Summary

The concept and act of “aging” can often carry a negative connotation in many Western societies; however,research suggests collective perceptions may be shifting as people are living longer lives. This cross-sectional studyusing survey methodology sought to understand how older people (N = 477) perceive their age by analyzing theresponses of closed- and open-ended questions through summative content analysis. The mean age of participants was63 years, and the average age that they felt was approximately 10 years younger. The seven themes for why individualsdid not feel old ranged from maintaining an active and engaged lifestyle to “I don’t act or look old,” and the seventhemes for why individuals felt old ranged from stopped or changed activities to nearing death. The findings illuminatehow subjective age is shaped by perceptions of what it means to be old, and the ways in which these micronarrativesare reflective of larger macronarratives surrounding age and aging.

Keywords (separate with commas)

Subjective Aging, Ageism, Cross-Sectional, Summative Content Analysis

Summary

This presentation will teach the impact of ableism (discrimination toward people with disabilities), audism (discrimination toward people who are deaf), and linguicism (discrimination of people who speak differently), toward people with differing abilities. The presentation will explain these forms of discrimination and their impact on individual service provision and self-esteem.  Presentation participants will learn to be anti-ableist, anti-audist, and anti-linguist. There will be a focus on issues of accessibility, equity, and respect for all clients/patients who have differing physical, mental, cognitive, and health-related abilities/disabilities. 

Keywords (separate with commas)

Disability, deaf, ableist, discrimination, accessibility, equity

Summary

This presentation explores the use of the therapeutic relationship in complex discharge planning inan Australian hospital setting. Australian hospitals mostly employ social workers to provide boththerapeutic support to patients and families while also providing case management and dischargeplanning. The skills needed for these aspects of the role are often spoken about separately, howeverthe author argues that case management can be a therapeutic practice in itself and meaningfuldischarge planning occurs within a therapeutic relationship. Many marginalized clients do not havethe stability in their lives to engage in traditional one on one counselling, social workers howeverhave the opportunity to provide therapeutic support while also working alongside clients to addresstheir priorities, whether that be housing, income or support services in the community. Whenworking with this model social workers see case management tasks such as filling out forms, makingphone calls or attending appointments as windows of opportunity to provide to invite a therapeuticconversation and demonstrate care and compassion. This presentation will highlight three casestudies to demonstrate how the therapeutic relationship can aid in complex discharge planning formarginalized clients leaving hospital. Many of the clients had experienced significant social isolation,long periods of homelessness and complex trauma.

Keywords (separate with commas)

therapeutic relationship, complex discharge planning, hospital social work\\ 

Summary

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs are consistent with the mission of social work; indeed the very first line in the preamble of the National Association of Social Workers code of ethics reads as follows: “The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.” However, social workers and students have only been recently been actively engaged in delivering VITA services, despite the fact that such services help low-income workers access the Earned Income Tax Credit, which is one of the largest anti-poverty policies in the United States funneling more than $60 billion back to low-income taxpayers each year. Launched in 2020, and now entering its third year of operation, the Institute for Nonprofit Organizations VITA Program has engaged more than 25 MSW and MA in Nonprofit Management and Leadership program students in the delivery of VITA services while also working toward the development of comprehensive assessments of clients’ financial needs beyond tax preparation such as job training, eviction prevention, student financial aid, and other related issues.\  While these benefits accrue to VITA clients, we also have documented the value of the program for the students themselves in that they have gained knowledge regarding the impact of VITA on the financial well-being of individuals and families as well as how the influx of federal tax refund dollars affects the local economy.\  Initially, students have questioned how tax preparation is relevant to their social work education however by the end of each tax season, they report a heightened awareness of and appreciation for the interconnectedness of the VITA program to the broader issue of poverty.\ \ \ 

Keywords (separate with commas)

poverty, tax refunds, financial well-being, interdisciplinary practice, racial minority communities