The Spring 2001 AGEnda was posted online as HTML instead of the current PDF format.
March 2001
8-11 Annual Program Meeting, Council on Social Work Education; Dallas,
Texas
9 AGE-SW Membership Meeting and Awards Ceremony, Adams Mark, 6-7 p.m.,
San Antonio Ballroom B
24 Abstracts due: Association for Advancement of Social Work with Groups
(AASWG). Symposium to be held Oct. 11-14 in Fairlawn, OH
April 2001
4-7 "Aging’s Traditions, Transitions, Techno-logies: The Southern
Touch." 22nd Annual Meeting of the Southern Geronto-logical Society.
Marriot’s Griffin Gate Resort. Contact: (423) 439-6275 or lloyd@atsu.edu
This year is the 20th anniversary of AGE - SW!!! This anniversary year is a good time to reflect on the changes, achievements, and challenges that we have undertaken over the past two decades. In this feature, we are fortunate to have two leaders in social work education provide a perspective on our organization.
The Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work celebrates its Twentieth birthday in 2001. Any group that survives 20 years intact must have a story to tell! As the organization most persistently committed to the education of social workers in the field of gerontology, learning more about its beginnings, middle, and current status may be instructive and motivational. Let's go back to 1981 and the cities of Cincinnati and Louisville. President Reagan had just been elected and there was a battle going on over the 1981 White House Conference on Aging, initiated by President Carter, but now subject to the new administration. Gary Nelson from the University of North Carolina had just completed a survey of social work programs, noting the extent to which gerontology was offered to students. An informal group of gerontological social workers/educators (Beattie, Biddle, Hartford, Hashimi, Hooyman, Kosberg, Lohmann, Louis Lowy, McCaslin, Monk, Rathbone-McCuan, Victor Schneider, Robert Schneider, Sherman, Zelinsky) had gathered in Cincinnati for the Association of Gerontology in Higher Education annual conference much as they had done since the mid-seventies to discuss the status of gerontology in social work. The meeting followed its usual format: "greetings, how are you? how's the research? any students interested in aging? nice book/article, ain't it awful that CSWE continues to ignore gerontology? see you next meeting/year."
As the meeting closed, Robert Schneider of Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work posed three questions: Why do we have to wait until CSWE pays attention to gerontology? Why can't we organize ourselves into an independent association? Who wants to continue this conversation in two weeks in Louisville at the 1981 APM of CSWE? Enthusiasm and skepticism both emerged from these questions, but several agreed to meet in Louisville. Bob brought a plan to initiate a group called the National Committee for Gerontology in Social Work Education (NCGSWE), and persuaded a small group to "do what it takes" in order to promote gerontology at our programs. Lee Rathbone-McCuan and Bob agreed to co-chair the new group as new vitality flowed among those present. Soon, a mission statement (still in use) was developed and approved. A set of by-laws was drawn up and an application for 501 c(3) status was submitted. Elections were held and Bob Schneider was elected the first President of NSGSWE, a position he held until 1985. Its first resource was Gerontology in Social Work: Selected Course Outlines-1982, Series 001, printed and distributed to the group whose dues were $7.50 per year. Annual meetings were held in conjunction with APM of CSWE, AGHE, NASW, and The Gerontological Society of America's meetings and other conferences. Links were made with NASW national. Recruitment of other members followed and by 1985, there were over 250 members linked through a newsletter, AGEnda, published three times a year, and affiliation at meetings.
Then, the day came in 1983 that NCGSWE had been waiting for. Bob received a phone call from CSWE asking for NCGSWE assistance on a grant application to the USDHHS Administration on Aging to "strengthen social work curricula in aging content." Now, CSWE needed NCGSWE, and it was ready to respond with knowledge and resources. A $150,000 grant was soon awarded to CSWE and administered at VCU by Bob with an advisory board of members of NSCSWE. It produced four volumes of curricular materials focused on: specializations in aging, continuing education, integrating aging content into all courses, and equally important was the establishment of a national network whereby every MSW program in the country was asked to appoint a Liaison to NCGSWE who would serve as a distributor of gerontological content and teaching materials. The heart of this network was NSCSWE.
