Social Work Practice - Report Example

Social Work Practice Name Institution Date Course Social Work Practice Introduction Social work practices play an essential role in providing assistance to the elderly. The elderly are prone to multiple challenges as most of them are left on their own. It is the role of the social workers to provide the necessary services to improve the quality of life of the elderly (Ann, 2010, p.40). Dealing with a loss is a difficult process for the elderly. The elderly may lose the children, spouse and even parents and dealing with such a loss may be quite difficult especially when the person was close to them (Pelling, Bowers, & Armstrong, 2006, 377). According to the attachment theory, strong affectional bonds are created with others which lead to a strong emotional reaction when the bonds are broken. This means that the elderly may face a lot of difficulties in managing the loss of a person close to them. Thinking of their loss may affect them whenever they are faced with challenges including illness. This is considering that most of the old people believe that they can die at any time. Managing such difficulties requires the use of specialized intervention methods. It is, therefore, useful in ensuring that the quality of life of the elderly is improved. Cognitive-behavioural therapy is one of the intervention approaches that are used by the social workers to provide assistance to the elderly. The paper critically discusses the use of cognitive-behavioural therapy for the elderly facing loss and own mortality. Discussion Specific issue The elderly in most cases have a lot of friends and family members including their families for those who are married. The death of a closer family member is at times witnessed by the elderly, and this has a lot of negative effects on them. The situation is more complicated when they lose their children. Although they may be elderly, their children will always remain treasured to them regardless of their age. This creates a sense of violation of the natural order as the parents in most cases do not feel that their children should die before them (Corr, Nabe & Corr, 2009 p.437, 2009, 441). As a result of this situation, the elderly are affected, and some may grief for a long period when they lack support. This is further complicated when the elderly live on their own. The loss of a spouse also has negative impacts on the elderly as most of them have developed a strong bond with their spouse after living with them for a long period. The situation is also the same when they lose their friends who they have known them for sometimes. The elderly who are faced with burden of disease may also find it difficult to manage their grief because most of the old people in the society may have developed negative perceptions about their conditions and lives (Australian Government, 2011 p.23). In most cases, the old people develop weaknesses or loss or body functioning that also affects their situation. Dealing with loss and own mortality is, therefore, a complicated process for the older persons and requires social care interventions. Practice Approach According to the lifespan development theory, it is difficult for the individuals to come to terms with a loss of functioning when they grow old (Hughes & Heycox, 2010 p.69). This makes it difficult for the older persons to cope with some of the situations including grief. The cognitive functions of the older persons may also be affected and hence making it difficult for them to deal with different situations including grief. The cognitive-behavioural therapy is one of the intervention methods that are used for the purposes of ensuring that the older persons can deal with challenges such as grief (Kathleen, 2005, 158). This approach involves exploring a relationship between the thoughts of an older person and their behavior. This is considering that the moment of grief is characterized by a lot of emotional distress. Unpremeditated thoughts may arise among the older people as a result of losing the people who are close to them. This is also common among the older persons who are dealing with their mortality (Corr, Nabe & Corr, 2009 p.437). Such unpremeditated thoughts usually result to panic terror, anxiety or grief among the older persons. The cognitive-behavioural therapy approach involves providing assistance to the older persons to enable them identify the emotional and behavioural response to events. The identification of the emotions and behaviours related to different events in times of losses enables them to respond effectively and adapt to the situation (McInnis- Dittrich, 2009, 32). This approach is, therefore, useful in terms of enabling the older persons deal with grief, as well as uncertainties related to own mortality. According to the cognitive theories, the cognitive in old age is directly related to physiological aging (Hughes & Heycox, 2010 p.72). This means that maximizing the cognitive functioning facilitates a health aging process. When dealing with loss or own mortality, the cognitive function among the older persons may be affected and hence impacting negatively o their health. Cognitive-behavioural therapy highlights that the cognitive and behavioural responses are usually learned. As a result of this, the older persons can relearn the emotional responses when dealing with grief and hence impacting positively on their ability to deal with the situation. This can be achieved through the assistance of the social care workers. The main goal of cognitive-behavioural therapy is to change the