BPD Update Online, Spring 2004
Social Welfare Policy and Services
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POLICY COURSES

Resources, Materials & Methods

 

Resources & Materials

 

Films

 

§         A Time to Change

§         A World of Ideas: Ethics and Economics

§         Big Mama

§         Film about historical development and current issues of Medicare

§         Films on older adults remembering life as orphans and  on native American experience of boarding schools

§         For Better or Worse

§         Growing Old in a New Age: Societal and Political Aspects of Aging (Tape12)

§         Homeless in New York

§         In the White Man’s Image

§         Interview with Maggie Kuhn

§         Legacy

§         Life

§         Living Wills

§         Medicare/Medicaid and long-term care financing

§         One East

§         Oral History: A Century of Living

§         Orphan Train

§         PBS video, Health Care Crisis: Who’s at Risk?

§         The Future of Aging and Aging Services: A Call for New Paradigm and Vision

§         The Issues Regarding Privatization of Social Security

§         To Be Old, Black, and Poor

 

Readings

 

§       Anderson, L., Sundet, P., & Harrington, I. (2000). The social welfare system in the United States: A social worker’s guide to public benefits programs.
Chapter 4, The Social Security Act, Title II, Old Age Survivors, Disability Insurance.

§       Axinn, J & Stern, M. J. (2004). Social welfare: A history of the American response to need. Boston MA: Allyn & Bacon, Inc.

§       Barusch, A. (2002). Foundations of social policy. Itasca: F.E. Peacock Publishers.
Chapters 3,4,5, & 9

§       Brookdale Center on Aging. “Benefits Checklist for Older Adults.” Two versions: one for New York City and one for New York State (outside NYC). Brookdale Center on Aging of Hunter College.

§       Brown, D. (1999). A context for teaching aging-related public policy. Educational Gerontology, 25 (8), 711-722.

§       Chapin, R. (2001). Supporting the strengths of older women. In: Peterson, K.J. & A. A.  Lieberman (eds). Building on women’s strengths: A social work agenda for the twenty-first century, (p. 169). Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press.

§       Cole, T. R. & Stevenson, D. G. (1999). The meaning of age and the future of Social Security. Generations, 23 (4), 72-76

§       Coles, R., Testa, R., & Coles, M. (2001). Growing up poor: A literary anthology. New York, NY: The New Press.

§       Cowan, J. (1995, March 23). Perspective on Social Security: Boomers’ burden on generation X. Los Angeles Times.

§       Cowart, M. E. & Quadrango, J. S. (1996). From nursing home to home care. Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press.

§       Cruz, H. (1995, July 7) Time for a change: Proposals to reform social security. Chicago Tribune.

§       DiNitto, D. M. (2000). Social welfare: Politics and public policy (5th ed.).
Chapter 4, Preventing Poverty: The Social Insurance Programs; Chapter 8, Improving health Care: Treating the Nation’s Ills; Chapter 5, Helping the “Deserving Poor”: Aged, Blind and Disabled; Chapter 8, Improving Health Care; Chapter 10, Providing Social Services: Help for Children and the Elderly; Chapter 11. Challenging Social Welfare: Racism and Sexism (and Ageism; Chapter 12, Implementing and Evaluating Social Welfare Policy: What Happens After a law is Passed.

§       Dolgoff, R. & Feldstein, D. (2000). Understanding social welfare (5th edition). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon. Chapter 7.

§       Elman, C. (1998). Intergenerational household structure and economic change at the turn of the 20th century. Journal of Family History, 23(4), 417-440.

§       Ewalt, P., Freeman, E., Kirk, S. & Poole, D. (eds.) 1996. Multicultural issues in social work. Washington, DC: NASW Press.
Chapter 24, Asian and Pacific Island Elders: Issues for Social Work Practice and Education; Chapter 36, In Home and Community Based Service Utilization by Three Groups of Elderly Hispanics: A National Perspective.

§       Greene, V. & Marty, K. (1999). Generational investment and social insurance for the elderly: Balancing the accounts. The Gerontologist, 39 (6), 645-647.

§       Hemphill, C. D. (1994). Age relations and the social order in early New England: the evidence from manners. Journal of Social History, 28, 271-294.

§       Henderson, D. R. (1997, September 8). Fix Social Security? Why not abolish it. Fortune.

