Social Work with Older Adults

Kathleen McInnis-Dittrich is an Associate Professor at the Boston College Graduate School of Social Work and Chair of the Older Adults and Families Concentration. She received her B.A. from Marquette University, her MSW from Tulane University and her Ph.D from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has extensive practice experience with older adults in community, residential and health care settings. She taught for 15 years at Marquette University and has been on the faculty at Boston College since 1994. Dr. McInnis-Dittrich’s writing and research is focused on clinical and macro practice with older adults. Her writing has appeared in Families in Society, Aging and Mental Health, The Clinical Supervisor, Social Development Issues, Migration Today, Journal of Women and Aging,  Educational Gerontology, Race, Gender and Class, and Journal of Teaching in Social Work. She is the author of three books: Social Work with Older Adults: A Biopsychosocial Approach to Assessment and Intervention, Integrating Social Welfare Policy and Social Work Practice and The Hmong in America: Providing Ethnic-Sensitive Health, Education, and Human Services. She has also contributed to the Handbook of Social Work and Aging, Social Work Practice with Asian Americans, and Collaborative Practice.

In this Section: 
1. Brief Table of Contents

2. Full Table of Contents

 

 

BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS:

 

Chapter 1: The Context of Social Work Practice with Older Adults

Chapter 2: Biological Changes and the Physical Well-Being of Older Adults

Chapter 3: Psychosocial Adjustments to Aging

Chapter 4: Conducting a Biopsychosocial Assessment
Chapter 5: Differential Assessment and Diagnosis of Cognitive and Emotional Problems of Older Adults


Chapter 6: Interventions for Depression, Anxiety and Dementia in Older Adults

Chapter 7: Alternative Interventions in the Socioemotional Problems of Older Adults


Chapter 8: Substance Abuse and Suicide Prevention in Older Adults

Chapter 9: Social Work Practice in Identifying and Preventing Abuse and Neglect of Older Adults
Chapter 10: Spirituality and Social Work with Older Adults 
Chapter 11: End-of-Life Care for Older Adults 
Chapter 12: Working with Older Adults’ Support Systems: Spouses, Partners, Families, and Caregivers 
 


FULL TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Chapter 1: The Context of Social Work Practice with Older Adults
Aging in the Twenty-First Century 
The Demography of Aging 
Settings for Gerontological Social Work 
Developing Areas for Direct Practice 
Macro Settings for Gerontological Social Workers 
Personal and Professional Issues in Work with Older Adults

 

Chapter 2: Biological Changes and the Physical Well-Being of Older Adults 
What do Biological Changes Mean for Older Adults?
Why Does the Body Age? 
Biological Changes That Accompany Aging 
Incontinence 
HIV/AIDS and Older Adults 
What Factors Promote Healthy Aging? 

 

Chapter 3: Psychosocial Adjustments to Aging 
Psychological Changes That Accompany Aging 
Social Theories of Aging  
“Successful” Psychosocial Aging 
Implications of Psychosocial Changes for Social Work Practice with Older Adults 

 

Chapter 4: Conducting a Biopsychosocial Assessment 
Assessments Look at Strengths and Challenges
The Purpose of a Biopsychosocial Assessment? 
Special Considerations in Assessing Older Adults 
Conditions for Conducting an Assessment 
Components of a Comprehensive Assessment 
Using Collaterals to Gather Additional Information
Example of a Comprehensive Assessment

 

Chapter 5: Differential Assessment and Diagnosis of Cognitive and Emotional Problems of Older Adults 
Differential Assessment and Diagnosis 
Depression in Older Adults 
Dementia 
Delirium 
Differentiating between Depression, Dementia, and Delirium 
Anxiety Disorders 
Differential Diagnosis of Anxiety
Compulsive Hoarding

 

Chapter 6: Interventions for Depression, Anxiety and Dementia in Older Adults
The Intervention Process 
Obstacles to Intervention and Treatment with Older Adults 
Developing a Relationship with an Older Adult 
Interventions for Depression and Anxiety
Life Review 
Specialized Groups for Older Adults
Behavioral Management Interventions for Dementia
Validation Therapy 
Simulate Presence Therapy
When Can Life Review Be Beneficial?
Medical Interventions for Depression and Anxiety
Group Approaches to Treat Depression and Anxiety
Medications Used to Treat Dementia

 

Chapter 7: Alternative Interventions in the Socioemotional Problems of Older Adults 
Complementary and Alternative Interventions 
The Benefits of Creative Arts for Older Adults 
The Therapeutic Use of Music 
Art as a Therapeutic Activity 
Massage Therapy
Recreation as Therapy 
Animal-Assisted Therapy 

 

Chapter 8: Substance Abuse and Suicide Prevention in Older Adults 
Alcohol Use and Abuse by Older Adults 
Drug Misuse and Dependency 
Suicide among Older Adults

 

Chapter 9: Social Work Practice in Identifying and Preventing Abuse and Neglect of Older Adults 
Growing Concern about Abuse and Neglect of Older Adults 
The Incidence of Abuse and Neglect of Older Adults 
What is Considered Abuse or Neglect of Older Adults? 
Risk Factors Associated with Abuse or Neglect of Older Adults 
Understanding the Causes of Maltreatment of Older Adults 
Assessment of Abuse, Neglect, and Self-Neglect of Older Adults 
Designing Interventions to Prevent Abuse or Neglect 
Abuse and Neglect in Nursing Homes 
When an Older Adult Refuses Protective Services

 

Chapter 10: Spirituality and Social Work with Older Adults 
Spirituality and Religion as Strengths for Older Adults
The  Profession’s Journey to a Renewed Interest in  Spirituality 
The Relevance of Spirituality to Social Work with Older Adults 264
Spirituality in the Lives of Women and Older Adults of Color 
A Few Words of Caution
Incorporating Spirituality into Social Work Practice with Older Adults 


Chapter 11: End-of-Life Care for Older Adults 
End-of-Life Care as Part of Gerontological Social Work 
The Process of Dying 
The Role of the Social Worker in the Dying Process 
Advance Directives 
Palliative and Hospice Care 
Bereavement and Grief 
Social Work Interventions with Bereaved Older Adults
Ethical Considerations in End-of-Life Care

 

Chapter 12: Working with Older Adults’ Support Systems: Spouses, Partners, Families, and Caregivers 
Older Adults’ Support Systems 
Older Adults who are Childless
Spouses and Partners
Therapeutic Interventions with Older Couples 
The Family Meeting 
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren 
Caregivers as Support Systems for Older Adults 
The Stresses of Caregiving 
Social Work Interventions with Caregivers

 

Chapter 13: “Aging in Place”: Income Programs, Health Insurance, and Support Services for Older Adults 
“Aging in Place” 
Economic Security Programs for Older Adults
Health Insurance Programs for Older Adults 
Support Services to Older Adults 
Support Programs Authorized by the Older Americans Act of 1965 
Choices for Independence 
Finding Services for Older Adults: The Eldercare Locator 
Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (Reverse Mortgages) 
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) 
What Challenges Lie Ahead?