The History and Development of Social Work Practice for the Elderly
The emergence of social work for the elderly is nothing more than two basic conditions. First, the problems of the elderly or aging are endless, and it is urgent to rely on the government and forces outside the government to solve them together; Second, the national economy has developed more or less, and it can provide some welfare services for the elderly. China's social work for the elderly was basically born in this situation. However, before the emergence of professional social work for the elderly, social work for the elderly in China experienced a long period of embryonic stage.
(A) the historical origin of social work practice for the elderly
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1. The definition and practical concept of social work for the elderly
From a professional point of view, the so-called social work for the elderly is a professional service activity aimed at the problems of the elderly. It refers to professionally trained social workers who, under the guidance of professional values, make full use of the theories and methods of social work to solve problems, get rid of difficulties and promote more elderly people who suffer from various difficulties in their lives and temporarily lose their social functions.
2. The embryonic stage of social work for the elderly
Social work for the elderly in China has been gradually developed in the process of caring for and serving the elderly. Before 1979, the objects adopted by domestic old-age care institutions were basically the elderly and the disabled (hereinafter referred to as the "three noes" objects), and the expenses were borne by the government. Taking Shanghai as an example, 1963, the Civil Affairs Bureau formulated the Provisions on the Policy Scope and Examination and Approval Measures of Accommodation for the Disabled, which stipulated that the accommodation scope was as follows: those with permanent residence in cities and towns were helpless, unable to work, unable to take care of themselves or basically unable to take care of themselves; Retired old, weak and disabled workers belong to the permanent residence of this city, helpless, unable to take care of themselves, and the original unit has been revoked and cannot be placed; Disabled elderly people who are helpless, vagrants and beggars in the urban areas of this city; Among the returning population, they are helpless, unable to work, unable to take care of themselves and have no immigration conditions; Disabled old people and homeless and unemployed people among the objects of reeducation through labor. The examination and approval procedures are: registration and examination by the district civil affairs department, examination and approval by the civil affairs bureau, and reception by the reformatory for the disabled.
From 65438 to 0979, self-funded adoption began to be tried out, and the number of self-funded adoptions increased year by year. 1992 Social welfare institutions run by municipal and district governments adopted 2 138 people, and "three noes" 1000 people, accounting for 47.1%; At their own expense 1 138 people, accounting for 52.9%. Since 1990s, the number of "three noes" has been decreasing year by year. 1At the end of 1995, 854 people were adopted by hospitals in the whole city, accounting for 32. 1%, and 23 1 person were adopted by district social welfare institutions.
1980 Kaifeng Street, Zhabei District initiated the establishment of the first care group for the elderly in Shanghai. The members of the protection group are basically composed of lonely and old neighbors, who spontaneously organize themselves to serve the lonely and old. Services range from food, clothing, housing, sewing and laundry, disease care to funeral care. Through their services, the daily life of the lonely elderly has been taken care of, reflecting the concern of the party and the government. The Civil Affairs Bureau promptly promoted the practice of Kaifeng Street, and the care group for the elderly was quickly promoted throughout the city. By the end of 1982, more than 3,000 care groups for the elderly had been established in the city, and the elderly scattered in society were basically cared for and cared for.
Home nursing room for the elderly is another form of community nursing for the elderly. It uses the houses of the elderly who are lonely in the society, and is renovated at the expense of the community neighborhood committees, so as to gather the elderly who are lonely in the neighboring society and designate special people to take care of their lives. This family-style placement and care for the elderly conforms to the psychological characteristics of nostalgia and homesickness of the elderly and is very popular with the elderly. 1997, the city established 206 1 home for the aged. In addition, 32 old-age care centers have been established, with 27 1 elderly people.
The above-mentioned care and services for the elderly basically stayed at the stage of letting the elderly eat and wear warm clothes, and there were no accidents. How to make the elderly live a more quality, more confident, more extensive social support network and more growth, as well as professional ideas and professional services intervention, has not yet appeared and entered people's field of vision.
3. The emergence and initial development of social work for the elderly
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Songtang Caring Hospital, the first hospice hospital in China, opened in Beijing, 65438-0987. It is characterized by the combination of therapist and clinical consultation. Songtang provides medical treatment, nursing and psychological care for elderly patients through the treatment scheme of mutual cooperation between therapists and psychological counseling, which can safely, quickly and effectively relieve patients' psychological pressure and pain. Another feature of Songtang Hospital is to establish contact with social resources, so that more caring people in the society can pay attention to the elderly. One practice of hospitals is to let many colleges and universities set up "love huts" in hospitals. These students often come to our hospital to sing, perform programs, chat with the elderly and celebrate their birthdays in their spare time. At the same time, the hospital has also established long-term contacts with Buddhist and Christian associations to meet the religious needs of the dying elderly.
