Centre for Policy on Ageing



From disempowering to empowering — changing the practice of social service professionals with older people
Author(s)	Ping-kwong Kam
Journal title	Hallym International Journal of Aging, vol 4, no 2, 2002
Pages	pp 161-184
Keywords	Rights [elderly] ; Social workers ; Attitudes to the old of general public.
Annotation	The notion of power and its relevance to professional practice is examined. The article argues that the tendency of professional power to control clients can produce disempowering effects. It also shows how current practice of social service professionals often disempowers older people. This form of practice - which can be both intentional and unintentional - takes various forms: negative attitudes towards older people; the use of a medical control model of practice; an unequal relationship with older people; denying older people opportunities to participate in decision-making; and limiting older people's choices and alternatives. Quite apart from the inadequate services available, this form of practice can only increase older people's sense of powerlessness, incompetence and self-esteem. The article calls the attention of social service professionals to the effects of their disempowering practice on older people, and suggests a new form of practice that empowers rather than disempowers older people. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-031120206 A
Classmark	IKR: QR: TOB
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.