By 1985, leadership changes occurred with the next President, Gary Nelson of University of North Carolina, from 1985-86. In 1987, Lee Rathbone McCuan of the University of Vermont became President, and Rosemary McCaslin of California State at San Bernardino, Treasurer, and they served until 1992. In 1992, Amanda Barusch of the University of Utah was elected President and Nancy Morrow-Howell of Washington University, Treasurer, and they served until 1994. Connie Saltz Corley of the University of Maryland served as President and JoAnn Damron Rodriquez of the GRECC at VA Medical Center West in Los Angeles as Vice President from 1994 until 1997. Virginia Richardson of Ohio State University served as President and Robin Goldberg-Glen of Widener University, Vice President and Matthias Naleppa of VCU as Treasurer from 1997-2000. Nancy P. Kropf of the University of Georgia was elected President, Robert Schneider of VCU as Vice President, and Matthias Naleppa of VCU as Treasurer to three year terms in 2000-2003.
Major events and activities occurring since 1981 include:
From our roots, we have accomplished a great deal!!!
Abraham Monk, the first Career Achievement Award Recipient, provides us with thoughts about social work education over the past twenty years, and helps us focus on the continued challenges for the decades ahead.
AGEnda: Reflecting
back on the past 20 years, what are the major successes that we in social
work eduation have made in preparing students for the field of aging?
Monk: Social work education scored only moderate successes
in the past 20 years, as far as the training of Gerontological practitioners
is concerned. On the positive side of the ledger there has been a formal
adoption of an aging-centered compact, or field of practice, in many schools.
Moreover, a substantial body of research and practice related literature
have bolstered these educational initiatives. The downside consists of the
limited numerical appeal of gerontology. It is not a magnet attracting students
in direct proportion to the growing demographic significance of aging. Students
rally instead to the more glamorized fields of practice where, at least
hypothetically, they anticipate a more fertile ground for a psychotherapeutic
practice. In addition, there is a wide range of curricular requirements.
Some schools have succeeded in infusing aging-related content throughout
the entire curriculum, while other have limited it to just an elective course.
AGEnda: In your view, how has the field of aging changed in the
past two decades, and how does that impact us as social work educators?
Monk: The main changes aim to follow the emerging profile
of the aging population. There is an increase of morbidity-more frailty
and chronic and debilitating infirmities-simply because more people live
longer. There are also more people living longer with excellent health,
as self-sufficient individuals. The economic and educational level of the
new aged has been improving steadily. Social work ought to be attuned to
the continuum ranging from wellness to illness, and from independence, to
dependence, and to end of live circumstances. We may be dealing with two
or even three distinct generations in aging. Regrettably, this cannot be
done with just one course, or even a yearlong placement in a single agency.
Years ago I proposed that students in aging rotate through a continuum of
agencies or services within agencies, some of no more than two weeks duration,
the way medical students do their service rotations. Given the prevailing
static model of field training that has remained unchanged for about half
a century, it is not surprising that my suggestion was turned down. I am
afraid we are not responding fast enough to the increasing complexity and
differentiation that are occurring in the world of aging.
AGEnda: Do you have a particular story or memory that you
can share with us that has meaning for you as a "pioneer" in social
work education and aging?
Monk: My memories as a Gerontological educator are most gratifying.
Starting as I did in the initial stages of this discipline I found myself
having to improvise, create and experiment with new solutions. There were
few antecedents or models to guide my generation. We often borrowed and
tested what we observed in other helping professions. And yet I was not
part of the very first cadre of pioneers. I want to mention here a few names
that truly deserve recognition as the founding "parents" of our
field. I am referring to Florence Vickery who launched the senior center
movement in the 1940's. Also, Louis Lowy, who conceptualized social work
education and group practice in aging, and Elaine Brody, who defined both
theoretically and clinically the practice in long term care facilities.
We should not forget our roots.
Once
again, we recognize the many achievements of our members!
Kathryn Adams completed her PhD in the School of Social
Work at the University of Maryland!
Mercedes Bern-Klug has developed wall charts describing
issues associated with aging. Please consult the Center on Aging, University
of Kansas Medical Center's web site for 3 examples of wall charts appropriate
for lay people: Alzheimer's; Stroke; End of Life issues. Click to "information
for older adults & families" at their web site, www2.kumc.edu/coa. These
wall charts have been designed for older adults in Kansas, yet much of
the information is relevant in all states. The web site also includes
fact sheets on aging and health related issues. For more information,
please contact Mercedes Bern-Klug, at mbernklu@kumc.edu.
