"The word was coined by Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov in 1903..."
Social workers specializing in Aging and Disabilities work with older adults and their families or caregivers. Clients may have medical conditions, cognitive impairment, or disabilities that often impact their ability to perform everyday activities. Social workers help clients with decision-making, care coordination, and support them in finding relevant resources.
Disability Rights and Advocacy: This topic covers the history and current state of disability rights, as well as effective advocacy strategies for people with disabilities.
Aging and Disability Services: This topic covers the various types of services available to older adults and people with disabilities, such as home health care, assisted living, and nursing home care.
Assistive Technology: This topic covers the various types of technology that can aid people with disabilities in daily living, such as prosthetics, hearing aids, and speech recognition software.
Rehabilitation and Outpatient Services: This topic covers the different types of rehabilitative services available to people with disabilities, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.
Childhood Disabilities: This topic covers the issues facing children with disabilities, as well as the range of services and support systems available to them.
Employment and Disability: This topic covers the challenges and opportunities facing people with disabilities who seek employment, as well as the legal and social frameworks that support their inclusion in the workforce.
Mental and Behavioral Health: This topic covers the unique needs and challenges faced by people with disabilities who also experience mental or behavioral health issues.
Caregiving and Family Support: This topic covers the needs and support systems available to caregivers of people with disabilities and older adults.
Social Security and Disability Benefits: This topic covers the eligibility requirements and application process for Social Security disability benefits, as well as other types of financial assistance available to people with disabilities and older adults.
Ethical and Legal Considerations: This topic covers the ethical and legal concerns that can arise in the provision of social work services to people with disabilities and older adults.
Clinical Social Work: Clinical social workers provide therapeutic services to individuals, couples, and families affected by aging and disabilities.
Medical Social Work: Medical social workers work in hospitals, clinics, and other medical centers and provide support to patients and their families during and after medical treatment.
Case Management Social Work: Case managers work with clients and their families to manage their overall care and navigate the various health and social services needed, including housing, financial aid, and transportation.
Rehabilitation Social Work: Rehabilitation social workers focus on supporting individuals with disabilities in achieving their highest level of independence and functioning by providing rehabilitation services like occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy.
Hospice and Palliative Care Social Work: Social workers in hospice and palliative care provide emotional, social, and spiritual support to individuals and their families who are facing a life-threatening illness.
Geriatric Social Work: Geriatric social workers focus on supporting older adults and their families, providing assistance and support in managing their health, social, and economic needs.
Developmental Disabilities Social Work: Social workers in developmental disabilities work to support children, adults, and families living with conditions such as Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and autism by providing services and assistance in managing their individualized support plans.
Mental Health Social Work: Mental health social workers provide counseling, therapy, and support to individuals living with mental health disorders, including those with aging and disabilities.
"...from the Greek γέρων (gérōn), meaning 'old man,' and -λογία (-logía), meaning 'study of'."
"The field is distinguished from geriatrics, which is the branch of medicine that specializes in the treatment of existing disease in older adults."
"Gerontologists include researchers and practitioners in the fields of biology, nursing, medicine, criminology, dentistry, social work, physical and occupational therapy, psychology, psychiatry, sociology, economics, political science, architecture, geography, pharmacy, public health, housing, and anthropology."
"The multidisciplinary nature of gerontology means that there are a number of sub-fields which overlap with gerontology."
"There are policy issues, for example, involved in government planning and the operation of nursing homes, investigating the effects of an aging population on society, and the design of residential spaces for older people..."
"Dr. Lawton, a behavioral psychologist at the Philadelphia Geriatric Center, was among the first to recognize the need for living spaces designed to accommodate the elderly..."
"...especially those with Alzheimer's disease."
"The USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology created the first PhD, master's and bachelor's degree programs in gerontology in 1975."
"Gerontology is the study of the social, cultural, psychological, cognitive, and biological aspects of aging."
"Gerontologists include researchers and practitioners in various fields such as biology, nursing, medicine, criminology, dentistry, social work, physical and occupational therapy, psychology, psychiatry, sociology, economics, political science, architecture, geography, pharmacy, public health, housing, and anthropology."
"Geriatrics is the branch of medicine that specializes in the treatment of existing disease in older adults."
"As an academic discipline, the field is relatively new."
"...specializes in the treatment of existing disease in older adults."
"...facilitate the development of a sense of place or home."
"...recognize the need for living spaces designed to accommodate the elderly, especially those with Alzheimer's disease."
"There are policy issues involved in government planning and the operation of nursing homes..."
"...investigating the effects of an aging population on society..."
"The word was coined by Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov in 1903..."
"The USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology created the first PhD, master's and bachelor's degree programs in gerontology in 1975."