The Oxford Handbook of Social Work in Health and Aging

745 Pages·2016·39.39 MB·English

by  Daniel Kaplan

The Oxford Handbook of
Social Work in
Health and Aging
Editorial Board
David E. Biegel, PhD, MSW
Letha A. Chadiha, PhD, MSW
Namkee G. Choi, PhD
Louisa Daratsos, PhD, LCSW
Ruth E. Dunkle, PhD, MSW
Nancy Hooyman, MSW, PhD
Amy Horowitz, PhD
Judith L. Howe, PhD
Rosalie A. Kane, PhD, MSW
James Lubben, PhD
Philip McCallion, PhD, ACSW
Kathleen McInnis-Dittrich, ACSW, PhD
Philip A. Rozario, PhD, MSW
The Oxford Handbook of
Social Work in
Health and Aging

second edition
Daniel B. Kaplan & Barbara Berkman
editors
3
1
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ISBN 978–0–19–933695–1
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Printed in the United States of America
on acid-free paper
We dedicate this book to older adults and their families
worldwide, who deserve only the best of social and healthcare
services, and to those social workers who strive every day to help
them manage their health while maintaining quality of life.

Preface
There is increasing awareness that people are living longer and
healthier lives and are redefining the aging experience in terms
of family roles, work and volunteerism, and physical, social,
and intellectual pursuits. While these trends are welcome, at
the same time we must address the multitude of challenges that
may impact the physical, social, economic, and emotional well-
being of older adults and their families. Professional providers
in health, mental health, and aging services have opportunities
and responsibilities for assisting the older adult population in
confronting these challenges.
The leading causes of morbidity and mortality are almost all
related to chronic diseases, resulting in both ongoing limitations
in daily functioning and acute episodes of illness over many
years. The growing number of elderly with chronic disabling ill-
nesses and the increasing need for rehabilitative services to sup-
port independent functioning means that patients and families
will require more psychological and social assistance in order to
address their problems effectively. Therefore, the goal of health-
care for the older adult is not only to provide state-of-the-art
medicine and nursing but also to focus on how the older person
can manage his or her health while maintaining quality of life.
Thus, we require state-of-the-art social work. Social workers and
other health professionals with knowledge in aging will become
even more essential to address the complex needs of older peo-
ple and their families. Elderly people with chronic diseases and
activity limitation will represent an increasing percentage of all
persons helped by social workers. A growing body of research
has shown that social work practice with older adults and their
families, once virtually the exclusive concern of social workers
in geriatric settings, is increasingly becoming a major focus of
care in a range of health and community-based services. We can
viii Preface
expect all social workers will deal with combined healthcare trends, and implications for research,
issues of health and aging regardless of practice policy, and education make the publication of such
specialization. a compendium a major event in the field of geronto-
The 2006 edition of the Handbook of Social Work logical social work.
in Health and Aging was the first reference to com-
pile the most up-to-date knowledge, at the time, in
ORGANIZATION OF THE HANDBOOK
a single volume. With the population of older adults
increasing, and as new possibilities for their care
The 2nd edition of the Handbook of Social Work in
advanced rapidly, professionals needed an acces-
Health and Aging is organized around three unify-
sible source of specialized information about how
ing themes: Part A, Social Work Practice in Health
best to serve the elderly and their families, and this
and Aging, including assessments and interventions,
authoritative handbook was indispensable. While
settings, and specific services; Part B, Populations
the format and content of the book remain relevant
Social Workers Serve in Health and Aging, includ-
for today’s students and practitioners, we recognized
ing older adults with chronic physical and mental
that the context of social work in health and aging
health conditions, special populations, older adults
has shifted. The book’s content needed to be updated
from diverse cultures, and those in palliative and
in order to reflect advances in the knowledge base
end-of-life care; and Part C, Policies and Regulations
that guides social work service delivery in health
in Health and Aging. Parts A, B, and C are subdi-
and aging, including enhancements in the theories
vided into sections, each of which contains chapters
of gerontology, innovations in clinical interventions,
that focus on similar domains, and each section has
and major recent developments in the social poli-
a section editor who has written an overview of the
cies that structure and finance healthcare and senior
chapters in the section.
services. In addition, the policy reforms of the 2010
This Handbook is planned as a comprehensive
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, designed
reference text that covers the major areas of social
to improve access to and quality of care while reduc-
work in health and aging in one volume. The chapters
ing costs, set in motion a host of resultant changes in
in the Handbook present a balanced mix of current
the United States healthcare system. These changes
evidence-based knowledge and key policy deci-
have potentially profound implications for the pro-
sions, issues, and trends, as well as research needs.
grams and services that provide care to older adults
Each chapter has been concisely written, synthesized,
and their families.
and integrated in order to create an overview of the
The Handbook needed to address these evolving
topic. In addition, heuristics are used throughout the
interdisciplinary healthcare programs and services
Handbook to engage the reader and generate quickly
and the broader social work practice environment.
and easily consumed knowledge. The authors have
Therefore, in 62 chapters and nine section overviews,
given complete references to online resources and
we bring you the 2nd edition of the Handbook. The
contemporary reports. Case studies and vignettes are
most experienced and prominent gerontological
provided to illustrate concepts, especially in chap-
healthcare scholars in the United States and across
ters on practice, assessment, special populations,
the world provide up-to-date knowledge of evidence-
and theory. The ideal way to begin reading this text
based practice guidelines for effectively assessing
is to peruse the table of contents, which, we believe,
and treating older adults and supporting their fami-
will give the reader a clear, comprehensive view of
lies. The contributing authors paint rich portraits
the field of health and aging. We hope you will be
of a variety of populations that social workers serve
impressed and gratified as you review the depth and
and the arenas in which they practice, followed by
wealth of knowledge presented.
detailed recommendations of best practices for an
array of physical and mental health conditions. Daniel B. Kaplan & Barbara Berkman
The volume’s unprecedented attention to diversity, Editors
Acknowledgments
We thank our Section Editors, David Biegel, Letha Chadiha,
Namkee Choi, Louisa Daratsos, Ruth Dunkle, Nancy Hooyman,
Amy Horowitz, Judith Howe, Rosalie Kane, James Lubben, Philip
McCallion, Kathleen McInnis-Dittrich, and Philip Rozario.
These dedicated, brilliant scholars provided the guidance and
skills for what, at times, seemed like a monumental endeavor.
Without their support, we doubt this revision would ever have
been undertaken. They worked beyond our expectations (and
sometimes their own) to update and revise this single volume
covering much of the knowledge base on social work in health
and aging. We also appreciate and thank our contributors, who
wrote exceptional chapters that met our stringent guidelines
for conciseness while thoroughly covering their subjects. And
finally, we thank the John A. Hartford Foundation of New York
City and the Gerontological Society of America for their support
of the Hartford Geriatric Social Work Initiative, which has cre-
ated a rebirth of interest in social work in health and aging and
generated a growing network of social work specialists in aging
who, with other health professionals, are available to meet the
needs of our aging population.