Connie Saltz Corley, Professor, School of Social Work, University
of Maryland has been made a Fellow of the Association for Gerontology
in Higher Education. Connie was honored at the AGHE meeting in February
2001 held in San Jose. In addition, Connie appeared on WBAL, Channel 11
in Baltimore in November and December 2000 to discuss topics of older
voters and the reaction of older adults to the holiday season. The Ohio
News Herald also interviewed her the about violence and older adults.
Sadhna Diwan, Associate Professor in Social Work at Georgia
State Univer-sity received funding from NIA to study health and well being
of older Asian immigrants. The study is expected to enhance a conceptual
understanding of the relationship between acculturation, health, and psychosocial
well being within this diverse immigrant group, and will provide data
for the construction of culturally relevant community interventions for
this minority group.
Charles Emlet, Assistant Professor of Social Work at University
of Washington, Tacoma will be visiting faculty at the University College
of Social Work, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, during March 2001.
Nancy P. Kropf was selected to be a Fellow in the Social Research,
Policy, and Practice Section of GSA.
A wonderful component of AGE-SW is the opportunity to provide and receive mentoring through our organizational network. Over our 20-year history, many of us have received valuable guidance and support as we started our own careers in social work education and aging. As our careers became more established, we often find ourselves in the role of mentoring others. Our feature paper this issue looks at mentoring from both of these perspectives as two or our members, Connie Saltz Corley and Deborah Waldrop, offer their own ideas and experiences about the mentoring process.
Being a Mentor
By Connie Saltz Corley, School of Social Work, University of Maryland
Anyone who knows
the word "mentsh" will know that a mentor is one! It's a Yiddish
word that I won't try to translate but "a good soul" is a starter.
And to be a mentor requires being available to help another and we have
many examples of this among our AGE-SW members!
Over the last year or so I have sent out queries to people in advance
of meetings I have attended and tried to help the networking process.
AGHE (2001 in San Jose) is one good place to get together. Any members
who want to network there, a good time would be the special interest group
luncheon. Other conferences that provide opportunities to work with others
include ASA and SSWR. Otherwise, I recommend doing what I just did for
a doctoral student whom I advise: go through the membership directory
and make contact with people according to the special interests they list.
Another mentoring initiative is taking place on my campus, which is to
start a mentoring group between our graduates and current Aging specializers.
Among the activities to be planned are: forming a chapter of Phi Omega
(aging honor society; check www.aghe.org for more information), a kick-off
reception, and a brochure describing aging and offerings at the University
of Maryland, Baltimore School of Social Work. For more information contact
me at: ccorley@ssw.umaryland.edu or 410-706-7544.
Importance
of Mentorship
By Deborah Waldrop, School of Social Work, University at Buffalo
A delightful and
energizing feeling comes from connecting with people who share your interests.
AGE-SW facilitates important networking between social work students,
educators and researchers who are involved in the issues that are changing
and challenging our aging society. As an icon for gerontological social
work, AGE-SW facilitates connections between individuals, within the profession
and across disciplines. This presence also makes a tremendous difference
for people who seek connections with others during career transitions,
as I did.
AGE-SW colleagues provided encouragement and mentorship that has been
critically important as I moved from social work practice into the world
of higher education. As a returning student in a multidisciplinary but
non-social work doctoral program, I was without gerontological social
work peers. My search for a network of colleagues led me to AGE-SW members
who were presenting at conferences I planned to attend. They generously
gave time, consultation, and encouragement. These conversations helped
develop my insight about how to integrate practice experience, teaching
and research. Later, AGE-SW colleagues offered guidance and support during
my search for a faculty position. Their feedback helped me identify the
essential factors which contribute to the 'goodness of fit' I now feel
in my position as an Assistant Professor. Most recently, I have turned
to AGE-SW colleagues for feedback on my research agenda and current projects.
The input I have received is invaluable.
The personal and professional support I have felt from AGE-SW colleagues
has had different meaning at each stage of my development from practitioner
to faculty member. The special blend of expertise and camaraderie that
exists in this organization is energizing. AGE-SW's impact begins with
individuals who help each other, but the circles of influence continue
to be ever widening.
AGHE and Generations Together are sponsoring another round of grants through the Corporation for National Services. These funds are primarily for integrating existing gerontology courses with intergenerational learning. A Request for Proposals is due by March 31, 2001 and is available at: www.pitt.edu/~gti/service or via email at: jmccrea@pitt.edu.
