Social Work with Aging Populations PDF

Social Work with Aging Populations  Outline Overview of Canada’s aging population Theorizing aging Policies that have an impact on older adults Elder abuse Overview of Canada’s Aging Population  Overview of Canada’s Aging Population In 2016, Can...

Social Work with Aging Populations  Outline Overview of Canada’s aging population Theorizing aging Policies that have an impact on older adults Elder abuse Overview of Canada’s Aging Population  Overview of Canada’s Aging Population In 2016, Canadians aged 65+ represented 16.9% of the population, a statistic that will likely double in the next 25 years The aging of the population is due to a combination of: – Increasing life expectancy – Declining birth rates – The aging of the baby boom generation Baby boom generation: Refers to individuals born post-World War II (1946–1965) when there was a significant increase in births  Overview of Canada’s Aging Population, cont’d Within the population of Canadians 65 and older, the greatest growth is amongst those 85 and up This group has marked differences in living arrangements, health, and health-care utilization – 32% live in a collective living facility – 21.5% are dependent on others for assistance with activities of daily living Activities of daily living (ADLs): A term used in health care to refer to daily self-care activities such as feeding, bathing, dressing, and grooming  Overview of Canada’s Aging Population, cont’d Aging is often framed in terms of decline and loss – Politicians and researchers focus on anticipated fiscal crises due to overburdening of health-care and pension systems Equally important to recognize major contributions made by older adults – Tangible assistance to spouses, children, grandchildren, friends, and neighbours – Volunteerism Older adulthood also a time for leisure and personal growth  Overview of Canada’s Aging Population, cont’d Ageism: A form of stereotyping about older people that associates aging with decline and results in exclusion and marginalization – Ageism results in attitudes, behaviours, and institutional policies and practices that serve to subordinate or exclude people Theorizing Aging  Micro Theories of Aging Activity theory: Proposes that positive aging occurs when older adults stay active and maintain social connections Successful aging: Views positive aging as the prevention of functional decline and engagement in meaningful activities Selective optimization with compensation: Accepting and compensating for functional limitations by being selective about the activities on which to focus Traditional developmental psychology: Views aging as one of a series of life stages with associated tasks  Linking Micro Theory to Practice Activity theory/successful aging – Practice example: Offering older adults opportunities to participate in social and recreational activities Selective optimization with compensation – Practice example: Helping older adults to identify specific areas of functioning they want to improve and encouraging practice and adaptation Traditional developmental psychology – Practice example: Providing supportive counselling to help older adults reconcile psychosocial crises  Macro Theories of Aging Life-course perspective: Examines how the combination of developmental stages, personal life events, social locations, and historical or social events (e.g. the Great Depression) work in combination to shape people’s experiences and opportunities in old age – Cohort: Group of persons who were born at the same historical time and who experience particular social changes within a given culture in the same sequence and at the same age – Cumulative advantage: The tendency of one’s social location to have an enduring and increasingly positive impact over the life course – Cumulative disadvantage: The tendency of one’s social location to have an enduring and increasingly negative impact over the life course  Macro Theories of Aging, cont’d Political economy of aging: A theory that emphasizes the broad implications of political and economic forces that contribute to constructions of old age and aging – Argues that the onset of dependency and diminished socio-economic status and self- esteem in later life are an outcome of public policies, economic trends, and changing social structures  A View of Aging https://www.ted.com/talks/laura_carstense n_older_people_are_happier What are some of the approaches advocated by the speaker? How might you use her ideas as a social worker working with older adults? Policies that Have an Impact on Older Adults  Retirement Policies and Programs Three-tiered pension system – Old Age Security (OAS) and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS): provide basic income security independent of participation in the workforce – Canada Pension Plan (CPP)/Quebec Pension Plan (QPP): mandatory public pension plans funded by the combination of contributions from employees and employers – Private pension plans: Workplace plans or Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs)  Retirement Policies and Programs, cont’d In recent years, the Canadian Parliament has passed a series of acts and amendments to protect the right