Aging Practice Tools

The rapid increase in the number of older adults in this country has led to a heightened interest in social work practice with this population. Professional social work services address the important and varied needs of the our nation’s older population in ways unlike those of any other profession. Social workers in this burgeoning area of practice have become increasingly involved in a wider array of settings, including those in the public sector, and non-profit and for-profit organizations. Because there is great diversity among older adults — — and because of their increasing numbers—the settings where social workers practice and the roles they play in gerontology will continue to evolve and expand.

Given the choice, the majority of older Americans would prefer to age in their homes, rather than live in institutional settings(Administration on Aging [AoA], 1998). Although many older individuals are fortunate to live out their lives in their own homes, it is not always possible for them to do so. There are many reasons older people decide to reevaluate their housing situations and consider alternatives.

The rapid increase in the number of older adults in this country has led to a heightened interest in social work practice with this population. Professional social work services address the important and varied needs of our nation's older population through methods unlike those used by other profession.

The relationship between grandparents and grandchildren is often a very special one, but for a growing number of grandparents, grandparenting means raising a family for the second time. Grandparents raising grandchildren is not a new phenomenon. What is new is the increasing number of grandparents caring for their grandchildren, the reasons for these arrangements, and the number of children who are being cared for by a non-parental relative (Flint & Perez-Porter, 1997; Dobrof, 2000).

HIV/AIDS has always been an aging issue. Between 11 and 15% of U.S. AIDS cases occur in people over age 50 (National Association of HIV Over Fifty, 2003). As the general population ages and the generation of baby boomers moves into midlife, the percentage of older adults at risk for HIV will increase.

The social work profession recognizes the importance of support systems in helping older adults to continue living independently in the community. Support systems not only enhance the quality of life for older adults, but also provide assistance with the tasks of daily living and may help delay or avoid institutionalization.