The John A. Hartford Foundation is providing $2.54 million to fund a doctoral fellows program. The Geriatric Social Work Doctoral Fellows Program will award eight advanced geriatric social work doctoral students with $40,000 in dissertation grants plus other career development enhancements for a two-year period. Dr. Jim Lubben, UCLA, is PI for this program. Deadline for application is: April 2, 2001. Find details and application requirements at: http://www.geron.org/socialwork.html. or contact Jim at: lubben@ucla.edu
The Soros Foundation's Project on Death in America sponsors Leadership Development Awards. During the first year in existence, this program awarded 15 social workers with $60,000 to advance social work education and research in the area of dying and the bereaved. Applications for 14 additional awards are planned with applications due by March 15, 2000. For details, check out: http://www.soros.org/death.
The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College is seeking proposals for the Steven H. Sandell Grant Program for Junior Scholars in Retirement Research. Grant awards of up to $25,000 will be given to success applicants. All applicants are required to have a PhD or comparable professional certification. Deadline for proposals is March 16, 2001. Submission guidelines are available at http://www.bc.edu/crr or email at: lidstone@bc.edu.
Want to get more involved in AGE-SW without too much effort??? Volunteer to do a book review for AGEnda. Also, become a reviewer for the Gerontology Symposium at the APM - we need your help in both of these areas!!!!! To get involved, contact Anissa Rogers, University of Portland,rogers@up.edu.
Greetings, everyone! Since our last AGEnda, our Fall 2000 newsletter, a lot has happened: after a lengthy process, we elected a new U.S. President; another social worker, Debbie Stabenow (D - MI), was elected to the U.S. Senate; and some of us experienced the worst winter weather that we’ve had in several years. Another noteworthy item is about AGE - SW . . . we had a attendance-breaking membership meeting at the Gerontological Society of America conference in November! Our standing-room-only meeting had over 90 members present, and was a very exciting and vitalizing event as we spent time with so many other social workers with interests in aging! Our membership meeting even made the front page of the GSA newsletter, which is nice publicity for social work and our organization.
The year 2001 also brings additional excitement as AGE - SW turns 20 years old! Back in 1981, our current Vice President, Bob Schneider, was elected as the first President of the National Committee for Gerontology in Social Work Education, NCGSWE. We are fortunate to have Bob provide an historical perspective and chronology of our organization in our Feature Story and Interview section. Many of you have been members since those early days, and this essay will give you an opportunity to do a little "AGE - SW life review" as you revisit our early successes and challenges. For our newer members, we hope that this information provides you with a sense of our roots and the work that our pioneering members accomplished to bring us to the place that we are today. Along with Bob’s essay, Abraham Monk, one of our founding members and the first recipient of our Career Achievement Award, provides us with a perspective on social work education over the past two decades. He also explores some challenges that we continue to face as we move into our next twenty years.
Mentoring and career guidance has always been a valuable aspect of AGE - SW, especially for doctoral students and new faculty. Connie Saltz Corley has been a leader in fostering mentor relationships within AGE - SW. In our Feature Story, Connie provides some thoughts about mentoring, and helps us think of ways that we can all serve as mentors. In addition, Deborah Waldrop provides a personal perspective and the meaning of being mentored within her own professional development. I need to thank Deborah for writing this feature - she made the mistake of telling me this moving story and I replied with, "You must write that for our next issue of AGEnda!!"
There are a few other features in this AGEnda that warrant your attention. Two books by AGE - SW members have been reviewed in this issue. Lois Cowles’ book on Social Work in the Health Care Field was reviewed by Carolyn Tice. In addition, Sharon Keigher co-edited a book with two colleagues, Aging and Social Work: The Changing Landscapes which was reviewed by Anita Rosen. I hope that you consider adding these books to your course reading lists. Starting with the next issue, Anissa Rogers one of our Board of Directors, has agreed to take over the book review feature. We need both reviewers and books to be reviewed. I hope that we can prioritize those books by our members - so please let Anissa know if you have a recent book that you would like reviewed in AGEnda, or if you are willing to complete a review. Anissa’s email is rogers@up.edu.