state of emotions of the older persons (Ann, 2010 p.42). This is considering that the emotional responses are responsible for the unpremeditated behaviours by the older persons, and it affects their health and well being. The social care workers usually trace the behaviours of the older persons to the situations facing them when using the cognitive-behavioural therapy. Some of the older persons may also go into depression when they lose their loved ones. The approach is, therefore, important in terms of dealing with such a situation. This is considering that the therapy is effective in terms of treating anxiety and depression (Kathleen, 2005 p.159). Common errors in thinking which influences the behaviours of the older persons and hence enabling them to deal with grief and own mortality. The personality of the older persons may also affect their ability to deal with grief and own mortality (Hughes & Heycox, 2010 p.73). This is according to the theories of psychodynamic and psychosocial theories. When using the Cognitive-behavioural therapy, the social care workers usually consider this fact so as to ensure that they provide them with the required assistance. The social care workers have to engage with the older persons for the purposes of obtaining information from them which may be useful in ensuring that they can address the challenges facing them in terms of dealing with the loss or own mortality. This intervention method also considers that the older persons may face more challenges since they do not have people to talk to (MacKinlay, 2008 p.56). The process starts with the preparation where the older persons are informed of the process and are also allowed to develop their goals or what they intend to achieve with regards to the process (Kathleen, 2005 p.160). The older persons have to be provided with an opportunity to consider their roles in the process. It is also important to ensure that the elderly are fully prepared to the process and hence making it effective. The collaboration identification process is the next stage once the older person has agreed to continue with the process. Commitment to the process has to be made so as to ensure that it is successful. This is considering that the level of commitments may be affected by the presence of some barriers. According to the disengagement theory, old age is considered a stage of decline and the old people in most cases are disengaged from the society (Hughes & Heycox, 2010 p.75). This creates a feeling of irrelevance among the older people in the society. This impacts negatively on their ability to deal with grief and own mortality. The disengagement makes the older persons feel that they are just waiting to die. As a result of this, they may find it difficult to be committed to the collaborative process during the cognitive-behavioural therapy. The depression may also make it difficult for the older people to be committed (Hughes & Heycox, 2010 p.76). The cognitive-behavioural therapy enhances the ability of the older persons to deal with own mortality, as well as a loss. Change is an important step during the process, and it starts to occur after the older persons have made a connection between the events thoughts and feelings. It is also at this point that the method starts becoming effective. The social care workers have to consider this point in order to determine the progress that they are making. The older persons can also start experiencing happiness after dealing with the loss or own mortality issues. According to the activity theory, old age should not be seen as a stage for preparing for death but rather as golden years where one is supposed to be happy and enjoy their lives despite the challenges (Lymbery, 2005, 54). Consolidation and termination is the last stage, and the social care worker has to terminate the relationship with the older persons in order to determine the success achieved (Kathleen, 2005 p.164). Application of the approach to culturally diverse clients The older persons are from diverse culture and have different believes with regards to different situations including own mortality and dealing with loss. In some cultures, the people are required to grief for a long period when they lose beloved ones and it includes the older people. This may complicate the situation for the social care workers, and it may impact negatively on the intervention process. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, therefore, requires the social care workers to understand the cultural issues among the older persons (Kathleen, 2005 p.155). However, it is important to note that this approach can be applied to diverse cultures for the purposes of providing the required assistance to the older persons. This method requires a lot of interaction, and it is, therefore, important to ensure that the social care worker does not offend the older person during the process. According to the age stratification theory, the older persons are usually accorded a lower status in the society (Hughes & Heycox, 2010 p.77). As a result of this, they may end up being frustrated or offended when their cultural issues are not considered. This is considering that most of the older persons are conservative when it comes to the cultural issues. When addressing the members of diverse cultures, it is important to note that this method intends to create a free and interactive atmosphere. The cognitive-behavioural therapy utilizes the methods that are acceptable to the older persons dealing with loss or own mortality. Respect is also important for the