Social workers’ experiences of working with older adults affected by abuse and violence: A scoping review of the literature

Abstract

Summary: There is growing recognition that older adults may be affected by violence, abuse and harmful behavior within intimate and family relationships and that people who work with affected families play an important role fostering (or inhibiting) older adults’ processes of disclosure or help-seeking. This article reports a scoping review of empirical studies that investigated how social workers experience their work with older adults affected by abuse and harm. Findings: The review found that social work with older adults affected by abuse is characterized as distinctive, requiring a need to maintain hope in situations of adversity and to value incremental, sometimes imperceptible, change. Practitioners draw on and appear to value “creative approaches” which are often synonymous with the use of professional discretion and autonomy. This is in the context of carrying out emotionally “heavy” work that has personal and professional impacts. Finally, we found that practitioners work with “complex” family dynamics and situations and see the preservation of (safe) relationships as a critical part of their role. Applications: The review highlights the need to develop knowledge and understanding about how social workers cope, survive and thrive when working with older adults affected by violence and abuse. There is also a requirement for a more critical engagement with the concept of creative practice and the distinctly social dimensions of social work with older adults, including greater engagement with gender-sensitive and feminist responses.