§       Hinterlong, J., Morrow-Howell, N., & Sherraden, M.  (2001).  Productive aging: Principles and perspectives.  In N. Morrow-Howell, J. Hinterlong, & M. Sherraden (Eds.),  Productive aging: Concepts and challenges (pp.  3-18).  Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.

§       Hogan, S. (1990). Caring for the caregiver to ease their burden. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 16 (5), 12-17.

§       Holahan, Weiner, & Liska, (1997). The Medicaid reform debate. Washington, DC: The Urban Institute.  Available online: http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/mrd97.pdf

§       Hooyman, N. H. & Kiyak, H. A. (2001). Social Gerontology: A multidisciplinary perspective, 6th ed, pp. 454-481.  Boston, MA:  Allyn and Bacon. Chapter 10, Housing Patterns of Older People.

§       Karger, H. J. & Stoesz, D. (2002).  American social welfare policy A pluralist approach (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon. Chapter 10, Social Insurance

§       Kelley, et al. (1977). To grandmothers house we go and stay: Children raised in inter-generational families. Journal of Gerontological Nursing.

§       Kerry, B. (1995, February 2) Social Security, Medicare in need of reform now. Washington Post.

§       Krain, M. (1995). Policy implications for a society aging well. American Behavioral Scientist, 39 (2), 131-151.

§       Lee, A. & Baker, C. (1998). Do black elderly Medicare patients receive fewer services? An analysis of procedure use for selected patient conditions. Medical Care Research & Review, 55 (3), 314-323.

§       Lindblom, C & Woodhouse, E. J. (1992). The policy making process. Paramus, NJ: Prentice Hall PTR.

§       Moon, M. (1999). Will the care be there? Vulnerable beneficiaries and Medicare reform. Health Affairs, 18, 107-117.

§       National Association of Social Workers, (2003). Social work speaks: Policy statements, 2003-2006.

§       Nolan, M & Davies, S. (2001). Working with older people and their families: Key issues in policy and practice. Buckingham, Great Britain: Open University Press.

§       Older American Act

§       Otto, J. M. (2000). The role of adult protective services in addressing abuse.  Generations, 24(2) Summer, 33-38.

§       Popple, P. R. & Leighninger, L. (2003). The policy-based profession: An introduction to social welfare policy analysis for social workers. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon, Inc. Chapters 5, 6, & 8.

§       Popple, P. R., & Leighninger, L.  (2000). Social work, social welfare, and American society, 4th ed., Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon. Chapter 15.

§       President Bush’s State of the Union Address.

§       Raffel, N.K. & Raffel, M.W. (1987). Elderly care: Similarities and solutions in Denmark and the United States. Public Health Reports, 102(5), 494-500.

§       Segal, E. & Brzuzy, S. (1998). Social welfare policy, programs and practice. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Chapter 8, Aging and Social Welfare Policy.

§       Silverstein, M. & Parrott, T. (1997). Attitudes toward public support of the elderly: Does early involvement with grandparents moderate generational tensions? Research on Aging, 19 (1), 108-131.

§       Social Security Network. (1999). Social Security: The basics.

§       Steverle, C. E. et. al. (1998). The government we deserve: Responsive democracy and changing expectations. Washington, DC: Urban Institute Press.

§       Suppes, M. A. & Wells, C. C. (2003). The Social work experience: An introduction to social work and social welfare. Burr Ridge, IL: McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Chapter 11, Social Work with Older Adults

§       Takamura, J. C. (1999). Getting ready for the 21st Century: The aging of America and the Older Americans Act. Health and Social Work, 24(3), 232.

§       The Century Foundation. (2001). Introduction, Medicare: Nuts and bolts, What is right with Medicare? What is wrong with Medicare? Medicare reform: A Century Foundation guide to the issues (pp. 1-30). New York: The Century Foundation.

§       Torey-Gil & Villa (1999). Social policy and the elderly. In: Midgley, J., Tracy, M, & Livermore, M. (eds). The handbook of social policy, (p 209).Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

§       U.S. Census Bureau, (1997). How we’re changing: Demographic state of the nation: 1997, Current population reports: Special Studies, Washington, D.C.: U.S. Census Bureau, March, P23-193.

§       United Nations Handouts. “United Nations principles for older persons” (1998); Address by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan delivered to the 2nd World Assembly on Ageing (Madrid, 2002); “World population ageing: 1950-2050.” Executive Summary. United Nations (2001).

