Chapter 15 discusses an array of organizations, policies, and programs that aim to improve the quality of living for elderly Americans. It seems as though advocacy and movements have long been around throughout the history of the United States. Movements that have recognized the need to meet elder's issues and concerns can be documented as far back as the early 1900's, with the creation of the Townsend Plan. Since then, several laws, organizations, and programs have sprouted all in an effort to create equal and fair rights and resources for the elderly. Today, powerful lobbying groups in large numbers can be found that many elderly are participating in. They aim to educate, advocate, provide resources, and awareness to the elderly's rights and have a positive effect on the numbers of elderly turning out at voting polls. In addition to meeting the needs of the elderly many organizations and policies are being directed to the needs of minority elderly. This is great news for the entire population of elderly, there are providing great examples of what it means to stand by one another and be supportive and concerned for your fellow man.
After reading Chapter 15, it has been discovered that great things are coming from a generation of elders who are advocating, educating, and informing themselves. This chapter was insightful for the future social workers of America because it is evident that a social worker can not only advocate on the client's behalf but can also collaborate with many of these already enthusiastic individuals. Listening and learning from these organizations, programs and policies can provide a future social worker with step ahead when it comes to working for an agency or individual with these types of concerns. Also, it is important to note that the present elderly generation is paving a way for the younger generation to add to in the future.
The chapter noted some critics saying that the current elderly population was greedy and taking away from children's resources, but this does not seem like a realistic statement, because if this group is willing to advocate for not only themselves, but minorities, gays, lesbians, and all person's health care; why on earth would they want to take away from children? This was an interesting and controversial topic.
All levels of social work can be effected by the topics discussed in chapter 15 but it is clear that the programs and policies made at the macro level can have a profound affect on the micro and vice versa.
Reference:
Hillier, S.M. and Barrow, G.M. (2007). Aging, the
individual and society. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth.
I believe that the younger generations have a lot to learn from the elderly politically. We need to step up with these aging populations and increase our efforts. The elderly have gotten so many programs off the ground that we could take a few notes. Hiller and Barrow (2011) state, "The new generation of elders will have a better understanding of the relationship between lifestyle and health, and they will have lived in greater affluence than did their parents and have had greater opportunity to make lifestyle choices. They will bring with them the ability to redefine the timing of life course transactions. They just might choose to work until they are 55, then worl for five years, take two years off, and repeat the cycle until they become completely unable to do so. They will bring with them different attitudes toward marriage, responsiblity to the community, an responsiblity for personal growth".
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