Suchergebnisse

Providing assistance to aging parents is a common midlife task for adult children, and daughters in particular. Consequently, caregiving is an experience that coincides and influences a woman in midlife planning for her own aging. Using qualitative inquiry, this article describes the plans that caregivers have for their aging. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 15 female caregivers between the ages of 50 and 65 who were caring for an ill and disabled parent or parent-in-law. Most participants had made plans in the areas of finances, living arrangements, health, and social network, but others had made minimal plans, acknowledging barriers and limitations of planning for later life. A discussion of social work practice implications is included.

Setting the stage for justice driven social work practice -- Theoretical and conceptual underpinnings of justice-informed practice -- Framing social work practice in the human rights context -- Poverty as the great oppressor -- Social and economic disparities within the educational system -- Justice informed social work practice within the criminal justice system -- Health disparities and social justice -- Disparities in mental health services -- Environmental justice and disasters: social work's role in combating structural inequalities -- Food justice -- Utilizing policy to address unaffordable and unavailable housing -- Financial justice and social work practice -- The pervasive influence of economic inequity and income disparity -- Implementing justice driven social work practice -- A call to action: Justice informed social work practice.

This paper uses qualitative methodology to explore the experience of growing old in rural Appalachia. Given the growing population of older adults seeking and utilizing services, it is important to understand the challenges and specific needs related to aging. Within the context of rural Appalachia, these challenges and needs may be different than those in urban areas or areas outside of the region itself. From interviews with 14 geriatric service providers in rural southeast Ohio, the authors were able to identity three prevalent themes associated with aging in rural North Central Appalachia: scarcity of resources, valuing neighbors and family, and the prevalence of drug use. These findings suggest that preparation and ongoing training of rural geriatric social workers should include attention to topics such as substance abuse and strengthening social support networks that often exist in these regions.