Attitudes toward elderly clients

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Social Work Practice
• Attitudinal Studies

Background:

• Existing research indicates prevalent negative attitudes among social workers towards the elderly population.
• Understanding these attitudes is crucial for effective geriatric social work.
• Professional biases can impact the quality of care provided to older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize current research on social workers' negative feelings about the elderly.
• To identify underlying reasons and contributing factors for these professional attitudes.
• To propose actionable recommendations for cultivating appropriate and positive attitudes in social work practice with older adults.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of studies examining social worker attitudes toward the elderly.
• Analysis of research findings to identify patterns and explanations for negative perceptions.
• Synthesis of evidence-based strategies for attitude improvement.

Main Results:

• Confirmation of widespread negative sentiment among social workers regarding elderly clients.
• Identification of potential contributing factors, including ageism and lack of specialized training.
• Development of a framework for enhancing professional attitudes.

Conclusions:

• Negative attitudes among social workers towards the elderly are a documented issue.
• Addressing these attitudes requires targeted interventions and education.
• Fostering positive professional engagement is essential for improving services for older adults.