Social Work with Elderly People

The care of elderly people, particularly those who are frail, is a major task facing society. Originally published in 1981, this book considers the challenge of caring from a social work perspective. It locates social work with elderly people firmly within the mainstream of social work ethics, knowledge and skills, and demonstrates how work with the elderly both informs and in turn is informed by an understanding of work with other client groups.

From an initial discussion of why social workers are often reluctant or unable to work with the problems that may be present in old age, Social Work with Elderly People continues with a description of the disadvantages that often accompany old age and the problems that elderly people may experience. Certain aspects of social work practice are then considered in more detail, such as the pace of work, the goals of intervention, communication and assessment. Later chapters focus on practice with elderly people in three different settings: on their own in the community, with their families, and in residential care. Issues such as the dynamics of caring and being cared for, the assessment and management of dependency and risk, and the preservation of individuality in spite of frailty and disability are discussed in a variety of contexts.

Cherry Rowlings brings to the subject her experience as a practitioner and a team leader in social services departments, together with the results of the research she had recently undertaken. Many of the examples illustrating practice come from social workers who had been interviewed as part of this research.

Social Work with Elderly People was intended for teachers on courses leading to a qualification either in social work or in social service, students on basic and post-qualifying courses and practitioners and supervisors of field and residential staff. Other professions with a concern for the care of elderly people, doctors, health visitors, occupational therapists and nurses, will also find this book of relevance to their work.