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Special Problems Faced By The Elderly Victims Of Crime, J. David Hirschel, Karen B. Rubin

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Recently, increased attention has been paid to the problems faced by the elderly within our society. One of the most pressing problems is the threat of crime, This article examines the actual risk of criminal victimization among the elderly, the physical, financial, and psychological consequences of victimization, and the special problems faced by the elderly as they attempt to deal with the criminal justice system. Finally, their fear of crime, which in itself constitutes a very real form of victimization, is explored.

Inside And Outside The For-Profit Nursing Home: Some External Determinants Of Inside Power Relations, Cedric Herring

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This paper offers a conceptual model for understanding how and in what ways externally determined factors affect power arrangements within a for-profit nursing home setting. Specifically, this paper links the activities of nursing homes as profit seekers to federal legislation and the activities of strategically structured interests which seek to socialize their costs. Additionally, it shows how social distinctions and other factors which have their origins external to the nursing home setting have consequences for what takes place inside. The model posits that it is those people who are members of society's more privileged groups (professional white males) who will …

Community Representation And Empowerment In Long Term Care Settings: The Case Of The Nursing Home Patient Ombudsman, Abraham Monk, Lenard W. Kaye

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

It is widely recognized that regulatory efforts outside of the nursing home have had relatively limited success in monitoring patient care complaints (New York State Moreland Act Commission, 1975; Weatherby, 1975). As a result, the public at large and an increasing number of policy analysts have aggressively called for the initiation of alternative long term care monitoring strategies (Regan, 1977; Linnane, 1977; Vladeck, 1980). One such recently developed administrative ameliorative, with direct ties to the local community, is the nursing home patient ombudsman. The ombudsman program, when serving as a complaint redress mechanism for the institutionalized aged, is believed to …

The Domain Of Social Work: What Is It, Mary L. Waring, Gerald O'Connor

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Cast within a framework derived from general systems theory, the authors examine the domain of the social work profession. Domain is first defined as having several components. These are specified and fully expanded as Claimed Domain, Domain Competition, Emerging Domain and Unclaimed Domain. This elaboration is followed by a discussion of some of the constraints that impinge upon the profession's ability to define and to choose its domain.

Professional Burnout: Sociocultural And Sociopolitical Perspectives, Paula L. Dressel

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Social psychological, organizational, and administrative orientations dominate the literature on the phenarenon of professional burnout. This paper argues that sociocultural and sociopolitical perspectives offer additional insights into the issue. By the application of such perspectives we are compelled to examine how certain characteristics of social policies impact dysfunctionally on service providers as well as service recipients. Furthermore, the broader approach outlined here offers alternative intervention strategies for the alleviation or prevention of burnout than those ccomonly posed in previous literature.

Native American Elderly Formal And Informal Support Systems, Gregory R. Versen

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

As a minority group, American Indians have the distinction of being the smallest and the poorest. Their cultural diversity and unique relationship with the United States government set them even further apart from other minority groups. A subgroup of Native Americans about which little is known and even less has been written is the Native American elderly. This group is the focal point of this paper.

This paper reviews selected works by anthropologists, psychologists, social workers, health care professionals, and Native Americans. The intent is to identify and assess the formal and informal support systems to which the Native American …

Factors Affecting The Economic Status Of Elderly Chicanos, Alejandro Garcia

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This paper identifies and discusses factors affecting the economic status of elderly chicanos. These factors include historical factors, labor force participation, familial support systems, and human services utilization. Implications for policy are addressed.

Community Service Opportunities And Older Americans, Zev Harel, Ruth Ellen Lindenberg

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Contemporary society has brought about a situation where older Americans have limited opportunities for contributory roles. They have limited involvement in the development and provision of services aimed to promote their own well-being and the welfare and well-being of others. This article examines the importance of contributory roles and functions in light of theoretical perspectives, social work values, and research evidence which indicates that life satisfaction and psychological well being of older persons is related to continued productivity and the opportunity to carry substantive social roles. This article reviews and discusses contributory opportunities for older persons as part of community …

A Comparison Of Social Psychological Views Among Youthful And Aged Persons: An Empirical Assessment Or Marginally Differentiated Attitude Measures, Dennis L. Peck, David L. Klemmack

