Social Work Student Attitudes on Working with Older Clients

Abstract

Twenty-two Masters level social work students who had worked with older clients in fieldwork were asked about their experiences. This was a qualitative research study using open-ended questions and face-to-face interviews. The group was divided almost in half based on having made the choice to work with this population (12 = yes; 10 = no). All but one student reported increased feelings of compassion and a newly gained appreciation for diversity among their clients. Students who had chosen their placements were largely motivated from their life experiences prior to social work school; only one cited a course in gerontology. Among the students who had not selected to work with older clients, most reported being satisfied with their learning experiences. Students thought that more exposure to field settings was the best way to attract new social workers into gerontology.

Key Words:

• Social work students and gerontology
• student attitudes
• student attitudes about older clients
• elderly clients
• student choices in fieldwork
• social work education
• gerontology
• aging
• fieldwork
• learning experiences