purposes of ensuring that the older persons feel that they are still valued despite the situation facing them (Weinstein, 2008, 26). Strengths and weaknesses Strengths Cognitive-behavioural therapy is beneficial to the older people who are dealing with loss or own mortality. It plays a significant role in terms of ensuring that the needs of the older persons are identified when dealing with the loss or own mortality. It, therefore, brings about a sense of confidence among the older persons and hence enabling them to deal with the grief (Tanner, & Harris, 2008, 89). The cognitive-behavioral therapy also plays an important role in terms of motivating the older persons who are facing grief and hence improving on their conditions. The approach can also be used for older people from diverse cultures who are facing own mortality or grief. This is an indication that it can be used effectively for a large number of older persons. Talking to the older persons is important in terms of ensuring that they are consoled in times of grief, and hence the strength of this approaches (Bornat & Bytheway, 2010 p.1118). This is also considering that a lot of consultations usually take place with the social care worker. Some degree of autonomy is also provided to the older persons. This is in terms of providing them with an opportunity to make decisions in terms of the goals that they intend to achieve during the process. At the end of the process, the social care workers can also determine the goals and objectives that have been attained. His method is thus beneficial to the older persons who are facing grief. Weaknesses When dealing with the older persons in grief, this method may not be effective for those who have lost some of their cognitive functions. This makes it difficult for this method to address the need to the elderly who may be facing their mortality but cannot communicate effectively. The lack of proper communication, therefore, affects the entire process and hence making it impossible to deal with the older persons who are grieving. Some of the older persons who are grieving may be unable to set their goals with regards to the process and hence making it ineffective. Since this approach requires the participation of the older persons facing grief, it may be difficult for those who are facing severe depression (Alston & McKinnon, 2005 p.74). On the other hand, it is also important to note that this method may take a long period for the intended outcomes to be achieved when the older person is grieving or dealing with own mortality. This may lead to the lack of interest at some stages and hence impacting negatively on the ability of the older person to deal with grief. The approach may also be unsuccessful as the older person facing grief may be lonely and unwilling to cooperate (Bowles, W, Collingridge, Curry & Valentine, 2006, 19). This is taking into consideration that the approach is fully dependant on the information provided by the older person. Conclusion In conclusion, it is evident that the older people face a lot of challenges when dealing with own mortality and loss of loved ones. The perceptions and attitude towards the older persons in the community also affect their ability to deal with the challenges. It is a manifest that the older persons have their perceptions with regards to the situation facing them. The Cognitive-behaviour therapy is one of the interventions that can be used for the purposes of assisting the older persons in dealing with the problems affecting them in terms of the own mortality and loss of a beloved one. It is evident that this approach is useful in ensuring that the emotional distress is reduced among the older persons. This plays an important role in comforting the older persons and improving their quality of life. It is also evident that the use of the approach when dealing with the older persons facing loss or own mortality has its strengths as well as weaknesses. List of References Australian Government, 2011, Productivity Commission, Caring for Older Australians, Draft Inquiry Report, Canberra. Ann, M, 2010, Social work with older people, Polity. Cambridge. Alston, M, & McKinnon, J, 2005, Social Work: Fields of Practice, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne, Victoria. Bowles, W, Collingridge, M, Curry, S, & Valentine, B, 2006, Ethical Practice in Social Work: An Applied Approach, Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin. Bornat, J & Bytheway, B, 2010, Perceptions and Presentations of Living with Everyday Risk in Later Life, British Journal of Social Work, 40, 1118-1134. Kathleen, M, 2005, Social work interventions in the socioemotional and cognitive, Pearson/A&B, Boston Pelling, N, Bowers, R, & Armstrong, P, 2006, A Sociological approach to aging, spirituality and counseling, Prentice Hall, South Melbourne. Hughes, M, and Heycox, K, 2010, Older People, Ageing and Social Work - Knowledge for Practice, Allen & Unwin. MacKinlay, E, 2008, Ageing, disability and spirituality: addressing the challenge of disability in later life, Jessica Kingsley Publishing, London. Corr, C, A, Nabe C, M, & Corr, Donna. M, 2009, Death and dying, life and giving, Belmont, CA, Wadsworth/Cengage Learning. Lymbery, M, 2005, Social Work with Older People – Context, Policy and Practice Sage Publications UK. McInnis- Dittrich, K, 2009, 3rd Edn Social Work with Older Adults, Pearson USA. Tanner, D & Harris, J, 2008, Working with Older People, London: Routledge Publishers Weinstein, J, 2008, Working with loss, death and bereavement, London: Sage Publishers. Read More

