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 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.

In November 2000 Congress reauthorized the Older Americans Act and created the National Family Caregiver Support Program, an important program designed to help family members provide care for an older adult at home. The NFCSP was developed by the Administration on Aging (AoA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  

Since Congress enacted legislation in 1982 creating a Medicare Hospice Benefit (PL 97-248), access to end–of–life care through hospice has grown steadily. Still, relatively few people are aware that this benefit exists.