SOCIAL WORK IN THE AGED CARE
SOCIAL WORK IN THE AGED CARE
PART I: Detailed overview of Aged Care including contextual information SandhiyaINTRO
Aged care provide support to large number of older Australians.
Especially Home care and residential care are highly in use.
In Australia, aged care services provided assistance to more than a million people in 201920 as per Australian institute of health and welfare 2021 report.
Types
Home care where services were given in home by the careers.
Residential care where services were given to them keeping them in aged care homes permanently.
Respite care where services were given to them keeping them in aged care homes in short term like for 2 weeks to 2 months.
Recent changes in laws
The Aged Care Act 1997
to promote a high quality of care and accommodation for the recipients of aged care services that meet the needs of individuals.
to protect the health and wellbeing of the recipients of aged care services.
to ensure that aged care services are targeted towards the people with the greatest needs for those services.
to facilitate access to aged care services by those who need them, regardless of race, culture, language, gender, economic circumstance, or geographic location.
to provide respite for families, and others, who care for older people.
The Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment (Royal Commission Response) Act 2022
place stronger controls over the use of restrictive practices, such as chemical and physical restraints, to ensure they are a last resort.
conduct assurance reviews like giving five stars to make sure home care providers are using funding to deliver services to older Australians.
abolish the need for the Aged Care Financing Authority (ACFA) and create a new advisory body for aged care financing.
PART II: The Role of Social Workers in the Aged Care setting including practice methods ElvieraFocuses on the preservation and improvement of psychological and social functioning of ageing populations
Focuses on the holistic care, self-determination and the ability to consider the complexity involved from ethical, legal, psychosocial perspectives
A valuable role in providing appropriate and targeted services to meet the diverse and multidimensional needs of older persons
Striving towards improved health and wellbeing, useful and appropriate supports systems are in place, engaged and utilised to their full extent which includes decision making
Collaboration with the elderlys to ensure person-centered health and wellbeing outcomes are achieved by engaging with appropriate support system ( formal and informal) and evaluating its outcome
Advocating the rights of elderly against discrimination, reduced opportunities and abuse
Scope of social work practice
Assessments
Counselling, therapy and mediation
Mediation and conflict resolution
Practical assistance
Case management and service coordination
Education and resources
Hospital and discharge planning
Advocacy work
Policy and research
Provides specialist expertise on:
Elder abuse, neglect and family violence
Mental health
Psychological aspects of ageing
Complex family dynamics and limited social supports
Homelessness or appropriate accommodation
Transition trauma
Oncology and palliative care
Socio-legal issues and ethical decision making
Contribution of social work in aged care (organisational level)
Identifying and assisting with the removal of barriers that may affect engagement with services and community providers
Developing culturally appropriate methods of service delivery
Preventing inappropriate hospital readmissions by rigorous discharge planning and addressing of critical psychological determinants
Reducing inappropriate health service demand through comprehensive psychological assessments and intervention, including appropriate referrals and community-based services and engaging with informal support services
Advocating for service provision in particular in areas of unmet needs
Providing leadership and management of service delivery, including developing partnership of service delivery
Assisting clients with adjustment and transition to life changes
Respecting the privacy of the individuals rights (within medico-legal requirements) and work towards developing skills and confidence to assist the older person
Assist in maintaining control over their lives and take responsibility for recovery and wellbeing
References:
Australian Association of Social Workers. (December 2015). Scope of Social Work Practice Social Work in Aged Care. National office- Melbourne. https://www.aasw.asn.au/document/item/8305
PART III: Examples of Organisations within Aged Care, include program example Ivy
PART IV: Overview of service users (pertaining to the elderly) DarsanaPrevalence of AGED CARE SERVICE USERS
Who is aged care for?
Age of 65 is often considered an offset to be an older-age, but there is no minimum age requirement for government-subsidized care.
Overview of the Aged Care Service User
As of June 2021,
Approximately 371,000 people were using residential aged care, home care or transition care.
South Australia had the highest proportion of the population in permanent residential aged care (6.6%), whereas the Northern Territory had the lowest (4.0%).
59% of care groups were aged 85 or older living in permanent residential aged care and around 2 in 3 people (65%) using aged care services were women.
Indigenous Australians represented 2.7% of people using mainstream aged care services (residential care, home care, home support, transition care)
Across all mainstream aged care services, 33% of people were born overseas.
Dementia is the second leading cause of death in Australia where it is the leading cause of death for women and the second leading cause for men.
Younger people in residential aged care: priorities for action
The Government is working to stop the flow of younger people (under the age of 65) going into residential aged care, and to help younger people who are already in residential aged care to move to age-appropriate accommodation and support.
Impact of COVID-19 on the age care service user
In 2020 , the number of people admitted to residential aged care declined then in 2018-2019 and approximately one-third (678 deaths) of COVID-19 deaths by May 2021 occurred in people living in residential aged cares (Department of Health 2021).
References
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2022, September 16). Dementia in Australia. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/dementia/dementia-in-aus/contents/summaryGEN AGED CARE DATA. (2017, 16). People using aged care. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
https://www.gen-agedcaredata.gov.au/Topics/People-using-aged-carevGEN AGED CARE DATA. (2022, October 25). Younger people in residential aged care. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
https://www.gen-agedcaredata.gov.au/Resources/Younger-people-in-residential-aged-careYounger people in residential aged care: priorities for action. (2022). Department of Health and Aged Care.
https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/younger-people-in-residential-aged-care-priorities-for-actionPART V: Analysis of current challenges and tensions in the Aged Care
Human resources (understaffing, overworked staff, high turnover, low pay for carersNon presence of social workers in most aged care facilities; not enough recognition of the roles of social workers in aged care
Substandard service
Not pandemic-ready
Less inclusive services (differences in background, gender preferences etc)
References
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. (ND). The Aged Care Quality Standards. Retrieved from https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/providers/standardsAustralian Association of Social Workers. (December 2015). Scope of Social Work Practice Social Work in Aged Care. National office- Melbourne. Retrieved from https://www.aasw.asn.au/document/item/8305Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 2021. The Aged Care. Retrieved from https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/aged-careAustralian Institute of Health and Welfare. (ND). Our Role and Strategic Goals. Retrieved from https://www.aihw.gov.au/about-us/what-we-doCouncil on the Ageing (COTA). (ND). Our Achievements. Retrieved from https://www.cota.org.au/about/our-work/our-achievements/Council on the Ageing (COTA). (ND). Our Mission, Vision, & Values. Retrieved from https://www.cota.org.au/about/our-work/vision-mission-values/Department of Health and Aged Care. (ND). Aged Care Legislative Reform. Retrieved from https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/aged-care-reforms/aged-care-legislative-reformDepartment of Health and Aged Care. (2022) Younger people in residential aged care: priorities for action. Retrieved from https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/younger-people-in-residential-aged-care-priorities-for-actionGEN AGED CARE DATA. (2017, 16). People using aged care. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Retrieved from https://www.gen-agedcaredata.gov.au/Topics/People-using-aged-carevGEN AGED CARE DATA. (2022, October 25). Younger people in residential aged care. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Retrieved from https://www.gen-agedcaredata.gov.au/Resources/Younger-people-in-residential-aged-care
