25. Elderly Issues

Question 1

Competency to Make Decisions:

Answer 1

If a SW is not able to determine if a client is competent, but there is indication, then have them referred and assessed by a medical doctor

Clients have a right to self-determination, unless they are not competent to making decisions

It is important when working in medical settings which involve advanced directives (when person decides in advance how they want to get medical care in final stages) and a power of attorney (person may not have an advanced directive, they can appoint someone else to make the decisions for them)

Question 2

Life Review:

Answer 2

A life review is a valuable intervention in the elderly population

A SW can have a client tell them their life so they can come to peace about issues they struggle with, have a sense of accomplishment or pride, and allows them to relive and revisit joyful memories of their life

Gives clients a sense of closure and makes amends with others in their life. Brief treatment links them to services that can be beneficial to them (case management style role) and can refer them to hospice care

Question 3

Change in Roles:

Answer 3

Adult children of elderly clients typically want to decide what is best for them, a SW should address or articulate the issue of these changing roles because it allows them to pause and see how it is impacting the client

Adult protection services can be called for signs of abuse and neglect. In collaborating with families, a SW may need to reach out to the family to collect history to get accurate information from them to determine supports the client may need

Question 4

When an elderly client has memory loss, but have awareness

Answer 4

Depression

Question 5

When an elderly client has memory loss, but no recollection of their memory

Answer 5

Dementia

Question 6

When an elderly client has memory loss, but they have some awareness of memory loss

Answer 6

Normal