Chapter 3: Rural Aging

SUMMARY

This chapter presents a biopsychosocial framework, with an emphasis on assessment, to guide social work practice with the rural elderly. Social work values of social justice and human dignity, its mission of human well-being and its special commitment to empower vulnerable populations are reviewed as the basis for practice decisions. Discussion focuses on theoretical models relevant to practice with this population including social support, family systems, group work, and case management and community practice. Conceptual material is directly linked with intervention approaches that target the multiple areas of the social work domain.

Key Words:

• Practice models with elders
• gerontological practice
• interventions with elders