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 (coming soon)
• 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