Hopefully this newsletter will be in your hands by the Annual Program Meeting of CSWE in March! I hope to see everyone at our Membership Meeting, which will be held on March 9, from 6 - 7 pm in the San Antonio Ballroom B. At this meeting, the 2001 Award Recipients will be recognized so please be sure to join us for this celebration. Since the inception of the award competition, we’ve honored several members in the following categories: Previous Career Achievement Award Recipients— Abraham Monk, Rose Dobrof, Nancy Hooyman, & Jordan Kosberg; Previous Leadership Award Recipients— Terry Tirrito, Connie Saltz Corley, Anita Rosen & Nancy Morrow-Howell; Previous Faculty Achievement Award Recipients— Ada Mui, Marla Berg Weger & Esme Fuller-Thompson. We look forward to adding the names of the 2001 recipients to this very impressive list! And I look forward to seeing all of you in Dallas.
With warm wishes,
Nancy
Bern-Klug, M., DeViney,
S., & Ekerdt, D. (2000). Variations in funeral-related costs
of older adults and the role of preneed funeral contracts. Omega: Journal
of Death & Dying, 41(1): 23-38.
Burnette, D. (Ed.) (2000) Mental Health of Grandparents
Raising Grandchildren. Journal of Mental Health and Aging 6(4)(entire
issue).
Cowles, L. A. F. (2000). Social work in the health care field:
A care perspective. New York: Haworth Press. (see Book Review Section)
Cummings, S. & Kropf, N.P (2000). An infusion model
for including content on elders with chronic mental illness in the curriculum.
Advances in Social Work, 1(1), 93-105.
Cummings, S., Kropf, N. P. & DeWeaver, K. (2000). Knowledge
of and attitudes toward aging among non-elders: Gender and race differences.
Journal of Women & Aging. 12(1), 77-91.
Emlet, C. A. (2001). Assessment Tools/Devices. In M. D.
Mezey (ed.). Encyclopedia of Elder Care: The Comprehensive Resource on
Geriatric and Social Care (pp. 70-73). New York: Springer.
Emlet, C. A. & Rang, A. (2001). Aging Agencies: City/County
Level. In M. D. Mezey (ed.). Encyclopedia of Elder Care: The Comprehensive
Resource on Geriatric and Social Care (pp. 30-32). New York: Springer.
Emlet, C. A. & Hokenstad, M. C. (in press). Geriatric
home and community based care training project for transitional societies
of Central and Eastern Europe through Asia. Gerontology and Geriatrics
Education, 21(4).
Forbes, S., Bern-Klug, M., & Gessert, C. (2000). End
of life decision making on behalf of nursing home residents with dementia.
Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 23(3): 251-258.
Greene, R. R. (2000) Social work with the aged and their
families. (2nd ed.). New York: Aldine DeGruyter.
Gupta, R. (In Press). Virtuous Transcendence: Holistic self-cultivation
and self healing in elderly Korean immigrants. Clinical Gerontologist.
22 #3/4. Book Review.
Huber, R., Borders, K., Netting, F. E. & Nelson, H. W.
(forthcoming in 2001). Data from long term-care ombudsman programs in
six states: The implications of collecting resident demographics. The
Gerontologist.
Huber, R., Borders, K., Netting, F.E., Badrack, K., & Nelson,H.
W. (forthcoming in 2001). National standards for the long-term
careombudsman program and a tool to assess compliance: The Huber-Badrack-Borders
scales. The Gerontologist.
Huber, R., Borders, K.; Netting, F. E., & Kautz, J. R. (2000).
Interpreting the meaning of ombudsman data across states: The critical
analyst-practitioner link. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 19(1), 3-22.
Keigher, S. M., Fortune, A. E. & Witkin, S. L. (eds.)
(2000). Aging and social work: The changing landscapes. MD: NASW (see
Book Review Section)
McCallion, P. & Janicki, J. P. (ed.). (2001). Grandparents
as carers of children with disabilities: Facing the challenges. New York:
Haworth
Netting, F. E. & Williams, F. G. (2000). Expanding the
boundaries of primary care for elderly people. Health & Social Work,
25(4), 233-242.
Netting, F.E. & Williams, F. G. (2000). The importance
of understanding physician practice cultures for geriatric collaboration.
National Academies of Practice Forum: Issues in Interdisciplinary Care,
2(1), 29-36.
Netting, F.E., Huber, R., Borders, K., Kautz, J. R.; & Nelson,
H. W. (2000). Volunteer and paid ombudsmen investigating complaints
in six states: A natural triaging. Nonprofit Voluntary Sector Quarterly,
29(3), 419-438.
Schneider, R. L. & Lester, L. (2001). Social work advocacy.
CA: Brooks-Cole.
