Deck 1: The Context of Social Work Practice With Older Adults

Question 1

The exponential increase in older adults over the next decades will have an impact on the social and economic fabric of the U.S. in many ways. Select the answer that is false regarding the projected state of older adults.

A) Older adults caring for grandchildren is likely to contribute to changes in. living arrangement.
B) Older workers will live comfortably on social security benefits, eliminating poverty.
C) Older adults, covered by Medicare still incur high health care costs.
D) Most older adults will not live in nursing facilities.

Answer 1

Older workers will live comfortably on social security benefits, eliminating poverty.

Question 2

Baby Boomers will transform the health and social service system in multiple ways. Choose the answer that is least likely to reflect this impact by the Baby Boomers.

A) Baby boomers have not sufficiently saved for retirement requiring extended years in the workforce.
B) Baby boomers have fewer biological children than previous generations.
C) Baby boomers reflect more diversity in race, ethnicity and sexual orientation.
D) Health disparities will be less pronounced among white and non -white baby boomers.

Answer 2

Health disparities will be less pronounced among white and non -white baby boomers.

Question 3

Select the answers that are true:

A) Women will likely die before men
B) Men are more likely to live with a spouse
C) Most older adults will live in a nursing facility
D) Most older adults no longer have chronic health conditions

Answer 3

Women will likely die before men
Men are more likely to live with a spouse

Question 4

Select the answer that best characterizes barriers to engaged work with older adults:

A) Countertransference
B) Less need for specialized care with older adults
C) Lack of supervision
D) Limited resources

Question 5

Which of the following contexts for social work is likely to be associated with roles for macro practice:

A) Assisted living facilities
B) Legal services
C) Integrated care management
D) NASW Political Action for Candidate Election

Question 6

A concern of social work practice with older adults is:

A) Physical frailty prevents social work interactions
B) Older adults usually lose decision making capacity
C) Older adults won't relinquish their independence
D) Learned helplessness

Question 7

A likely role for social workers in hospice is:

A) Supporting the client's continuation with medical interventions
B) Determining when the client should withdraw further medical care
C) Provide spiritual comfort
D) Provide emotional support to the family and client
Essay Questions

Question 8

Identify how gaps in social programs such as Medicare and Medicaid put older adults at risk for health care.

Question 9

You are a social worker in an independent living facility for older adults. You are asked to evaluate a person's capacity to continue to live independently. What steps would you take to preserve the person's dignity and capacity to make choices?

Question 10

Describe three non- traditional settings for gerontological social work. What specific skills do you think social workers need to add to their repertoire in order to succeed in these settings?

Question 11

What characteristics distinguish the Baby Boomers from previous generations?

Question 12

What would your goals be in your work with a client deciding to accept palliative care?

Question 13

Discuss how supervision might be helpful in managing your own feelings in discussing terminal illness with an older patient and family.

Question 14

What community organizing activities might a social worker pursue to help low income older adults obtain housing options within a neighborhood undergoing transition to higher end housing?

Question 15

Describe how your roles in behavioral health care could result in fewer readmissions to a hospital for older adults.

Question 16

What settings would be most challenging for you to provide services to older adults? Comment on the reasons you believe the stated agencies to be most challenging.

Question 17

Discuss potential barriers to collaborative work in a legal agency setting. How would you address these barriers? What are the potential benefits of collaborations between social and law for work with older adults?

Question 18

Discuss potential barriers to collaborative work in a behavioral health care setting? How would you address these barriers? What are the benefits of collaboration in this setting?

Question 19

Describe housing options for older adults and the level of care available through each option. Reflect on the option you find personally most preferable to the others.

Question 20

Describe the relationship between poverty and gender in older adults.