WS3019:03
Growing Old in Australia
External
HECS Band 1
Semester 1 by external mode.
The subject provides social welfare workers with a well-informed basis for evaluating existing policy for the elderly, for influencing the development of future policy as well as for governing their practice with the elderly and their carers.
Particular attention is given to social policy development in the areas of home and community care, institutional care, retirement and income security, health care and housing.
A range of major social welfare practice issues involved in working with the elderly will also be examined.
Learning Objectives:
- be familiar with a variety of psychological and sociological insights into the nature of the ageing process in both contemporary and preindustrial societies;
- know how these may have influenced and continue to influence social policy for the elderly;
- be familiar with a number of myths and stereotypes of ageing and of the aged and the effect of these on the development of aged care policy;
- understand the issues involved in determining family, community and State responsibilities for the care of the aged;
- understand both the needs of the aged and issues in policy development in the areas of: home and community care, income security, retirement, housing, health and institutional care;
- know about some of the major social welfare practice issues involved in working with the elderly, including elderly of NESB and ATSI background.
Assessment by the submission of a workbook, submitted at two points throughout the semester, involving completion of study talks and exercises arising from the reading program. Each part of the workbook is worth 50% of the marks for the subject.