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Four related but marginally differentiated sociological and psychological attitude measures are evaluated through analysis of survey data. Generated from a statewide random sample (N=322), four measures of maladjustment/well-being -- the anomie, alienation, fatalism, and powerlessness scales -- are evaluated as being similar in nature. The moderately high correlations between the scale items comprising the four distinctive conceptual world-views suggest that the scales overlap considerably. The results of an oblique solution factor analysis, however, suggest that the scales being considered may be at least marginally differentiated. Comparisons between distinctive age groups of the sample of adults age 18 to 84 using …

The Economic Status Of The Elderly: Is The Problem Low Income?, John B. Williamson

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The thesis of this paper is that poverty among the elderly is increasingly becoming a problem of relative as opposed to absolute economic deprivation. Many of the elderly (persons age 65 and over) are oppressed by the absolute poverty they must endure, but for most of those for whom inadequate income is a source of concern, the real problem seems to be relative economic deprivation. If present trends continue this will be increasingly the case in future years.

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 6, No. 1 (January 1979)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Special Issue: Symbolic Interaction and Social Welfare

• On the Promise of Symbolic Interaction for Social Welfare - RALPH SEGALMAN - pp. 1
• Symbolic interaction and Social Practice - HARRIS CHAIKLIN - pp. 3
• Symbolic interaction and Social Work Supervision. - CARLTON E. MUNSON - pp. 8
• Symbolic Interaction and Social Assessment. - BILL HORNER - pp.19
• "Woman as symbol and social Welfare: An Interactionist Perspective. - RAYMOND L. SCHMITT & STANLEY E. GRUPP - pp.34
• Elements of the Perpetuation of Dependency in a Psychiatric Halfway House. - DAVID R. MAINES & MARILYN A. MARKOWITZ - pp.52
• The Interpretation of Child …

Informal Support Systems For The Aged: Limitations And Issues, Marjorie Buckholz

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The need for community social services to enable older persons to remain in their homes has been well documented (Gold, 1974; Lohman, 1978; Atchley, 1977; Blenkner, 1977). Inspite of a growing service industry and professional corps of helpers, it does not reach the growing numbers of elderly, especially the older-elderly who are most likely to be frail (Gold, 1974; Lohmann, 1978; Heyman and Polansky, 1977). The aged share of the population has grown relative to the younger age group. In 1900, 6.4% of the U. S. population was 60 years or older; in 1975, it had increased to 14.8% (U. …

Age, Race, Life Conditions, Use Of Social Welfare Services And The Morale Of The Elderly, Mary L. Waring, Jordan I. Kosberg

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Although concerned professionals such as Kutner (1956), Cumming (1961), and Lawton (1972), have made strong beginnings in researching the psychological functioning of the elderly, only a few have explored the social and medical conditions of the aged, and especially their use of social welfare services, as these relate to a sense of well-being. Streib (1956) and Maddox (1968) were among the first to relate life-long patterning of social activity to later social activity and life satisfaction. Carp (1966), in a controlled study of housing, reported that housing did not affect the morale of low and middle income elderly. Lawton and …

Preparing Social Work Practitioners To Work With And In Behalf Of Older Adults, Margaret E. Hartford

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Practice in the field of social gerontology is one of the developing frontiers in social work. Now and in the foreseeable future, services with a population that is growing older will be a rapidly expanding field of practice. Many of the programs for older adults are multidisciplinary and demand collaboration among several professions and services. In some instances social work is and will be the central organizing force assuming administrative responsibility. In other instances social workers are collateral with several professions, and in still others social work services are an adjunct to another service profession, such as medicine nursing, urban …

Differential Aspects Of Assessment And Intervention In Social Work Practice With The Elderly And Their Families, Barbara Silverstone

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

So much in our society separates the rest of us from the old that a discussion of the differential aspects of practice with the elderly and their families (many of whom are aging) runs the risk of being redundant as well as a concealed endorsement of the professional biases which afflict us all. The truth of the matter is that important differences do exist between social work practice with the old and with younger generations, differentials which emanate from a sound gerontological knowledge base. Although the similarities far out-weigh the discrepancies, failure to recognize or delineate these differences has resulted …

Racial Differences In The Confident Relationship, Ruth E. Dunkle

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Numerous researchers have studied the black family in American society. Unfortunately, too few have focused on the role of the family in the life of the elderly. In this paper it is my intention to focus on the strengths and weaknesses of the black family and, in particular, on the black family member as confidant.