§       Waldrop, D. P. & Weber, J. A. (2001). From grandparent to caregiver: The stress and satisfaction of raising grandchildren, Journal of Contemporary Human Services, 82(5).

§       Wallace, G. (2001). Grandparent caregivers: Emerging issues in elder law and social work practice. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 34 (3), 127-136.

§       Weiler, N. (1992). Religion, ethnicity and the development of private homes for the aged. Journal of American Ethnic History, 12, 64-90.

§       Whiteman, V. L. (2001). Social security: What every human service professional should know. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon.

§       Wikin, S. L. (1999). How "ripened" are you? Social Work, 44.

§       Wilber, K. & McNeilly, D. P. (2001). Elder abuse and victimization. In: J. E. Birren & K.W. Schaie (eds.). Handbook of the psychology of aging, (p 569). 5th ed. San Diego: Academic Press.

§       Yates, J. & Gillespie, W. (2000). The elderly and prison policy. Journal of Aging and Social Policy 11, (2-3), 167-175.

Incomplete Reference Citations

 

§         Caputo, statistics on older adults & poverty

§         Definitions re: elder abuse/neglect (California Welfare and Institutions Code, Section 15610)

§         Handouts: Housing Hints for Westchester Seniors;

§         Handouts: World Population Ageing: 1950-2050. Executive Summary. United Nations (2001)

§         Poem “Warning” by Jenny Joseph

§         Readings & cases from Fauri, Wernet, & Netting

§         Snowden et al. Nun Study reference for nun study, quantifying qualitative data on Alzheimer's

§         Various related readings such as Taxing Ourselves, Confronting Poverty Prescriptions for Change, and Setting National Priorities

 

Reading Topic Areas

 

§         Critical Book Review: Evaluation of the ethics of the book and of its consideration of the needs of older adults

§         Highlighted readings showing historical portrayals of older adults taking the lead to influence policy

§         Reading on effects of ageism on individual and health care providers

§         Readings on Social Security and Medicare; long term care, health/social services, and retirement; role of nativity, citizenship, and Supplemental Security Income among older Asian Americans and Hispanics

§         Selected readings on working with older adults, with a focus on practical issues related to grandparents raising grandchildren

 

Modules

 

§         GeroRichTeaching Module #5, The Future of Long-Term Care

§         “Policy & Legislation” Teaching Module

 

Guest Speakers

 

§         Bread Bank activists (several elders 70+ who are social activists and “Movement Makers”)

§         Guest Speakers from the following settings or areas:

§         Area Agency on Aging

§         Older Worker Employment Program

§         Foster Grandparent

§         Social Security Administration

§         Retired Senior Volunteer Program

§         Director of the Area Agency on Aging

§         Retired S.W. faculty member

§         Local Information and Referral services or the Area Agency on Aging

§         Elder and Disability Law

§         Graduate of social work program who is working in state house

§         State Bureau on Aging, Policy Division

§         Guest speakers who completed internship with the Indiana General Assembly

§         Invited state senator Betty Sims to discuss her long term care policy initiatives

 

Websites

 

§         AARP, www.aarp.org

§         Adult Protective Services Worker Training for the California State Department of Social Services, by CSU – Los Angeles, http://www.calstatela.edu/dept/soc_work/aps/index_aps.html

§         Gray Panthers, www.graypanthers.org

§         Medicare, www.medicare.gov

§         National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, www.ncpssm.org

§         Social Security Administration, www.ssa.gov

§         Social Work Aging Resource Center, www.sjsu.edu/swarc

§         The Poorhouse Story, www.poorhousestory.com

§         United States Administration on Aging, www.aoa.gov

§         University of North Carolina GeroRich Project Teaching Resources, http://ssw.unc.edu/jif/projects/hartford/tresour.htm

 

Methods

 

Discussion

 

§         Ageism discussion under civil rights section

§         Class discussions reviewing legislation related to end-of-life issues Patient Self Determination Act and Uniform Health Care Decisions Act

§         Include time in each class session for relating class topics to an intergenerational issue across diverse groups

§         Newspaper articles on issues relating to aging

§         Older adults included in discussions of values

§         Political power and aging

§         Reflection/discussion of stereotypes & ageism, ageism/discrimination impact on  development of social policy/service delivery

§         Resources/literature on aging issues, current litigation,  regulations affecting older adults

