Social Work with Older Adults - Coursework Example

Social work with older adults affiliation Social work with older adults Introduction The practice of social work has been in place for years as it helps the society provide care to the needy and societal unfortunate. Social work has been inevitable in the society as policy makers realized the significance of the practice. Laws have been generated to shape the practice. This is because social work has become a mandatory requirement in every society as it has become a daily occurrence of a person to be in need of professional help in their social life. Additionally, social work has become a professional practice that people build career on. One important aspect of social workers is their ability to provide care to older adults. For many years, older adults in the society have been neglected. The number of adults in homes has increased significantly (Priestley, 2003). These numbers need professional care. In this situation, the function of the social worker is to ensure the older adults are well taken care of and presented with the opportunity of experiencing family love and care. In an argument by Preston-Shoot (2001) the practice of social work provision to older adults has been made efficient to improve the interaction of the patients to the society as well as the facility environment. Thesis This paper will analyze the developmental strides made in social work. The advancement will be explained from their creation to implementation stage and their significance in the adult social care practice. Additionally, the paper will also include a forecast of 10-15 years of the older adults’ social work service in terms of development. Main developments in the older adult social work practice a) Research In the modern century, the provision of social work to older adults has shifted from a voluntary practice to a mandatory requirement for specific patients. Pritchard (2001) points out that social work for older adults should be provided to social unstable people even without their consent. The author further points out that this is because social workers are inly concerned for their safety (Pritchard, 2001). However, in most cases court rulings remain the final determinant for whether a person should be provided with a mandatory social care. However, before ruling in these cases on whether a person is entitled to social work, research should be conducted on the vulnerability of an older adult when they live alone. The research should include tracking down of family members and demand responsibility for their relative. Apart from the research conducted on the patient, development of research has also been achieved in the field of providing quality social care. In an argument by Roberts (2000) care giving in social work is well developed through research on how effective to develop the practice. A century back social work for adults work for adults could be done by any person. Older adults could receive basic treatment and exposure to their needs. However, in the modern century the approach has changed. Social workers in the modern century are well educated and specifically trained for this position. Phillipson (2002) points out that during education and training social workers are exposed to training and research activities that would enable them to deliver services efficiently. In terms of research, the modern day care givers are also equipped with the expertise of developing activity charts and calendars that would increase the interaction of the older adult with the society. Through research social worker are enable to increase activities in their social work. For instance, Morbey (2002) highlights an interview with an experienced social worker on the development of the practice in providing care to older adults. The social worker points out that with modern day demand from both the patients and the law, they have been required to use more indulging activities in adult social care such as golf and cooking (McNeill et.al, 2005).. b) Policy Creation of policy in social work refers to the ability of the laws of a country to provide legislations on the practice. In the last two centuries, the laws governing social workers could be defined as mild and ineffective considering the number of death cases reported on older adults (Levenson, Jeyasingham & Joule, 2005). Additionally, the law did not have a clear perspective on the older adult social care in particular. Dominelli (2004) argues in this times the society was more responsible for the elderly in society. The author further points out that the same could be said of the modern society (Dominelli, 2004). The elderly have been neglected and placed in homes. For this reason, the law has found it necessary to equip courts with policies to rule on the state of social care delivery to older adults. Apart from the delivery offered in private and stylish social homes, service care delivery has been made free as the government is obligated to provide funds for such purposes. Each city has a social worker leader who is responsible for ensuring funds are allocated for such purposes. However, corporate funding support this homes due to the notion that funds provided by the government is not enough to care for the rising demand of adult social care. In an argument by Dalley (2000) the responsibility of funding care for the adults has been given to state governments and city councils. This is indifferent in the previous centuries as homes for the elderly were supported by private institutions. The failure of a state government to provide funds for adults’ social care may result to legal prosecution. Every person entitled to social work has the right to demand theories state government to provide to them. In addition to the contribution of the state government, social workers are also bound to provide effective care to the elderly. There are laws which demand for the professionalism and of the social worker. For instance, in every state there should be a body that controls the provision of social work in the region. Considering the health state of the elderly, only social worker with the expertise and education to handle older adults should be selected. Failure to provide these provisions, the body may be taken to court for neglect and mishandling of patients (Asquith, Clark & Waterhouse, 2005). The author further points out that the relationship between the older adults and social workers is significantly controlled by the policies provided to govern social work (Worth, 2002). This is indifferent from the past centuries where social workers with low experience and no education would provide care to the older adults. c) Practice The practice of social work or the elderly has developed