Frazier, in a book, The Black Family, edited by Robert Staples, discusses the character of the black family during the various stages of its development. He purports that the black family has been affected by the social isolation of blacks in American society. Frazier believes …

Home Support Services And The Ecology Of Aging, Abraham Monk

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Home support services for the aged are emerging as a primary concern in the Title XX planning proposals put forth by states and localities. This is not surprising when one considers that Title XX guidelines require the setting of priorities among non-cash benefit programs that help insure the individual's self-sufficiency within his or her normal environment.

All services under Title XX must relate to one or more of five objectives for the individual client: economic independence; self care; prevention or remedy of neglect, abuse or other conditions which lead to dependence; intermediate community based care and, as a last resort …

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 5, No. 6 (November 1978)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Introduction - pp. 763
• Home Support Services and the Ecology of Aging - ABRAHAM MONK - pp. 765
• Informal Support Systems for the Aged: Limitations and Issues - MARJORIE BUCKHOLZ - pp. 773
• Age, Race, Life Conditions, Use of Social Welfare Services and the Morale of the Elderly - MARY L. WARING and JORDAN I. KOSBERG - pp. 701
• Organizational Analysis of Institutions for the Aged - ZEV HAREL - pp. 792
• Volunteer Support for the Institutionalized Elderly - HAROLD ZEPELIN and JANET STUTZMAN - pp. 802
• Policy Analysis and Older People: A Conceptual Framework - JOHN …

Organizational Analysis Of Institutions For The Aged, Zev Harel

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Institutions for the aged represent an organized effort on the part of society and various individuals., groups, and organizations to provide for and capitalize on the service needs of elderly persons no longer able to live independently in the community. These settings have been brought into existence and are maintained by various commercial, civic, voluntary, government, and other interest groups. The motives and interests of such groups vary; nevertheless, these settings offer services to consumers, provide employment to members of various professional and occupational groups, provide an arena for the involvement of various scholastic disciplines and professional associations, and benefit …

Volunteer Support For The Institutionalized Elderly, Harold Zepelin, Janet Stutzman

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

A neglected topic in discussions of services for the institutionalized elderly seems to be the question of whether the residents of nursing homes are receiving adequate support from volunteers. Undoubtedly, voluntarism is playing an important part in the provision of services and emotional support for the aged population, among them the elderly that are institutionalized. But because of the child-centeredness and youth-orientation of American society, it is possible that work with the elderly may not be attracting volunteers in proportion to the needs of this population. This may be especially true of the elderly in institutions because work with this …

Policy Analysis And Older People: A Conceptual Framework, John E. Tropman, Jane Mcclure

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The policy sciences, says Harold Lasswell, require "clarification of goals, analysis of conditions, project of future developments, and invention, evaluation, and selection of alternatives."1 This rocess is imbued with values and often these values lie unrecognized.3 Both personal values of the individual analyst and social values of the Society can be and often are involved. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate four policy problems involved in analyses concerning the elderly, and to suggest some additional considerations which would bring these problems into the open and aid in specification and focusing of policy research in this area. While only …

On Being Socialized Out Of The Human Sexual Response In The Later Years, Dan Rubenstein

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

We now know, with the conclusive findings of the Masters and Johnson study of sex with elderly, that maintaining the "regularity of sexual expression coupled with adequate physical well being and healthy mental orientation to the aging process will combine to provide a sexually stimulative marriage [and/or relationships]. This climate will, in turn, improve sexual tension and provide a capacity for sexual performance that frequently may extend to and beyond the 80-year age level" (Masters and Johnson, 1968, p. 279).

This acknowledgement has ended the long silence and may well herald the beginning of the throwing off of the shackles …

The Fear Of Crime By The Elderly: Issues And Consequences, Mark Pogrebin, G. Nicholas Pijoan

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Most of the recent literature concerning the elderly and crime has been concentrated in the area of victimization. Such subjects as the elderly's vulnerability to crime, types of crimes committed against older members of the community, income level of the victims, and residential indicators, are some of the important variables that have been studied in order to better understand the patterns of crime as it affects older citizens.

