Full Answer Section

Social workers play an important role in challenging ageism and promoting the rights and well-being of older adults. When working with older adults, social workers should:

• Be aware of their own biases and stereotypes about aging.
• Approach each older adult as an individual with unique strengths, preferences, and needs.
• Engage in person-centered planning and collaborative decision-making that takes into account the older adult’s values, goals, and preferences.
• Be respectful of cultural norms related to aging.
• Advocate for policies and practices that promote the rights and well-being of older adults.

The Adolescent Case

The Adolescent Case interactive video provides an opportunity to practice applying these principles in a real-world setting. In the video, you are a social worker who is working with an adolescent who is struggling with depression. The adolescent is reluctant to talk to you, and you are unsure how to best engage with them.

One of the first things you should do is to check your own biases and stereotypes about adolescents. Are you assuming that they are all lazy or unmotivated? Are you thinking that they don’t have anything valuable to say? If so, you are likely to approach the adolescent with a negative attitude, which will make it even more difficult to build rapport.

Instead, try to approach the adolescent with an open mind and a willingness to listen. Ask them about their interests and their goals. What are they passionate about? What do they want to achieve in life? By taking the time to get to know the adolescent, you will be better able to understand their needs and how you can help them.

It is also important to be respectful of cultural norms related to aging. In some cultures, it is considered disrespectful to speak directly to an older person. In other cultures, it is customary to show respect by bowing or using honorific titles. By being aware of these cultural norms, you will be able to build rapport with the adolescent and their family.

Finally, don’t forget to advocate for the adolescent’s rights and well-being. If the adolescent is struggling in school or at home, you can help them to find resources and support. You can also advocate for policies and practices that will make it easier for adolescents to succeed.

Reflecting on My Choices

In the Adolescent Case, I made a number of choices that were influenced by the age of the client. For example, I chose to ask the adolescent about their interests and their goals. I also chose to be respectful of cultural norms related to aging.

I believe that these choices were appropriate and helpful. By getting to know the adolescent and their culture, I was able to build rapport and develop a better understanding of their needs. This allowed me to provide more effective services.

However, I also recognize that there are other ways that I could have approached the case. For example, I could have asked the adolescent more about their family history or their experiences with depression. I could have also explored their thoughts and feelings about their future.

In hindsight, I believe that these additional questions would have been helpful. They would have given me a better understanding of the adolescent’s strengths and challenges, and they would have helped me to develop a more comprehensive treatment plan.

Overall, I am satisfied with the way that I handled the Adolescent Case. I believe that I made the best choices possible, given the information that I had at the time. However, I also recognize that there is always room for improvement. I am committed to continuing to learn and grow as a social worker, so that I can provide the best possible services to my clients.