§         Values underlying privatization proposals related to Social Security and Medicare coverage

 

Lectures

 

§         AARP and advocacy, healthcare

§         Generational equity debate

§         Health and economic status of older women

§         Overview of  key legislation such as Social Security, Older Americans Act/Programs (including OAA 2000 provisions for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation Program),Social Security programs., Medicare, Medicaid, community and state resources

§         Review of the Older Americans Act,  National Family Caregiver Support Program, home and community-based services; Social Security and the increase in older widows; independence and long term care for low income older adults

§         Social Security Reform Debates: Conservative/Moderate/Liberal/Radical Perspectives

§         The New Deal, War on Poverty

 

Exercises

 

§         Analyze poverty data for children and for older adults

§         Humor analysis to identify ageism and stereotypes

§         Media analysis of how older adults are portrayed in TV and film ads

§         Policy analysis exercise

§         Review latest Social Security and Medicare Trust Fund reports and develop ideas regarding consequences of present policy and possible responses

§         Reviewed current issues in the print media to follow policy issues

§         Scavenger Hunt of Aging Issues

§         Simulation kits from Secure Project- Impact of visual impairments on older adults

§         Social Security and Women Quiz: Older Women’s League; National Policy Summit on Elder Abuse

§         Social Security scavenger hunt

§         Student Exercise: "How do I get started on my paper?"

§         Using themes from Big Mama, students compare and contrast policies supporting child and youth service with those for older adults

§         What is your aging I.Q.? Quiz

 

 Community Involvement

 

§         Attend one committee session of a policy making body and report back

§         Field trips to:

§         Mercy Clinic (staffed by volunteers who are primarily older adults – retired doctors, nurses) and written report

§         retirement home, funeral home

§         four different healthcare settings

§         legislature

§         Lobbying at the state legislature

§         Mini-practicum experience in an agency for older adults encouraged

§         Visit a Social Security office and request assistance with accessing information about benefits

 

Assignments:

 

Written

 

§         Analysis of editorials on social welfare issues

§         Analyze and discuss the impact of bills addressing older adults before the state legislature

§         Elder care policy paper

§         Historical document analysis: interview with Inabel Lindsey, older African American woman’s reflections on experience as  young social worker

§         Legislative tracking assignment encourage students to select one piece of legislation that applies to older adults and/or Aging Services

§         Letter to local representative on issues of concern for older adults  in Alabama

§         One group follows policy issues affecting older adults and each student writes a weekly reaction paper, reports on their topic in class, and at the end of the semester gives a longer presentation and writes a final paper

§         Paper on comparison of treatment of aging in two historical eras

§         Paper on the history of Medicaid; the history of the Older American’s Act

§         Paper that compares social welfare policy pertaining to older adults in U.S. to policy of any other developed country

§         Policy analysis topics include predatory lending and impact on elders, affordable housing, and grandparents as caregivers to grandchildren

§         Research paper on care for older adults in a country other than  the United States

§         Student papers and panel presentations on diversity and/or poverty aspects of growing old in America

§         Student policy analysis papers:  Social Security Act, Medicare, Older Americans Act and state level programs for low cost prescription drugs for seniors

§         Use the internet, brochures and literature to assess organizations that advocate and influence policies for older adults 

Interviews 

§         Interview someone 65 years of age or older and discuss the interview in a 3-5 page paper

§         Life review interviews

§         Older adults interviewed in class; final paper on interview of person from different ethnic minority status/generations 

Projects/Presentations 

§         Analyze legislation on long term care, Social Security, Americans with Disabilities Act, etc.

§         In-class presentations on one topic related to aging across cultural groups

§         Panel  presentation: Grandparents raising grandchildren

§         PowerPoint presentation addresses intergenerational nature of Social Security and includes student analysis of various proposed solutions to Social Security's solvency problems

§         Presentation on ethical dilemmas related to provision of several  different types of care to older adults, with a focus on policy implementation

§         Project involving policy research as an advocacy model to support an under-funded geriatric assessment clinic in the community

§         Semester policy project which examines issues of retirement and long-term care

§         Students organized and presented a community forum featuring interdisciplinary experts on elder abuse

§         Team analysis of the National Family Caregiver Support Act

Spiral, Horizontal Line Spinning

BPD Update Online, Volume 26, No. 2, Spring 2004

The BPD Update Online Web Site is sponsored by Lyceum Books.