Special Interest Group on Social Work & Ageing

Social work with people in later life requires a commitment to upholding social justice, human rights and dignity while challenging ageism and other forms of discrimination. Social workers build relationships, which help empower older people to have a strong voice, and to thrive and live well by drawing on their own strengths and connections, overcoming barriers and accessing support. Through reflexive practice, social workers support older adults, their carers, families and networks in navigating the complexities, challenges and transitions of later life, honouring their individual experiences and expertise, including the impact of loss and trauma. The social work role is to facilitate change that is focused on what the person deems to be worthwhile, in order to uphold hope and dignity.

This unique role involves a specialist knowledge base acquired through education and direct practice with older people. It requires a sound value base and a commitment to not only achieving better outcomes, but transformative practice. Social work in later life needs the voices of older adults to be actively listened to and central to practice. Enhanced relational and communication skills are essential to ensure all voices and experiences are heard, including those of people living with dementia. Empowerment comes from listening to and amplifying marginalised voices.  

Social workers need to champion the rights of older people, celebrate their contribution, and challenge stigma about ageing and all forms of discrimination. They do this as part of the global social work profession, drawing on social work ethics of social justice, human rights and integrity, and with a commitment to the UN Principles for Older Persons.

(We recognise that older people are not a homogenous group and there is great diversity in ageing. This description relates to work with people in later life and there is no specific age threshold, though many UK social care services for older people are provided to people aged 65 years and above.) 

Find out more:

• View an animation or read a leaflet about how social work can support older people
• Read stories of social work with older people (to be added)

Growing old need not be a curse,

But firstly, ageism is the devil to slay,

We found the social worker to be preferred of course,

Made real only if public awareness was in play.

(Graham Price, Expert by Experience, Social Work with Older People project)

As people live longer, more older people require social care and associated services, such as health and specialist accommodation. The social work qualification and ongoing professional development give social workers particular expertise, including in law, which enables them to work with complex, changeable and risky situations. Social workers are central to delivering adult social care, to coordinated work with the NHS and other agencies, and to the provision of advice to other staff.

Social workers have specialist knowledge related to later life, expert personal skills and a commitment to upholding rights and dignity that means they can offer something of unique value, especially in life-changing situations or when older people and their families are overwhelmed.

Find out more:

• Read the BASW Policy Briefing on the importance of social work with older people
• Listen to the BASW podcast on social work with older people
• Read the Social Work with older people blog and find out more about its impact

Social workers have unique expertise that brings together: sophisticated communication and relationship skills, particularly in situations of change, crisis and conflict; specialist knowledge of the law and entitlements to social care and other public services; practical knowledge of the local ‘care system’ and services; and ability to advocate as and when needed. They often act as leaders and coordinators in multi-agency systems. Their primary role is to uphold the voices, wishes and rights of older people and carers.

Older people need to be able to access social workers at the right time and in the right place. This requires enough social workers to be trained, existing social workers to be supported and retained, and social workers to be deployed thoughtfully, without time wasting barriers to their work.

Find out more:

• Listen to Experts by Experience talk about why social work matters
• Read the Capabilities statement that sets out the ethics, knowledge and skills social workers need
• Use the practice resources for continuing professional development
• Access further reading and resources about social work in later life

Social work talks about human rights and social justice. The biggest barrier to these in later life is ageism. This intersects with all kinds of other discrimination - for example disability, class, sex, ethnicity - to hold us back as we age. However, ageism is rarely directly discussed. 

Social workers have a responsibility to empower and enable older adults to have a strong voice, and to fight ageism. BASW has a Special Interest Group for Social Work and Ageing. We ask every social worker to:

• Keep later life on the agenda of all our practice and policy discussions (everyone will hopefully keep getting older!)
• Talk about the fact that social workers work with older people too 
• Challenge inequity in social work education, practice or policy that assumes older people don’t need the level of social work input that other age groups do
• Push back against ageist language, stereotypes and assumptions across our society. 

Find out more:

• All BASW members are welcome to join the UK Special Interest Group.
• Join our Named Social Worker campaign (see below)
• Get involved in the When I Get Old movement to change the conversation about ageing
• Get involved with the campaign against ageism from Age Without Limits
• Find out what is happening internationally to challenge ageism

No older person should have to give up the place they call home because of social care needs without having access to professional advice and support from an experienced Named Social Worker. 

Approximately 124,000 older people go into care homes to live each year in England alone. They need legal guidance and practical and emotional support as they face this life-changing decision. 

However, older people in this situation often don’t get access to good advice and support. 

Social workers’ input can make a huge difference and needs to be prioritised in these situations. 

We are asking for: 

• Awareness of the importance of social work for older people facing this life-change.
• In the short term, for social work input to people in this situation to be prioritised. 

• In the longer term, for sufficient social workers to be able to support people in later life. 

  Find out more 

• Read our briefing below to find out how you can take action 
• Read the full BASW UK policy 
• Listen to Graham's poem about the need for a Named Social Worker 
• Look at examples of the difference a Named Social Worker can make.

• To get involved contact policyadmin@basw.co.uk 

Named social worker for older people

No older person should have to give up the place they call home because of social care needs without having access to professional advice and support from an experienced Named Social Worker. 

Approximately 124,000 older people go into care homes to live each year in England alone. They need legal guidance and practical and emotional support as they face this life-changing decision. 

However, older people in this situation often don’t get access to good advice and support. 

• Most people do not know how to access good advice. They may receive conflicting advice from family or professionals.
• Many older people who go into care homes do not qualify for financial help from their Local Authority (for example nearly half of people in England). They can often end up arranging a move into care without support. 
• Some people are discharged from hospital into a temporary care placement that becomes permanent because advice and support is not available to get them home. 

