SW6750

This specialized course builds on generalist practice to prepare students for gerontological social work practice. It focuses on knowledge, values, and skills needed to work effectively across micro, mezzo, and macro levels of practice with and on behalf of older adults and their constituencies (informal; formal support systems). The student who successfully completes this course will be able to: Appraise and address personal and societal values and biases regarding aging. Recognize demographic changes and societal trends affecting aging-focused policies, programs, and practice. Discuss the strengths, resilience, and contributions of older adults to families, communities, and societies and promote older adults’ right to dignity and self-determination. Establish and maintain strong relationships with older clients and their constituencies for the purpose of working toward mutually agreed upon goals. Plan and implement engagement strategies, assessments, interventions, and evaluations that reflect older adults’ diverse life courses, strengths, challenges, and contexts. Select, modify, and/or translate evidence-informed practices that are most appropriate to particular aging-focused practice settings and populations. Conduct evidence-informed assessments and interventions that incorporate a strengths-based, person/family-centered focus, while recognizing issues related to losses, changes, and transitions over the life cycle. Understand and articulate the significance of interprofessional collaborative practice with and on behalf of older adults and their constituencies. Identify major U.S. policies that affect older adults (e.g., Medicare, Medicaid, Older Americans Act), and link them to relevant local resources. Advocate for policies and services that promote well-being of older adults and their constituencies and encourage use of research and evaluation to enhance effectiveness and sustainability.

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