Social Work And People With Dementia

One in ten of us will suffer from dementia and as a result the increasing numbers of older people needing assistance mean that all social workers must be up-to-date in their knowledge, skills and attitudes towards people with dementia and their carers.

This book explores the new skills needed in multidisciplinary work. These include counselling, creative use of the past, groupwork, empowerment, family therapy, care management, and network analysis. The book is intended to build on what readers already know, while exploring new dimensions of work in the field.

This accessible book takes a unique person-centred approach to working with older people and provides an introduction to the legislation, policy, theory and research needed by social workers. The authors explore the experience of being an older person and how practitioners can work to make positive differences to older people's lives. In addition, the book: Goes beyond the mechanistic care management approaches to social work and encourages the reader to see older people holistically Features case studies and exercises to assist readers in reflecting on their practice Examines a range of contexts and perspectives, including sexuality, spirituality, learning disabilities Encourages wider reflection on the constraints posed by organisations employing social workers and the impact on their practice Provides an up-to-date exploration of safeguarding issues The authors take into account financial constraints with regard to the care of older people and the impact of a changing demography, but remain upbeat and positive about the value of social work intervention. Social Work with Older People is relevant for students on placement in adult services or voluntary organizations and social work practitioners working with older people. Contributors: Gill Butler, Rick Fisher, Chris Gaine, David Gaylard, John Gisby, Vivienne Killner, Andrea Linell, Andy Mantell, Debbie Smallbones, Chris Smethurst, Sally Stapleton, Graham Tooth, Christine Wright

"Practical coverage of driving, day care, support groups, and respite is particularly welcome. This is a good book to have available, not just for social work faculty and students, but also for those in the health sciences, psychology, and sociology. It will be a useful resource for professionals coping with the increasing problems for family and community that an aging population and the epidemic of Alzheimer's disease bring with them....Recommended. Lower-level undergraduate through professionals/practitioners."--Choice Beyond the immediate and devastating effects dementia can have on individuals and their quality of life are the strains that are placed on the families, caregivers, and communities that support them. Social workers are in a unique position to address all these issues at the same time that they provide care for individuals with dementia. To facilitate the entrance of social workers into this area of care, Carol B. Cox has edited a volume of expert articles on the biological, psychological, and social aspects of dementia. . Readers will learn the latest assessment instruments, as well as how to distinguish between Alzheimer's and non-Alzheimer's dementias. Intervention strategies for every stage of dementia are presented. The effects of culture and diversity on the treatment of persons with dementia are examined, including examples of successful programs from several countries. The benefits and drawbacks of adult day services, community care, and residential care are discussed. Finally, a discussion of the legal, financial, and psychological stresses faced by caregivers of those with dementia rounds out this much needed text.

Social Work Practice with People with Dementia critically discusses the cultural and discursive contexts in which social work with dementia takes place. This is because how we think about dementia influences how we treat people living with the condition. The book also explains the demographic context that has made dementia a global public health priority in recent years. The different forms of dementia are discussed in a way that is accessible to a non-medical readership. The book discusses the different settings and circumstances in which social work with people with dementia and their carers takes place and examines the chief elements of the social work role. In doing this, it explains the professional knowledge, skills and values that social workers need in order to practice effectively in this area of growing importance. Part of this is appreciating how approaches to dementia care have evolved over time. In this context, the book discusses how the dominant bio-medical model has been challenged by person-centred and rights-based approaches. As a key part of social work is to offer people choices, the book provides information about a wide range of health, social care and other services that are available, whilst also highlighting the gaps that exist for different groups and in different areas. Case studies and activities help the reader apply theory to practice. Social Work Practice with People with Dementia will be of particular interest to social work students and early career social workers, primarily in a UK context. However, it contains much relevant information about dementia and dementia practice for anyone involved with adult health and social care both in the UK and around the world.

This practical book enables those already practicing or joining social work to consider the various ways that people can be supported to live well with dementia. Areas focused on include how the personalisation agenda is changing services through self-directed support, re-enablement and telecare, how risk can be managed while choice and independence are maintained, and how safeguarding of people with dementia can be positively practiced. The authors present information on essential new developments in the field of dementia care including changes in legislation and Government policy as well as providing examples of positive practice from around the country.

Older people are the biggest service user group for social workers and an increasing proportion of the population. In this refreshingly positive and practical textbook, Rory Lynch draws on years of practice and teaching experience to show how to achieve best social work practice with older adults. He takes a person-centred approach, which fosters respect by valuing the fact that elderly people have more lived experience than others. Exploring the key theoretical approaches and methods of intervention, this book helps social workers to identify, understand and facilitate their service users’ wishes for well-being and a fulfilling older age. Chapters are practice-driven, containing case studies drawn from a range of care settings, reflective questions and exercises. Mapping directly onto the key modules on the social work degree, this is essential reading for all student social workers, especially as they prepare to go on their practice placement. It is also valuable reading for qualified social workers. Rory Lynch is Lecturer in Social Work at Robert Gordon University.

Gerontological Social Work in Action introduces "anti-oppression gerontology" (AOG), a critical approach to social work with older adults, their families, and communities. AOG principles are applied to direct and indirect practice and a range of topics of relevance to social work practice in the context of a rapidly aging and increasingly diverse world. Weaving together stories from diverse older adults, theories, research, and practical tools, this unique textbook prompts social workers to think differently and push back against oppressive forces. It pays attention to issues, realities, and contexts that are largely absent in social work education and gerontological practice, including important developments in our understanding of age/ism; theories of aging and social work; sites and sectors of health and social care; managing risk and frailty; moral, ethical and legal questions about aging including medical assistance in dying; caregiving; dementia and citizenship; trauma; and much more. This textbook should be considered essential reading for social work students new to or seeking to specialize in aging, as well as those interested in the application of anti-oppressive principles to working with older adults and researching later life.