East-West Dialogue in Social Work for Older People and Their Families

Abstract

This paper examines issues of family care in eastern and western societies. Through a discussion of the notion of “filial piety”, it is argued that the family remains the central social institution providing care for those older people who are in need, both in eastern and western societies. From this analysis, it is suggested that there are comparative lessons to be learned in the way social work with older people and their families is conceptualised. Attention to “indirect” forms of practice, especially in supporting family carers, and to gender issues in family care, are seen to be important for the future development of social work in this field.