice does not apply to them (Reamer and Shardlow, 2009), whether they do their job or not are my concern and will be reflective of my performance as a registered social worker. One of the ethical issues that the couple is most susceptible to is the failure to get Jo and Vivian’s consent. Vivian, because of his/her mental health, may be incapable of deciding for him/herself. In such cases, Jo, despite her disabilities because of his/her arthritis, is capable and is given the right to decide for the benefit of Vivian. To seek for their consent is still necessary before the couple undergoes treatment or diagnostic protocol by a health care provider. Their participation in the decision-making aspect of anything involving their well-being is necessary not only to ensure the intervention is within ethical standards but also to increase the chances of any intervention to be successful. I should be wary of such cases of unregulated practice, as a similar case has happened before, when regulatory measures were insufficient in preventing abusive and violent treatment of older people in residential care (Reamer and Shardlow, 2009).. ASSESSMENT Based on the needs and risks identified, it is clear that Jo and Vivian cannot take care of each other on their own. And because they are both incapable of being employed, with Jo suffering from arthritis, and Vivian developing poor mental health, they cannot financially support themselves, especially that they have an increased health care costs. In spite of their anxiety on whether or not they will be sent to a nursing home, I believe that as a social worker it is important that they may see the benefits of such move, and from then they can form a more informed decision as to how their needs will be met. PLAN OF ACTION How to communicate Despite the evidences and the testament by the district nurse, Sam, of the incapacitation of the couple to take care of each other, I will still prefer to look at the condition myself. It is my choice to use practice ethical consideration despite the professional obligations I might have in sending the couple to the nursing home (Reamer and Shardlow, 2009). Because of Vivian’s mental health status, I will prefer to talk to Jo. I don’t want to get inaccurate answers from someone suffering from depression, and I don’t want Vivian’s depression to worsen by talking about their current condition. During the visit, I will listen intently, building trust and showing empathy. I will try to understand them, asking them to elaborate further if in the first time I cannot understand. I will not tell them about my pre-interview assessment, as they may have an impression that I wanted to make the decision for them. It is important to build a trusting and lasting relationship with the couple (, as I recognize that to improve their condition takes a long-term effort from both myself, the couple, and the professionals to be employed for their well-being. Current condition Firstly, I will ask them about their current condition. How are they physically? Are they having troubles with their community, mentally, or spiritually? It is important in my overall assessment. This is also vital as it shows my concern for them, that all I am there for is their well-being. Assessment of the living conditions I will prefer to conduct the interview at home, so that, aside from the details I will get from the answers of the couple, I can also look at their house to see how they do up keep. Is the house properly cleaned? Is the surroundings safe for them? Is their house close to other houses or a hospital? Do they have a phone? How easy can they get help if an emergency comes up? Establishment of support base Since it has come to my attention that they are not very receptive of being sent to a nursing home, I will ask them about their reasons. If it is a matter of trust, I will then ask questions about a family member or members closest to where they live. I will also ask about their relationship with the community, the activities they do before Jo’s arthritis worsened, and the friends they have. This will help determine whether they have certain people in mind to take care of them, someone they know and can trust. Proximity should be the first in mind, as emergencies are fatal and unannounced. Someone who can willingly live with Jo and Vivian is the optimal person to entrust their welfare to. If not, a family member or friend who lives nearby can be a possible care giver. In such cases, the phone is vital. The willingness to help the couple is also important. The sustenance of health care is vital so that this intervention is for the long-term. Although such can be hard to get from friends, or even family members, such misconceptions can be put to rest when I explain that rather than it being a one-way relationship between the caregiver and the patients, this will be a partnership. It is necessary that the patients be given a feeling of importance, and the care giver not feeling too burdened by taking care of the patients. For example, Jo can take the responsibility of comforting Vivian and reminding themselves of the medicine intake, while the caregiver will take in charge of helping them with their basic needs. This will prove that with help, the couple can and will take care of each other. The specific manner by which this arrangement will be conducted will be talked about once the care giver is identified, and has agreed to taking care of Jo and Vivian. If people are identified as possible care giver, one of the next steps after this interview will be to talk to this support