Websites
Publications and Audio-Visual
Social Work in the Health Field
by Lois Cowles
New York: Haworth Press
$49.95 Hardcover
$29.95 Paper
340 pp with index
Reviewed by: Carolyn
J. Tice, Associate Professor and Chairperson,
Department of Social Work Ohio University
In the 1990s, the time seemed
right for national health care reform. The pressing problems associated
with health care access and cost converged with a sense of political opportunities.
Unfortunately, the Clinton administration did not usher in significant
health care reform; however, the conjuncture of problems and politics
continues to maintain the issue of health care at the top of the national
agenda.
Cowles tackles the issues of health care delivery from a social work perspective.
Written as an introduction to social work practice in the field of health,
Social Work in the Health Field is divided into three broad sections with
nine chapters. Beginning with the historical background and current settings
for social work in health care, Cowles describes some basic theoretical
concepts such as person-in-the-environment, the biopsychosocial model,
medical care and health care, and curing and caring. Using the basics
as a backdrop, she presents generic and special knowledge requirements
for social work practice in health care settings including values, ethics,
and issues of diversity.
Chapters 3 through 7 respectively address social work in primary care,
hospitals, home care, nursing homes, and hospice care. All the chapters
include pertinent tables or charts and references to the NASW Code of
Ethics. Summary statements and conclusions do a good job of bringing the
chapters together in a cohesive fashion. Although little of the material
in these chapters is new or provocative, Cowles does highlight the dynamic
role of social work in health care settings.
The strengths and shortcomings of the U.S. health care system are provided
in Chapter 8 followed by a summary of health care trends in Chapter 9.
Of particular interest in Chapter 9 is the stated need for outcome research
in social work to enhance the knowledge of best practices and for the
development of care technology.
Social Work in the Health Field achieves its stated purpose as an introductory
text in social work in health care. Certain aspects of the book, such
as health insurance as entitlement and inequalities in the health care
system, would be served by increased coverage. In addition, the role of
social workers as change agents and in advocacy is not addressed in any
depth. Thus, this book is most effective as a beginning text in the study
of social work in health care.
Aging and Social Work: The Challenging Landscapes
by S. Keigher, A. Fortune,
& S. Witkins (Eds.)
Washington, DC: NASW Press
$39.99 Paper
Reviewed by: Anita Rosen, Council on Social Work Education
The National Association of
Social Workers developed this compilation of gerontological social work
articles in response to the 1999 U.N. Year of Older Persons. This book
includes articles on aging published in Health & Social Work, Social
Work and Social Work Research between 1998 and early 2000. While aging
has not always been a high priority in the field of social work or in
social work publications, this compilation provides research and discussion
that help to describe the current state of knowledge in gerontological
social work. Aging and Social Work is a positive effort to bring aging
content to social work.
The book is divided into an Overview section and five chapters on such
topics as Independence, Participation, Care, Self-Fulfillment, and Dignity,
in order to examine a "broad spectrum of aging persons ranging from
the dependent and needy to the independent with other kinds of needs,
as well a those who fall between these two extremes" (p. xii). Each
section is introduced with a brief but insightful essay and the chapter
contents cover a range of macro and micro subjects that can be of use
to students and practitioners who are specialists in aging services as
well as courses for mental health, policy and health students. Many of
the articles, such as "Preserving End-of-Life Autonomy: The Patient
Self-Determination Act and the Uniform Health Care Decisions Act"
by Colleen Galambos have become a part of many courses syllabi or recommended
readings. Articles also include content on racial and ethnic groups, dementia,
income security and Medicare, screening, and various practice arenas such
as hospice, long-term care, oncology, cardiac care, and home care. Grandparent
issues and caregiving also are covered.
This reader makes use of the five principles of the U.N. International
Year of Older Persons to offer a perspective for the entire book, and
a close reading suggests that the growing aging population provides challenges
and opportunities for society and the social work profession. The editor's
conclude that there are vast socioeconomic differences and inequities
within the elderly population, as well as intergenerational, morbidity
and mortality differentials. While the articles selected in this book
reflect the publications from which they were taken, this book does provide
a good source for selected readings about contemporary social work and
aging. A substantial number of the 27 articles could readily be used in
foundation and specialty Policy, Practice, Diversity, Ethics, and Human
Behavior courses to initiate discussion and suggest practice and policy
issues that are integral to a lifespan approach to social work.