This issue of the Journal of Gerontological Social Work features a special collection of articles on Indigenous Elders. We are pleased to be bringing this Collection to our readers as it highlights several important topics in social work practice with older Indigenous Elders and draws attention to an often overlooked population within American society. These articles help to build foundational knowledge in this area of gerontological social work and introduce notable scholars in this field to JGSW readers.
First in this Special Collection is an article by Dr. Jordan P. Lewis, describing the growing demographic of older American Indian and Alaskan Native elders and the implications that has for scholarship and practice. Next, is a qualitative study presented by Dr. Lori Hill about the grandparents caring for grandchildren role by Haudenosaunee women. Following that is an ethnographic study focused on Indigenous Elders perspectives of conventional care services in Alaska reported by Dr. Jean E. Balestrery. The final article in this collection is by Dr. Soonhee Roh and colleagues exploring the connection between depression and intimate partner violence among Indigenous older adults.
Also in this issue
This issue of the Journal also contains three additional articles. A research team led by Dr. Jee Hoon Park presents findings from an interview study with a rare population, Korean survivors of the Japanese “comfort women” system. Dr. Amy Hegener and colleagues report on a validation study of a group caregiving approach utilizing unpaid volunteers to share the care. And Dr. Mélanie Couture and team present results of an implementation study assessing the barriers and facilitators to integrating transitional case managers within hospital settings as part of an intervention to improve transitional care for older adults. Last, this issue begins with a Letter to the Editor from a long-time champion of nursing home reform, who is also a nursing home resident herself, Dr. Penny Shaw, reflecting on an article in our last issue about revisions to nursing home regulations. I encourage our readers to take time to read her comments.
With special thanks to our Special Collection authors,