Tianjin Hetong Welfare Association for the Elderly was established in 1995. Is a non-governmental charity welfare service organization, with nursing homes in Tianjin and Beijing. 1998, Hetong began to expand its services to young and healthy elderly people, and Hetong Choir and Hetong (Haihe) Morning Exercise Team were established one after another. The professional management of "Hetong" is based on "continuously improving the self-care ability of the elderly", and its service concept of "let the lying elderly sit up, let the sitting elderly stand up and let the standing elderly stand up" has benefited many elderly people. At that time, "Hetong" registered nearly a thousand social service volunteers all the year round. Among these volunteers are students majoring in social work, who have brought social work methods to the elderly service in nursing homes.
From June 65438 to April 0998, the YMCA of Shanghai, with the assistance of Pudong New Area Government and Jinyang New Village Street, established Luoshan Nursing Home to provide comprehensive community care for the elderly. Nursing homes pay attention to the personality development of the elderly and improve their quality of life through various activities, so that serving the elderly is not only for the purpose of caring about their food and clothing, but also for further helping them to re-recognize themselves, give play to their strengths, exercise their self-care ability and enrich their old age. At the same time, establish community leisure centers for the elderly to provide services such as reading, drinking tea, listening to books, talking and consulting for the elderly, and improve their spiritual and cultural living standards through various forms of entertainment activities.
(B) the professional development of social work practice for the elderly
1. The development of social work practice for the elderly
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It is particularly worth mentioning that with the strong support of Shenzhen and the municipal government, social work and its practical development in Shenzhen have a great potential to catch up. In July, 2007, Shenzhen Social Welfare Center purchased 7 social workers from Shenzhen Pengxing Social Work Service Agency in the form of government purchase services, and arranged them in Children's Welfare Institute (4) and Geriatric Rehabilitation Hospital (2) respectively (1 person). In March, 2008, Shenzhen Dongxi Social Work Service Center sent a group of social workers with professional social work background to Shenzhen Nursing Home by purchasing services from the Civil Affairs Bureau, in an attempt to provide more professional services for the elderly.
In the process of providing social work services for the elderly, social work at the community level is also being carried out and explored. From June 5, 2004 to 10, Luwan District of Shanghai conducted a socialization pilot project in Huaihai Street. The activity room for the elderly in this street is managed by the Ai Hua Community Service Management Center under the Shanghai YMCA, and the government buys education for the elderly and team activities. The activity room for the elderly has gradually entered the road of benign development. On July 20th, 2005, the first pilot project of "Social Workers Entering the Community" in Henan Province was officially launched in Fengle Community, Nanyang New Village, Jinshui District, Zhengzhou City. Greentown Social Work Service Station (formerly Fengle Community Social Work Service Station) was established, and serving the elderly (caring for the elderly community and caring for their homes) is one of the main services of the station. On July 5, 2007, more than 20 social workers and volunteers from Greentown Social Work Service Station visited the widowed and left-behind elderly in Nanyang New Village. On July 20th, 2007, the project team of Greentown Social Workers' Home for the Aged went to Yihe Apartment for the Aged to carry out activities of respecting and caring for the elderly.
In August, 2006, the New District Social Workers Association was entrusted by the New District Government to set up "Fun Project Team" to provide professional services for the clients of institutional pension, home pension and community pension in some pension institutions and communities in Pudong New Area. Since the establishment of the "Le Chun" project team, * * * has 20 staff members, including supervisor 1 person, supervisor 1 person and social worker 18, who serve the new district 13 old-age care institution, 1 community service station and/kloc-respectively. For more than a year, social workers have mastered the case information of the elderly through their own efforts and filing; Help the elderly adapt to institutional life through daily interviews; Carry out case service and pay attention to individual needs; Design various group activities to enrich the life of the elderly in their later years; Relying on various community activities to unite the strength of colleges and universities; Social workers also assist in various administrative tasks and help the old-age care institutions improve their overall image; Introduce the new concept of institutional management, strengthen capacity building and improve professional level; We also pay attention to communication, keep information channels unblocked, make services meet the demand and make operations more directional.
2. Relevant laws and policies have promoted the development of social work practice for the elderly.
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Throughout the past two decades, social work for the elderly in China has developed from scratch, from germination to vigorous development, and has also developed its own characteristics of social work for the elderly in China. Its own practical experience is worth summarizing and discussing.