The committee's September 28th meeting provided a forum to discuss the many challenges that face front line social workers in practice with older people. Dr. Silverstone addressed several key issues that can present challenges for professional social work practice with older people. She provided several strategies social workers can use to overcome some of these tasks.
Gerontology is one of the largest growth areas of social work practice.
As the population is aging, the demands for professional social work increase as well. At the same time, older people in our society are often undervalued. To be old, poor, and possibly disabled, in a society that glorifies youth, places one in a category frequently abandoned by government, local and state authorities. Social workers and other health care providers, who recognize and seek to address the issues of older people are under-appreciated and disregarded. Often, professional training to develop skills in working with the aging is inadequate.