Elderly people

One of the fastest-growing populations that social workers provide services to is the aging population. For social workers, older adults offer unique challenges that are not present in other populations. There are many challenges that aging adults face in our society which range from medical and mental health to financial concerns.

Among the most shared challenges facing older adults are medical conditions that attack cognition. Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease are the most common medical conditions that older adults suffer from; both directly impair cognition to various levels. Dementia is a general term for loss of memory and other mental abilities severe enough to interfere with daily life. The most common form of Dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Each form of dementia has different symptoms and physical impact on the brain. Social workers will need to be versed in several types of dementia and the interventions available to best address their clients’ needs.

Not only are older adults more prone to diseases that impact physical health and cognition, but the population has its own unique set of mental health concerns. As we age, there are also mental health concerns that are a direct result of growing older. Depression is common among the aging population due to a variety of reasons. Grief and loss are two contributing factors to elder depression. Isolation is also a contributing factor for depression. Isolation rates for older adults are high due to physical immobility and lack of transportation. Social workers working with this population must address grief, loss, and isolation with their clients to provide better mental health care.

Nursing facilities provide a wide range of services for residents. All meals and domestic services are covered by staff. There are a variety of medical professionals that are employed by these facilities. They provide 24-hour medical care for those who can no longer remain in the community and need extra support than assisted living facilities provide. Many nursing facilities also provide rehabilitation services such as physical therapy, for those recovering from surgery or serious illness.

Along with nursing staff, nursing facilities employ a broad range of professions to best provide services. Social workers, dietitians, physical therapists, maintenance staff, and environmental services are just some professions outside of nursing that are employed in these types of facilities. Social workers in nursing facilities are tasked with the residents’ mental health and emotional well-being. Social workers in these facilities most commonly work with residents who are experiencing depression, and dementia. Social workers often play a significant role in nursing facilities as they may also help with admissions, day-to-day activities, and discharge planning.

Social work with persons with disabilities.

Social workers provide services to a variety of populations on a daily basis. One such population is people with disabilities.  Disabilities can take many forms, such as physical, cognitive, or mental illness. The broad range of potential disabilities can pose many unique challenges for social workers. It is also important to note that while disabilities can be a singular occurrence for some individuals, disabilities often span across many population segments. It is common for people with disabilities to suffer from victimization, stigmatization, and segregation in our society. Therefore, all social workers, no matter what area of social work they are in, should be knowledgeable about the types of disabilities and those who live their lives with them. They must also be able to recognize and address ableism as it arises in their practice.

Physical Disability: a limitation on a person’s physical functioning, mobility, dexterity, or stamina.

Cognitive disabilities, also known as intellectual disabilities, are other forms of disabilities that social workers will encounter in the field. There are many types of cognitive disabilities that can vary in impact, but all affect a person’s mental functioning and skills to some extent:

• Autism
• Down Syndrome
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Dementia
• Dyslexia
• ADHD
• Learning Disabilities

Mental Illness is considered a wide range of mental health conditions — disorders that affect mood, thinking and behavior. Mental illnesses such as Schizophrenia, Borderline Personality Disorder, and bipolar disorder can be so severe that an individual’s everyday life is impacted. Mental illness impairs an individual’s ability to function, it can be considered a disability.

Individuals with visual disabilities, also sometimes called visual impairments, have a decreased ability to see, even when using glasses or contact lenses. People who are blind may have no ability to see, or very limited usable vision 

Auditory disabilities impact an individual’s ability to hear sounds, and hearing loss occurs on a spectrum. Deaf individuals have little to no functional hearing, while those who are hard of hearing have some degree of hearing loss and ability.

Competencies for the social worker with individuals with disabilities

Basic to the social worker’s work with those with disabilities is the core belief that persons with disabilities are equals, and a willingness to advocate for any anti-ableist attitudes and social inclusion.

Such competency will certainly include the social worker’s willingness to advocate for access to needed resources and for the client’s competency in decision- making.

The social worker demonstrates respect for those with disabilities in their incorporation of respectful language, joining advocacy efforts, and challenging beliefs that persons must “overcome” their disabilities.

Practice competencies would include the following:

• A social worker’s practice being person-centered as well as engaging the person in decisions impacting their life.
• Practice from a strengths-based perspective that focuses on the person’s existing strengths and resources.
• Attend to any situations or conditions that are challenging persons with disabilities and their family or support network.