SWU U4 due in 30 hours
elinaa
CH8-2.pptxSWU 171 Intro to Social Work
3/17/22
Hilary Haseley, PhD, MSW
Overview
Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Gerontology
The study of the biological, psychological and social aspects of aging
Why study older people?
What is Old?
3 groups
The young-old 65-74
The old-old 75-84
The oldest-old 85 and over
Gerontological Social Workers
Adult Protective Services
Adult Foster Care
Assisted Living
Hospice
Skilled nursing facilities
Home health care agencies
Social Workers Skill Requirements
1- biological and physiological aspects of aging
2- cognitive processes and emotional/psychological development
3- sociological aspects of aging
4- legal, political, and economic aspects of aging
Biological & Physiological aspects of Aging
Understand how aging effects the body
Understand physical and mental impairments related to chronic illness as well as normal aging progression
Commonly used medications, advantages of medications and side effects
Cognitive Process, Emotional/ Psychological Development
Factors that impact learning, intelligence and memory in aging people
Anxiety in elderly people
Sociological Aspects of Aging
Understanding of social roles and expectations
Marital roles, grandparenthood and sexual behavior
STD rate high in nursing homes
Activity Theory
The more active a person ins, the more satisfied he or she is during their “golden years”
Disengagement Theory
To withdraw and become more introspective as one grows older is normal and healthy
Legal, Economic and Political Aspects
Age discrimination 40-65 protected class
Legal rights for the chronically ill and terminally ill older people
Understanding Medicare and Medicaid
Understanding FMLA
Populations at Risk
Women
African Americans
Latino
Indigenous people
People living alone
The Oldest-old 85+
Older people in rural communities
Older people living in poverty
Older LGBT individuals
Critical Issues
Caregivers for Aging Parents
Grandparents as caregivers for grandchildren
Elder Abuse
Medical Decision making
Access to medical care
Critical issues
Caregivers for aging parents
34 million people in the U.S. any given year are serving as unpaid family caregivers for someone over the age of 50
Mostly women 60%, taking care of parents and raising children
Social workers can help caregivers understand emotional and financial costs of caregiving
Identifying people who can help the caregiver
Help the caregiver advocate for their loved one
Critical Issues
Grandparents caring for grandchildren
2.7 million grandparents have primary responsibility for their grandchildren
A third of those grandparents are 60 and over
Finical burden
Respite care
Critical Issue
Elder Abuse
Often goes unreported
Neglect
Withholding of basic needs food, or medical attention, or mismanaging money
Physical abuse
Willful infliction of injury, forced confinement or cruel punishment
Emotional abuse
Humiliation, harassment or social isolation of an older person
Sexual abuse
Nonconsensual sexual contact of any kind
Programs for Elderly
Older American Act (OAA) 1965 federal administration
Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) state
Both designed to coordinate and fund social services for older people
Still under funded to this day
Services
Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
Non profit nonpartisan organization dedicated to helping older Americans achieve lives of independent, dignity and purpose
MMA
Medicare
Universal, federally funded, compulsory health insurance program for older people
Covers most health insurance
Does not cover nursing home care costs over 100 days or prescription drugs
Medicaid
Jointly funded (Federal and State) needs-based health insurance program for individuals and families whose incomes and assets fall beneath a set amount
Covers
Medicare Modernization Act 2003, enacted in 2006, provides prescription drug benefits for Medicare eligible seniors by implementing Part D benefit where members enroll with private companies to obtain prescription medications
Social Security
Social Security Act of 1935
Average benefit for retired worker in 2016 $1,341 per month
Baby Boomers
Born between 1946 and 1964
Largest age cohort in US population
Needs increase as they get older
Housing
Recreation
Nutrition services
Health
Entitlement programs (Social Security)
FMLA
Family and Medical Leave Act 1993
Allows women and men time off from work to care for dependent parents and newborn children
Up to 12 weeks of UNPAID leave during any 12 month period of the birth of a child, adoption of a child, or placement of a foster child; or to care for a spouse, child or parent with a serious health condition
Will not lose your job but you don’t get paid
Gerontological Social Work
Established as a field in the 1980’s
Journal of Gerontological social work
Concentration or specialization
Values and Ethical Issues
Dr. Kevorkian
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SJLoCGLPeM
Active euthanasia
Doctor actually administers the lethal injection or actively causes death in some manner
Dr. Kevorkian injected a lethal dose of drugs into a patient with ALS
He was convicted of second degree murder and sent to prison from 2001-2007
Passive Euthanasia
Intentional termination of one’s own life with means provided by another person such as a doctor
Active euthanasia is illegal
Physician assisted suicide is gaining support
Majority of the US supports physician assisted suicide for the terminally ill
California, Montana, Oregon, Vermont, Washington and DC legalized physician assisted suicide
Values and Ethical Issues
Advanced Directive
Formal written statement that outlines the medical options and procedures a person may or may not want to prolong life
Living Will
Formal statement written and signed while a person is mentally competent that specifies how the person wishes to have their own death handled in the even that they cannot participate in the decision making