Social workers’ input can make a huge difference and needs to be prioritised in these situations. This is a valuable use of social work time because:

• It is usually much more expensive to pay for a care home than for care in your own home.
• For some people a care home is a positive choice, however it is always a huge life-change and support is needed to get it right. 
• Many ‘self-funders’ (over 75% in England) have dementia so access to expert advice is even more crucial.
• The government has estimated that some older people who are paying to be in a care home could have been supported to stay at home (one in ten in England). 

Social workers have a professional qualification that includes social care law. They know how to uphold rights, including when people may lack mental capacity to make a decision. They can assess risk and help people remain at home where possible. Above all, they focus on people’s wishes and what matters to them, so they stay in control of what happens. 

We are asking for:

• Awareness of the importance of social work for older people facing this life-change.
• In the short term, for social work input to people in this situation to be prioritised. 
• In the longer term, for sufficient social workers to be able to support people in later life.

Take action:

• Leaders – Review the advice and support you give to people at risk of losing the place they call home, and prioritise social work input for those who need it most.
• Policy makers – Recognise the importance of Named Social Work input for people most at risk of giving up the place they call home without good advice and support.
• Older people, carers and families - Ask to speak to a social worker when you are concerned that someone might lose the place they call home without good advice and support.
• Advocacy and advice organisations – Help us ensure that older people, carers and families get good advice and support from a suitably qualified person.
• Social workers, students and educators – Help us develop this specialism within social work. 
• Care homes – Be aware that older people, carers and families benefit from social work advice and support when they are considering a move from their home. 

Ellen was admitted to hospital unexpectedly one winter. 

She had been managing just about at home for a while, though walking was getting more difficult. Her family lived the other end of the country and a neighbour looked in on her. 

Ellen had tripped on the edge of a rug and the hospital found that she had broken her hip.

Ellen wanted to get back to her home and to the birds she fed every day and her garden. There was no home care available to support her and the hospital staff felt she needed more ‘assessment’ so she went into a care home. The idea was that someone would follow up soon and arrange the help she needed to get home.

Ellen had to pay for the care home but only from her savings and pension, so it was affordable.

Weeks went by. 

Her family came up to see her a few times and phoned the local council. They reported that Ellen would be seen as soon as possible. 

Months went by. 

Eventually someone came out from the council. They met with Ellen and her family. The ‘assessor’ said that there was still no care available where Ellen lived but also advised that she had been in the care home for some time now and that it would be difficult to get back to living alone. Everyone was in agreement that Ellen had ‘settled’ and it would be better for her to stay.

Ellen felt that she had no choice but to agree. She signed the contract to start paying the full amount for the care and her family said they would look into selling her home to pay for it. 

It wasn’t that the care home wasn’t a good place to be. But Ellen had never had the chance to say goodbye to the home she loved. 

This example is created from real-life experiences in the Special Interest Group

Yvonne had been quite active and independent until she fell badly in her conservatory. 

After several days at home and in severe pain, she was admitted to an acute hospital with a fractured vertebra. 

Yvonne spent 9 weeks in the hospital and then was transferred to the community hospital where she met Bernice the social worker. 

Bernice arranged a meeting with Yvonne, her family and NHS colleagues to discuss Yvonne’s options for future care and wellbeing. 

Bernice ensured that Yvonne could engage in the meeting, and drew on her experience and knowledge to put Yvonne and her family at ease.

Yvonne wanted to go back home and Bernice worked with her to identify how that would be possible. 

As Bernice supported the family with plans, Yvonne’s daughter said they developed ‘faith in her.’ 

Bernice identified Yvonne’s ongoing needs, the support she required, and then how this would be funded by the local authority and Yvonne. 

She also coordinated the health equipment, furniture and medication that Yvonne would need. 

As Bernice was based in the hospital, she was able to keep the family updated when they visited.

It took a while, but Yvonne got home with support from home care workers. 

Bernice called to check how things were and visited after a month to ensure that the care was appropriate and dignified. She talked to Yvonne and the care staff to make sure that things were arranged so Yvonne was able to call her family, watch TV and do her crafting when she wanted to. 

This example is based on a real-life example in the Social Work with Older People research project

Wilson had been living alone in his flat with support from his daughter Grace.

Gradually, Wilson started experiencing more and more problems with thinking and remembering. Alongside this, Wilson had some falls and short admissions to hospital. 

Over time, Wilson had more help at home both from care workers and from his family. He was happy to see his daughter and grandchildren, to chat and to do as prompted by others. However, left to himself, Wilson didn’t remember to do things like eat or drink. Eventually, it got to a point where Wilson found it impossible to stand without help.

A social worker from the local authority, Wes, met with Wilson and Grace at home. He spoke with the GP, community nurse and his occupational therapy colleague. Wes put together a picture of what Wilson needed and of the benefits and risks of staying at home or of moving to a care home. 

Wes identified that Wilson didn’t have the capacity to weigh up the information and make a decision about the care he needed. So Grace made it on his behalf using her Lasting Power of Attorney. Wilson’s feelings about what sort of home he wanted and the things and people that mattered to him were central to conversations. His views were asked for and understood as far as possible. Grace found Wes’s input vital and said ‘he gave me all the information.’

A potential room in a care home was identified by Grace and Wilson went to visit. This went quite well and so plans were made for Wilson to move. Wes coordinated the move with Grace. This included the essential elements of ensuring the care home staff knew what mattered to Wilson and setting up his room as he would like it. Also, getting appropriate funding from the local authority as Wilson couldn’t pay the full amount (though he would be paying significantly towards the cost). 

After Wilson moved, Wes went to see him and review how things were going. He said ‘I need to see for myself that it is working.’

This example is based on real-life examples in the Social Work with Older People research project