Part of the Policy Press ‘Research in Social Work’ series, Critical Gerontology for Social Workers explores critical gerontology and its importance to social work practice with older people, to ‘expand gerontological social workers’ conceptual and practice toolbox’ and to question assumptions (p. 13). Bringing together academic gerontologists, social work practitioners and policy thinkers, the book has two main parts: the first six chapters, comprising Part 1 ‘Critical Gerontology as Guiding Principles for Social Work with Older People’, and Part 2, with five chapters, ‘Applying the Critical Gerontology Lens to Social Work Research, Policy and Practice’.
The introductory first chapter, ‘Social Work and Critical Gerontology: Why the Former Needs the Latter’ by editors Sarah Donnelly and Sandra Torres, describes the structure of the book, highlighting similarities between critical social work and critical gerontology. It offers a description of key ideas in critical gerontology, ‘such as agency, autonomy, diversity, social justice, inclusion and equality’ (p. 2), emphasising values. The intention of the book is to empower practitioners in social work to question practice as well as social policy.
Chapter 2, ‘The Life Course and Old Age’ by Alisoun Milne, provides a framework for the following chapters in the first section and challenges the biomedical perspective, a common theme throughout. Chapter 3, ‘Human Rights and Older People’ by Joan R. Harbison, includes a discussion of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights as it considers social workers’ responsibility for promoting social justice and human rights for older people from diverse backgrounds. Following from ideas of human rights, Paul Higgs’ Chapter 4, ‘Agency and Autonomy’, questions the context of old age as a time of decline and dependency socially, and in health care. Although older people are often seen as passive recipients of care and support, Higgs argues that old age can enable agency and autonomy. Chapter 5, ‘Poverty and Late-life Homelessness’ by Amanda Grenier and Tamara Sussman, provides experiential examples and links with Chapter 6 in supplying links to the more practical social work focus in the second section of the book. Paul Willis and Trish Hafford-Letchfield, authors of Chapter 6, ‘Sexuality and Rights in Later Life’, note that whilst it has become easier to talk about sexuality for older people, they highlight the importance of the voices of older people and that LGBTQ+ experiences for older people merit attention. Sandra Torres, in Chapter 7, the final chapter in Part 1, examines social work practice and policy in ‘Ethnicity, Race and Migrancy’. She sees these as ‘elusive constructs’ (p. 100), identifying that a social constructionist lens is appropriate. This aims to enhance older people being seen as individuals, supporting agency and autonomy, but recognising the impact of racism and other perceptions of group characteristics on ageing. This discussion leads to the practice, research and policy content of Part 2.
Beginning Part 2, Chapter 8, ‘Assessment, Care-planning and Decision-making’ by Anna Olaison and Sarah Donnelly, considers practical issues around older people and carers, placing these issues in political, especially neoliberal, context with impacts on financial resources for services in different countries. They identify the consequential standardisation and institutionalisation of policy and practice which can be mitigated by use of a critical gerontological lens in practice and policy, including taking a strengths-based perspective. Chapter 9, ‘Elder Abuse’ by Lorna Montgomery and Gemma M. Carney, covers definitions from the World Health Organization and individual countries, whilst looking at this increasing social problem, responses in legislation and policy, and use of a lifecourse understanding for analysis and devising strategies. Chapter 10, ‘Dementia: a Disability and Human Rights Concern’ by Suzanne Cahill, uses critical gerontology to help social workers with older people look at the professional and policy discourse, especially to challenge the biomedical model and to promote human rights. The rights of older people with dementia and those of family members may be adversely affected by neoliberal policies that insist families take responsibility. Chapter 11, ‘User Involvement’ by Peter Beresford, builds on the discussion of dementia in Chapter 10 but focuses on Europe. He asserts persuasively that older people have been more marginalised in their involvement than other groups, illustrating, with a case study, how they can be involved on equal terms in local projects. Finally, Chapter 12, ‘Opportunities and Future Prospects for Gerontological Social Work with a Critical Lens’ by Marjaana Seppänen and Mo Ray, effectively brings together ideas explored in earlier chapters discussing future prospects for gerontological social work. The authors underline the importance of critical gerontology to social work policies and practice as well as education, highlighting the benefit for practitioners and older people.
Whilst the book is not primarily about COVID-19, a number of contributions refer to the pandemic and its impacts on older people, which social workers are particularly well placed to understand. The COVID-19 impacts on care homes, residents and staff are also discussed in part. The publication date was far enough into the pandemic and awareness about its impact to enable useful comments about human rights, service provision and policy responses. Observations in the book about the longstanding impact of COVID-19, however, will need a longer-term perspective.
A stellar set of contributors has been assembled effectively and topic connections concerning critical gerontology, research, policy and practice between the chapters are apparent throughout the book. Contributors to the book include gerontology academics, social work practitioners and policy thinkers, with several contributors having more than one role, including some writing as older people, enhancing credibility. Contributors are based in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Canada and Scandinavia, giving differing perspectives. Including contributors from other parts of the world, however, would give greater breadth, and a chapter from an older person might have enhanced value for older people.
The book is relevant to a wide range of people, including social work practitioners, managers, policy makers, allied professionals, encompassing mental or physical health professionals, students of gerontology and of social work, researchers in both fields and those responsible for planning. The ideas are relevant to many others, including those who contribute to the national and international narratives about old age and how societies include or exclude older people. The sections are written accessibly, and the book can be viewed as a whole, although individual chapters are easily readable. The book is successful in identifying ideas about critical gerontology that enable social work practitioners and the wider range of stakeholders to question and develop social work with older people.