Practice Approach According to the lifespan development theory, it is difficult for the individuals to come to terms with a loss of functioning when they grow old (Hughes & Heycox, 2010 p.69). This makes it difficult for the older persons to cope with some of the situations including grief. The cognitive functions of the older persons may also be affected and hence making it difficult for them to deal with different situations including grief. The cognitive-behavioural therapy is one of the intervention methods that are used for the purposes of ensuring that the older persons can deal with challenges such as grief (Kathleen, 2005, 158).

This approach involves exploring a relationship between the thoughts of an older person and their behavior. This is considering that the moment of grief is characterized by a lot of emotional distress. Unpremeditated thoughts may arise among the older people as a result of losing the people who are close to them. This is also common among the older persons who are dealing with their mortality (Corr, Nabe & Corr, 2009 p.437). Such unpremeditated thoughts usually result to panic terror, anxiety or grief among the older persons.

The cognitive-behavioural therapy approach involves providing assistance to the older persons to enable them identify the emotional and behavioural response to events. The identification of the emotions and behaviours related to different events in times of losses enables them to respond effectively and adapt to the situation (McInnis- Dittrich, 2009, 32). This approach is, therefore, useful in terms of enabling the older persons deal with grief, as well as uncertainties related to own mortality.

According to the cognitive theories, the cognitive in old age is directly related to physiological aging (Hughes & Heycox, 2010 p.72). This means that maximizing the cognitive functioning facilitates a health aging process. When dealing with loss or own mortality, the cognitive function among the older persons may be affected and hence impacting negatively o their health. Cognitive-behavioural therapy highlights that the cognitive and behavioural responses are usually learned. As a result of this, the older persons can relearn the emotional responses when dealing with grief and hence impacting positively on their ability to deal with the situation.

This can be achieved through the assistance of the social care workers. The main goal of cognitive-behavioural therapy is to change the state of emotions of the older persons (Ann, 2010 p.42). This is considering that the emotional responses are responsible for the unpremeditated behaviours by the older persons, and it affects their health and well being. The social care workers usually trace the behaviours of the older persons to the situations facing them when using the cognitive-behavioural therapy.

Some of the older persons may also go into depression when they lose their loved ones. The approach is, therefore, important in terms of dealing with such a situation. This is considering that the therapy is effective in terms of treating anxiety and depression (Kathleen, 2005 p.159). Common errors in thinking which influences the behaviours of the older persons and hence enabling them to deal with grief and own mortality. The personality of the older persons may also affect their ability to deal with grief and own mortality (Hughes & Heycox, 2010 p.73). This is according to the theories of psychodynamic and psychosocial theories.

When using the Cognitive-behavioural therapy, the social care workers usually consider this fact so as to ensure that they provide them with the required assistance. The social care workers have to engage with the older persons for the purposes of obtaining information from them which may be useful in ensuring that they can address the challenges facing them in terms of dealing with the loss or own mortality. This intervention method also considers that the older persons may face more challenges since they do not have people to talk to (MacKinlay, 2008 p.56).

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