Gerontology: A Field of Practice
Volume 1. The Profession of Social Work
Roberta R. Greene,
Namkee Choi,
Roberta R. Greene
University of Texas—Austin, School of Social Work, Austin, Texas, US
Search for more papers by this authorNamkee Choi
University of Texas—Austin, School of Social Work, Austin, Texas, US
Search for more papers by this authorRoberta R. Greene,
Namkee Choi,
Roberta R. Greene
University of Texas—Austin, School of Social Work, Austin, Texas, US
Search for more papers by this authorNamkee Choi
University of Texas—Austin, School of Social Work, Austin, Texas, US
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Advances in health care and technology have contributed to a longevity revolution. In 2004, life expectancy at birth in the United States is now 75.2 years for men and 80.4 years for women (National Center for Health Statistics), and life expectancy for both men and women is expected to continue to increase, creating a demographic imperative to attend to the very old, who may be frail and or suffer from chronic health and cognitive impairments.
Geriatric social work practice encompasses a broad spectrum of roles and functions and addresses a variety of client needs ranging from acute health care to supportive social care. Social workers who specialize in assisting older adults and their families are employed in an array of settings, including hospitals, government agencies, and advocacy organizations. They may be engaged in direct service, in program planning and evaluation, in education and training, and in administration and policy, planning organizational structures and activities. This chapter provides an overview of the practice spectrum in which geriatric social work is conducted, and the broader attitudinal, political, social, economic, and demographic context within which it takes place.
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