of older workers to remain in the workforce Some older adults are still forced to retire due to poor health, caregiving responsibilities, or implicit pressure to make room for younger workers Other older adults with work histories in non- standard employment (e.g., part-time or temporary work) may not be able to retire at all because they lack access to RRSPs, employer- sponsored pensions, and pensions from the Canada Pension Plan Long-Term Care Policies and Programs Facility- Based Long- Home Care Term Care Supportive/ Assisted Community Living Support Arrangemen Services ts  Home Care Publicly funded health and social services delivered to individuals in their homes or other community settings – Professional health services (nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy) – Assessment and referral to community support services – Personal care services (e.g., bathing, feeding, transferring) Provincial and regional authorities determine service eligibility, levels of care, and budget allocations Social workers have an important role to play in advocating for service consistency and in working alongside interdisciplinary team members to provide relational aspects of care  Community Support Services Not-for-profit, locally run health and social services that supplement home-care services – Transportation – Meal delivery – Adult day programs – Friendly visiting services – In-home support (housekeeping and maintenance) Social workers are pivotal in raising older adults’ and families’ awareness of these services and their potential for providing supplemental support  Supportive/Assisted Living Arrangements Congregate living facilities for older adults who require minimal personal assistance and can direct their own care – Communal meals – Weekly housekeeping – Social programming – 24 hours/day on-site staff Social workers can help older adults and their families understand and access intermediate congregate living options  Facility-Based Long-Term Care Also known as residential-care facilities, nursing homes, or long-term care homes Typically publicly funded and suitable for individuals who need a high level of care – 2.5–3.5 hours of daily personal care – 24-hour supervision – Secure environment 18–33% of Canadians 85 or older relocate to a long-term care facility  Facility-Based Long-Term Care, cont’d Older adults who immigrated to Canada from non-French- or English-speaking countries are less likely to relocate to long-term care than those born in Canada – Some argue this is due to filial obligation, or a sense that families should care for their older relatives – However, when ethno-specific nursing homes are available, many of these older adults view relocation as a viable option – Benefits include services in one’s mother tongue, familiar food, and relatable activities – In some communities, wait lists are so long that people are seen as “lucky” to get a spot Supporting Positive Relocations to Facility-Based Long-Term Care Decision- Moving Stage Initial Making Stage Adjustment Stage Providing Providing Treating opportunitie specific family as s to process information partners in feelings in advance care about Greeting Allowing facility- new residents to based living residents continue Site visits Spending valued Introduction time routines s to orienting residents new residents Elder Abuse  Elder Abuse: A Global Issue Defined by the World Health Organization (2002) as “a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring in any relationship where there is an expectation of trust that causes harm or distress to an older person” Elder abuse can take place in the community (by family members or friends) or in residential settings Commonly recognized forms of elder abuse include physical, psychological, financial, and sexual  Elder Abuse in Canada 4–10% of Canadian seniors experience some type of abuse The most frequently reported types of abuse are financial and emotional abuse (40–70% of all cases) In Canada, most aspects of family life lie within the jurisdiction of the provincial and territorial governments Some provinces and territories have developed adult protection legislation – Adult protection legislation: Gives a specific provincial health or social service department the responsibility to respond to the abuse or neglect cases that are brought to its attention  Social Location and Elder Abuse, cont’d Older adults from divergent social locations may experience additional forms of abuse – Older immigrant, gay/lesbian, Indigenous seniors These forms of abuse are rarely identified in awareness campaigns, government documents, or screening tools  Social Location and Elder Abuse Cultural Structural Experiences and Societal Legal Abuse of Elder Abuse Abuse Inadequate Violation of Shame & government human, disrespect policies & legal, and from adult health-care medical children cuts rights  Social Location and Elder Abuse, cont’d Social workers are well positioned to identify policies and practices that render groups of older adults vulnerable to abuse and advocate for macro-level interventions Theorizing Elder Abuse Macro Theories Ageism Institutional Abuse Micro Theories Caregiver Stress Dysfunctional Familial Dynamics