base and inform them the possibility of being in charge of Jo and Vivian. Chris is a good candidate, as he has known the couple and have been doing errands for them already. However, his role as a caregiver is a much harder one compared to what was asked from him before. It is important that the possibility and the adjustments involved be discussed with the potential caregiver, Jo and Vivian. If no one comes into mind, then the possibility of employing the services of a nursing home or a personal nurse will be opened up. Possibility of support groups Support groups, especially among old people, are available almost everywhere. May it be spiritual-based, ethnic-based or activity-based, it will help the couple, especially Vivian, to cope with their condition. If the couple or one of them has already been a member of an organization, then the possibility of joining again will be brought up to the couple. It is important that someone from the outside, aside from the designated caregiver, has the concern to look after Jo and Vivian. In addition, the possibility of Vivian slipping further to depression will be avoided with something else occupying her attention. The possibility of nursing home admission My position of whether or not the couple be sent to a nursing home, is that it is not necessary for them to be sent out of their house. The separation of Jo and Vivian will, in my opinion, only do harm to the couple, especially to Vivian, who is already suffering from depression. In addition, I think it is only Jo that can communicate effectively to Vivian. What they need is just someone to help them in providing health care, and someone to be constantly present to prepare for times of emergencies. The best solution to their predicament is a personal nurse, even if family members or friends have been identified and have agreed to take care of Jo and Vivian, because they are more capable of monitoring the health condition of the couple. In addition, a personal nurse can perform first aid procedures in cases of emergency. The problem now is the financial capability of the couple to be able to pay for the services of a personal nurse, even the lifetime medications needed for Jo’s arthritis and the anti-depressants for Vivian’s mental condition. However, if being admitted to a nursing home is an inevitable possibility, several arrangements should be made. First, Jo and Vivian should be together in the nursing home. As mentioned earlier, Jo is needed for Vivian’s improved well-being, simply because Jo knows Vivian more than anyone. Such is important in dealing with patients having mental health issues. Second, Vivian’s condition should be monitored from time to time. If his/her condition is found to be improving and good enough to take care of Jo in the comforts of their home, and if financial resources are already available. then such request should be considered. Third, they should be encouraged to participate in the activities and social groups available inside the nursing home. They should be made to relax outside the house, once in a while, not being locked up in their rooms or inside the building. Financial considerations Of course, because both Jo and Vivian are at their retiring age and are both debilitated by their health issues, financial status is a matter to be discussed. How they are coping now, and how they plan to cope in the future will be things I will ask from Jo. Do they have a pension? For those family members they have identified as potential caregivers, is there a possibility that they are capable and willing to lend money for the couple’s health care? If not, then there will be less chance for the couple to take care of themselves on their own. All the suggested steps the couple can choose from, such as personal nurses and care inside their own home, will not be put into practice without the availability of source of funds. Being sent to the state’s nursing home is quite a possibility once financial support appears to be absent, or even not enough to meet the demanding health care needed. However, as mentioned before, considerations will be made in dealing with the couple, as it should be in all cases. Consent Before any step should be made after the interview, Jo will be informed about it. It is important and ethical that Jo’s consent be taken for the well-being of the couple. Despite the disabilities that they have incurred because of their health conditions, those do not take away their right to make their own decisions, and their responsibility to do so (Reiman, 2009). Getting the consent of patients should not only be practiced by me, but all the social workers and health care providers as well. References Butler, G, Constable, G, Gaine, C, Gaylard, D, Goble, C, Knowles, G, Lander, V, Mantin, R, McCray, J and Thompson, B 2010, ‘Equality and Diversity in Social Work Practice’, Learning Matters. Depoy, E and Gilson, S 2008, ‘Social Work Practice with Disability: Moving from the Perpetuation of a Client Category to Human Rights and Social Justice’, Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics, vol. 5, no. 3. National Association of Social Workers 1999, ‘Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers‘, http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.asp Reamer, FG and Shardlow, SM 2009, ‘Ethical Codes of Practice in the US and UK: One Profession, Two Standards‘, Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics, vol. 6, no. 2. Reiman, A 2009, ‘Moral Philosophy and Social Work Policy‘, Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics, vol. 6, no. 3. Read More