Dementia care: A global concern and social work challenge

Abstract

The implications of global aging for professionals in the fields of health and aging cannot be ignored, particularly for those who confront disorders of dementia. This article reviews the care needs of individuals with dementia and their family members, and examines the state of readiness of the social work profession for responding to the needs of these individuals. The authors assess professional social work roles and the size and scope of the supportive evidence base for social work practices in dementia care, and suggest several important areas for research attention.The absolute numbers and relative population proportions of adults over 65 years of age are rapidly increasing across the globe. Within the first four decades of the 21st century, the global population across all age groups is predicted to increase by 33 percent, while people aged 65 and older will increase by 160 percent, and those age 80 and above by 233 percent (Kinsella and He, 2009). This translates to an expectation that the number of

Facing dementia as a we: Investigating couples’ challenges and communicative strategies for managing dementia

“…The starting point for this thesis was the fact that couples living with dementia manage life for a long time with no, little or unsatisfactory support from social services (Johnston and Terp, 2015;Meyer, 2017;Tolhurst et al, 2016), and that more knowledge is needed in order to support gerontological social work with people with dementia (Kaplan & Berkman, 2011).…”

“…This is also the case in interacting with potential clients living with dementia which, as noted above, is a severely understudied topic (Kaplan & Berkman, 2011;Ray et al, 2014). Present-day social workers often only have knowledge and skills at a general level in terms of supporting older people.…”

“…In particular, they may lack dementia-specific skills or training for meeting the complex and changing challenges and needs of families and couples living with dementia (see e.g. Cedersund, 2013;Kaplan & Berkman, 2011;McGovern, 2011;Melin Emilsson, 2013). In social work education, knowledge about an ageing population, including those living with dementia, is an under-prioritised topic.…”

“…As indicated throughout this thesis, in social work education and practice across the Western world there is a lack of knowledge about, and support for, individuals and couples living with dementia (Kaplan & Berkman, 2011;McGovern, 2011;Melin Emilsson, 2013). Sweden itself lacks gerontological courses within a generalist social work education.…”

“…As noted, throughout the Western world the knowledge of gerontological social work, specifically knowledge of dementia, is on a generalist rather than specific level in social work educational programmes (Kaplan & Berkman, 2011;Keating, 2017;Richards et al, 2014;Rosen & Zlotnik, 2001). In encounters involving people living with dementia, the latter are often asked about their life and their situation, which can potentially place them in a delicate position in terms of what they are asked to talk about.…”