Although it is believed that the foregoing factors are essential in order to gain knowledge which will inform us as to the nature of criminal victimization against the elderly, it also seems …

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 5, No. 5 (September 1978)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Women's Groups As Alternative Human Service Agencies - CLAUDETTE McSHANE, M.S.W - pp. 615
• The Transition: An Historical-Materialist Perspective on Social Welfare and Social Work Practice - THOMAS KEEFE, DSW - pp. 627
• Problems Inherent In Multi-Service Delivery Units - ARNOLD J. KATZ - pp. 644
• Administrative Thinking on Youth and Youth Programs - JOHN F. LONGRES, PH.D. & NORMAN WYERS, DSW - pp. 662
• New Left Organizers and the Poor - MILES H. WHITNEY & PAUL J. CHAMPAGNE - pp. 678
• A Comparison of Factors Associated with Past Use, Projected Use, and Perceived Community Need for …

A Comparison Of Factors Associated With Past Use, Projected Use, And Perceived Community Need For Health And Social Services, Pat M. Keith

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Life change, political, and demographic factors associated with past use, projected use, and perceived community needs for services by the aged were examined. Data were derived from interviews conducted with men and women 65 or over in a midwestern community. Life changes were more useful in explaining relationships with health and social services among men than were demographic and political variables. But among women, there was less difference in the amount of variance explained by the three groups of variables. Although men and women differed little in the extent to which they had experienced life changes, discontinuity was differentially associated …

Two Perspectives On Organizationally-Inspired Barriers To Innovation In Schools Of Social Work: Short And Long Term Strategies To Promote National Minority Group Representation, R. Louis Mcneely, John Oliver

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This paper focuses on conditions conceived to militate against innovation and change in organizations adhering to administrative principles found often in many workplaces. While these principles are not peculiar to schools of social work, these schools are singled out along with two related problems identified often by persons employed in these schools as ones for which few effective innovations have been implemented. These problems center upon how these schools may best achieve an adequate representation among faculty members, of minority group staff, and an adequate representation of substantive course offerings focusing upon the experiences of national minority group members. The …

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 5, No. 4 (July 1978)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Introduction - ii
• Systems Theory - ROBERT D. LEIGHNINGER, JR - 446
• Interactionist Theory, Human Behavior, Social Work Social Work Education - RALPH SEGALMAN - 467
• Structural Functional Theory, Social Work Practice and Education - JOE HUDSON - 481
• Conflict Theories and Social Work Education - NORMAN N. GOROFF - 498
• Two Perspectives on Organizationally-Inspired Barriers to Innovation in Schools of Social Work: Short and Long Term Strategies to Promote National Minority Group Representation - ROGER MC NEELY, JOHN OLIVER - 508
• The Perpetuation of Institutional Racism Through Ethnic and Racial Minority Content in the Curriculum of …

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 5, No. 3 (May 1978)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Community Assessment Scales: The State of the Art - JOHN F. ELSE & SAMUEL E. WALKER - pp. 299
• Models of Poverty and Planned Change: A Frame Work for Synthesis - DAVID S. WALLS - pp. 316
• Maintaining Goals in a Mutual-Benefit Association - JAMES R. HUDSON - pp. 327
• Living and Acting in an Altered Body: A Phenomenological Description of Amputation - MARY JO DEEGAN - pp. 342
• Blacks in the American Criminal Justice System: A Study of Sanctioned Deviance - TERRY JONES - pp. 356
• Systemic Perspectivism: A New Basis for Evaluative Research - RICHARD …

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 5, No. 2 (March 1978)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Introduction - pp. 150
• Community Control of Social Work Education - A Historical Example - PHILIP R. POPPLE - pp. 152
• The Vanishing Sociology - Social Work Alliance: A Study in the Politics of Professionalism - DAVID G. BROMLEY & FRANK J. WEED - pp. 168
• Professionalism and Social Work Education: Substance and Structure - LESLIE LEIGHNINGER - pp. 188
• The Role of Cultural Anthropology in the Education of Social Service Personnel - JAMES W. GREEN - pp. 214
• Statewide Academic Planning for Social .ork Education: A Case Study - MICHAEL J. AUSTIN - pp. 230
• Avoiding …

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 5, No. 1 (January 1978)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

• Editorial - pp i
• A Political Economy Critique of the American Welfare State - GERBEN DeJONG - 1
• Social Control or Social Wage: On the Political Economy of the "Welfare State." - PAUL ADAMS - 46
• The "Casework Notebook": An Analysis of Its Content - LESLIE B. ALEXANDER & PHILIP LICHTENBERG - 55
• The Measurement of Personal Influence in Organization and Community - ROGER A. LOHMANN - 66
• Receiving Help: Management Strategies of the Handicapped - NANCY A. BROOKS - 91
• The MSW and the MPA: Confrontation of the Two Professions in Public Welfare - THOMAS H. WALZ & HARRY …