Singapore Social Work: Elders' Late Adulthood Transition and Associated Needs
Question 1 (40 marks total)
At age 50, Tony Tan lives with his father aged 72, in a small 3 room HDB apartment flat which they bought a long time ago. Tony’s father became a widow one year ago after his wife died of cancer. His wife had battled with breast cancer on and off for 5 years. Tony’s father was the primary caregiver right till Mrs Tan (Tony’s mother) passed away peacefully at home. They had always celebrated their wedding anniversary. The year Mrs Tan (Tony’s mother) died was soon to be their 50th anniversary. Mr Tan (Tony’s father) was devastated as he witnessed his wife’s transition from an abled body to a bed-bound condition requiring full nursing care. The pain and sadness were all consuming for the family. Tony now closely watches his dad’s diabetic condition and vertigo. Because of the condition, Mr Tan (Tony’s father) tends to feel giddy. He once fell in his bedroom right after he got off from bed. The small old HDB apartment flat has undergone HDB EASE program (a government initiative) with the installation of eight grab bars. Mr Tan (Tony’s father) is a retired civil servant. He lives on his government annuity pay-out, sufficient enough so he does not have to rely so much on Tony. The latter (Tony) works as a freelance photographer and earns an irregular income. He has a long time girlfriend but has been postponing his plan to settle down as he is not certain that his future wife-to-be would live “harmoniously” with his elderly father. Tony has 2 older sisters who are married and have their family commitments. Tony wishes that his siblings can contribute slightly more and pay more regular visits. But the elder Mr Tan (Tony’s father) prefers not to involve them unnecessarily. One of the daughters of elder Mr Tan has a child with special needs while the daughter’s mother in law is undergoing kidney dialysis.
(a) Discuss (Tony’s father) elder Mr Tan’s late adulthood transition and his associated needs.
(20 marks)
(b) Explain the challenges of Tony in fulfilling his caregiving role as the only son in the family, in the context of his own developmental needs.
(20 marks)
Question 2 (30 marks total)
(a) Analyse the relevant biological, psychological, and social aspects of ageing that explain the ageing process and transition of an elderly from an independent to a frail status.
(15 marks)
(b) The increased longevity, rise in chronic disease prevalence, and the growing public expectations may place a huge demand for the intermediate and long term care (ILTC) services. Appraise the key areas in Singapore eldercare policies that will help ensure the capacity scaling in the ILTC sector to meet the projected needs of community-dwelling frail elderly with functional limitations.
(15 marks)
Question 3
Billy has just graduated and started work as a social worker in a non-profit centre that provides home palliative and hospice services. His main portfolio is, first of all, to assess the holistic needs of the elderly who are terminally ill and spending their final days at home. This will be followed by psychosocial care and support, advance care planning discussion, grief and bereavement, application for various home consumables or assisted devices, and appropriate referral to suitable community-based services. This seems a huge task and role for a new worker and Billy wonders if he could adjust adequately to his role. As Billy’s supervisor, your task is to ensure Billy attains a set of knowledge and skills needed in this specialized palliative care setting. More importantly, to cultivate the right values in the staff as well such as empathy and teamwork. Apply the relevant values, knowledge, and skills competency learnt in your course as well as from your personal reading to enhance Billy’s competency as a social worker working with the elderly in their palliative care.
(30 marks)
Singapore Social Work: Eldercare
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Singapore Social Work: Eldercare
Question 1
Elder Mr. Tan’s Late Adulthood Transition and His Associated Needs
Significant changes and difficulties marked elder Mr. Tan's journey into late adulthood. He became his wife's only carer during her final days when she passed away from cancer. He may have suffered sadness, depression, and anxiety due to this incident, which might have severely influenced his mental and emotional health. He also has vertigo and diabetes, which can impair his physical health and mobility (Winpenny et al., 2018). Mr. Tan's requirements as an older person include social, emotional, and physical assistance. He could need help with chores like cooking, bathing, and dressing. He could also require assistance managing his medical issues, including frequent checkups and prescription administration (Winpenny et al., 2018). Additionally, older adults need social support to avoid loneliness and isolation, which can harm their mental and emotional health.
Challenges of Tony in Fulfilling His Caregiving Role as the only Son in the Family in the Context of His Own Developmental Needs
Tony struggles to balance his responsibilities as the family's sole son with his developmental requirements. He makes sporadic money as a freelance photographer, making it financially challenging to support his father (Plothner et al., 2019). He could also find managing his caring obligations, relationships, and personal life difficult. As a caregiver, Tony might also go through emotional stress and burnout, which is bad for his mental health. To avoid becoming a caregiver burden, he might need to set up clear limits and enlist the help of other family members or community services.
Additionally, Tony might have needs for his development that he needs to meet (Plothner et al., 2019). He could want to marry his partner and have children, for instance. He could hesitate to do so because he worries about how his prospective bride would handle caring for his ailing father. His interactions may become tense and contentious as a result. Furthermore, Tony's responsibilities as a caregiver may restrict his social life and chances for personal development. He needs help to establish friendships and engage in his interests and hobbies. Feelings of loneliness and isolation may result from this (Plothner et al., 2019). Tony might need to put himself first and find time for pursuits that make him happy and content, apart from his caring responsibilities. To prevent being a caretaker, he may need to create boundaries and communicate his needs to his family (Plothner et al., 2019). He might also choose assisted living or home care for his father to reduce his caregiving duties. Respite care may help Tony. He can relax, decreasing caregiver fatigue.
Question 2
Biological, Psychological, and Social Aspects of Aging that Explain the Aging Process and Transition of the Elderly from an Independent to a Frail Status
Biological Aspects
Biological aspects fundamentally influence the ageing process. The slow degeneration of organs and systems is mainly caused by cellular damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation (Teo et al., 2019). Strength, endurance, and mobility are all compromised due to cellular damage that builds up over time. As a result, chronic diseases and impairments affect older persons more frequently, restricting their everyday activities (Teo et al., 2019). Additionally, cognitive decline happens when memory, attention, and processing speed deteriorate, impacting independence in general, communication, and decision-making. Ageing’s biological effects pave the way for possible psychological and social changes that people may go through later.
Psychological Aspects
In addition to physical changes, ageing is marked by psychological changes. In most cases, aging includes cognitive decline, which affects a person's mental capacity (Teo et al., 2019). Memory lapses, less attention, and decreased processing speed can hamper daily functioning. In addition, mental health conditions like despair and anxiety can accelerate aging. Older people who struggle with these illnesses may have a lower quality of life and be more susceptible to cognitive and physical impairments (Teo et al., 2019). Chronic stress can exacerbate psychological impairment in older persons and can be brought on by things like caregiving obligations or unpleasant life experiences.
Social Aspects
The social environment has a significant impact on the ageing process. Older persons confront considerable obstacles, such as social isolation and a lack of assistance (Teo et al., 2019). Loneliness and a lack of social engagement have negative consequences on mental and physical health, potentially hastening aging. Furthermore, lacking a solid social support network, including family, friends, and community networks, might limit access to resources and help (Teo et al., 201...