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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Working with COW
— social work supporting older women living in the community | | Author(s) | Margot Rawsthorne, Kayleigh Ellis, Alison de Pree |
| Journal title | Journal of Gerontological Social Work, vol 60, no 1, January 2017 |
| Publisher | Taylor and Francis, January 2017 |
| Pages | pp 32-47 |
| Source | http://tandfonline.com |
| Keywords | Older women ; Social interaction ; Social work ; Development projects ; Australia. |
| Annotation | Like all developed Western countries, Australia is experiencing a demographic shift that is resulting in an increasing proportion of the population being aged over 65. Contrary to stereotypes, the vast majority of older people live independently in communities. This article explores the potential of social work practice, informed by community development principles, to enable socially disadvantaged older women to live in vibrant and supportive communities, in which they feel safe and can access the support services they need. It argues that participation in social action not only builds older women's well-being, but also enables them to become (or continue to be) agents for social change in local communities. Adopting a community-based research methodology, this article draws on a decade of community development practice with the Concerned Older Women's (COW) Group. This suggests that community development practice based on participation, empowerment and social action founded on respectful relationships may accrue significant benefits to individuals and the broader community. This social work practice creates the social conditions to facilitate older women's capacity to work collectively to achieve social change, challenging ageist stereotypes. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-170331203 A |
| Classmark | BD: TMA: IG: IGD: 7YA |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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