significantly in the past centuries. In an argument by Thompson (2001) this can be supported by the assumption that the modern social care system has become more patient friendly and their consideration of health policies has increased. The author describes an example where he did a research on the quality of services in social work facilities and personal homes in the modern and past century (Thompson, 2001). In the past century, older adults were not treated in a any special way than any other person in social acre. There was sharing of facilities and one social worker was responsible for taking care of around 20 older adults. In addition, older adults were not provided with locomotion devise due to their health condition. In an argument by Tibbs (2001) social care in past century only involved cleaning and cooking for an older adult. However, the same cannot be said of the current social work practice on older adults. Considering the policy and research conducted to make social work more efficient, it is an obvious assumption that older adults have benefited from these developments. For instance, older adults in care homes have been provided with locomotion devices which ensure their interaction with the world in ease. Additionally, there has been an increase in the number of social workers allocated to older adults. This has increased the way in which social workers interact with the elderly. Roberts (2001) points out that, older adults have greatly benefited from the development in social work in regards to the development made in the practice. The author further points out that this has been made easier by the fact that social work practice has become more of a profession and the level of expertise social workers have been equipped by is exceptional (Roberts, 2001). While visiting social homes for older adults, one may also note the development of the practice as influenced by the availability of advanced facilities and resources. Social workers for older adults have been trained on the effectives of using modern facilities to make the practice more efficient. Development of older adult social care practice in the next five years a. Research It is an obvious assumption that research in this practice is a mandatory requirement considering the daily developments experienced. Research facilities and tools have been created to make the vice more efficient. In the next five years, social workers would have a great expertise in in conducting research and putting them into practice. The change would be made from the learning experienced by the social workers. The curriculum would be made more research friendly and involve the use of advanced tools of practice. In an argument by Tibbs (2001) with the rate of technological advancement experienced in the modern century older adults’ social practice would be made easier for both the care giver and receiver by the incorporation of the technological advancement to aid in research. b. Policies Policies governing social care would be made stiffer to control the activities of the social worker. However, one major policy change expected is the policy that governs immediate family members of adults in social care. Thompson (2001) points out that, family members to the elderly neglect their relatives as social work is made more comfortable for older adults. Policies created to make family members responsible have not been effective enough. Additionally, older adults need support from immediate family members a fact that has been neglected even in the modern century. With this need becoming a mandatory requirement for older adults, policies are expected to be created in order to increase the connectivity between the adults in social care and their family members. Policies that govern the responsibility of state and county governments responsible for social care will also be made more effective. With increasing older adults in need of social care, financial resources would also be required from the state bodies. c. Practice The development of the practice in the next five years would be greatly impacted by the development made in both policy and research. In an argument by Tibbs (2001) the practice of providing care to older adults is greatly dependable on the policy created to make the practice easier and the research on the changes to be made in the practice. If the policies are developed and the research tools made more effective, the practice of social care on older adults would be better and efficient. Conclusion From the paper, it is an obvious assumption that social care of older adults has greatly improved over the years. This has been made possible by the fact that there has been significant advancement in policy, research and practice in the provision of social care. With the advancement set to be increased, social care would be more effective and society appropriate. Additionally, the development of older adult social care has been made a mandatory requirement considering the increase in number of adults in need of social care. References Asquith, S, Clark, C and Waterhouse, L (2005). The Role of the Social Worker in the 21st Century: A Literature Review, Edinburgh: The University of Edinburgh Department of Social Work. Dalley, G (2000). ‘Defining Difference: Health and Social Care for Older. London: Jessica Kingsley. Dominelli, L (2004) Social Work: Theory and Practice for a Changing Profession. Cambridge: Polity. Levenson, R, Jeyasingham, M. & Joule, N (2005). Looking Forward to Care in Old Age: Expectations of the Next Generation, London: Kings Fund. McGrath, A, Crome, P and Crome, IB. (2005) ‘Substance Misuse in the Older Population. Postgraduate Medical Journal, 81(954) 228-231. McNeill, F, Batchelor, S, Burnett, R and Knox J (2005) 21st Century Social Work Review: Reducing Re-Offending: Key Practice Skills. Edinburgh: The Scottish Executive. Morbey, H (2002). ‘Older Women’s Understanding of Elder Abuse: Quality Relationships and the Stresses of Caregiving’’, The Journal of Adult Protection, 4,(3) 4-13. Phillipson, C (2002). The Frailty of Old Age. Oxford: Blackwell. Preston-Shoot, M (2001) ‘Evaluating Self-Determination: An Adult Protection Case Study. The Journal of Adult Protection, 3(1), 4-14. Priestley, M (2003) Disability: A Life Course Approach, Oxford: Blackwell. Pritchard, J (2001). ‘Abuse in Earlier Life: Older Women Speak Out. London: JKP. Roberts, E (2000) Briefing Note: Age Discrimination in Health and Social Care, London: Kings Fund. Thompson, N. (2001). Anti-Discriminatory Practice. London: Palgrave. Tibbs, MA (2001). Social Work and Dementia: Good Practice and Care Management. London: Jessica Kingsley. Worth, A (2002). ‘Health and Social Care Assessment in Action. London: The Open University Read More