Addis Ababa University

College of Social Sciences

School of Social Work

BSWK 4052 Gerontology (5 ECTS)

Course Description
Instructor: Messay Gebremariam Kotecho (PhD.)
Email: masghe@gmail.com

Module Description
Population aged 60 and more will be growing over the next few years, and
represents an issue of importance that is very little addressed in the context of
social policy and public health. These demographic changes are resulting in both
a major revision of our society’s concept of ‘the elderly,’ and an explosion of
social work initiatives, activities and programs for this age group.

Gerontology is an introduction to the field of human aging. The course of study

will include a multidisciplinary examination of the way in which human aging is
viewed – how we perceive the process of growing older and how society
responds to the issues of aging. The class will look at aging from multiple
perspectives that include the social, political and biological sciences, arts and
humanities, care giving and social services.

This course is designed to provide students with an overview of gerontological

social work with emphasis on principle of practice, application of research, and
the formulation of policies as they relate to older adults. The course will define
the role of the social worker from a gerontological perspective. It will introduce
the student to special populations, which are most vulnerable: aging women and
aging people of minority, the disabled, problems and needs of the aged.   It also
provides students with an overview of role of social worker in planning and

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providing services, analysis of existing programs.  It also prepares students to get
involved in the delivery of care to aged individuals.

Specific Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
 Understand the social relationships associated with the aging process.
 Understand the use of the generalist model for practice with elderly
populations.
 Understand the linkage between declining health and social service.
 Understand the linkage between socioeconomic status and the aging
process.
 Understand basic issues of social and economic justice in relationship to
the aging process.
 Appreciate the unique research methods employed in gerontological
research
 Appreciate the human diversity among elderly populations.
 Appreciate the meaning of "elderly" as a "population at risk. To appreciate
how the NASW Code of Ethics is applied to practice with elderly
populations.
 Use appropriate academic and applied resources to assist elderly
populations.

Course outline

Session 1: The Context of Social Work Practice with Elderly:

 Aging in the 21st Century
 Demography Issues
 Life Course Perspective
 Personal and Professional Issues
 Theories of Aging

Session 2: Biology of Aging

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 Genetic Issues
 Physical Changes
 Biological Implications for SWK Practice
 Incontinence and difficult other issues

Session 3 and 4: Psychosocial Adjustment

 Psychological Changes
 Social Theories
 Implications for Social Work Practice

Session 5: Conducting a Bio-psycho-social Assessment

 General Information
 Special Considerations
 Conditions for Conducting an Assessment
 Components of an Assessment

Session 6: Emotional Problems

 Depression:  Refer to Geriatric Depression Scale
 Dementia
 Delirium
 Differentiating among Depression, Dementia, and Delirium
 Anxiety Disorders

Session 7: Addiction and Suicide

 Substance Abuse
 Suicide

Session 8 and 9: Group Work

 Overview
 Cultural Issues
 Specialized Groups
 Ethical Issues

Session 10: Spirituality

 Religion
 Implications for Social Work Practice

Session 11: Elder Abuse

 Definitions
 Risk factors
 Understanding Elder Abuse

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 Assessment
 Intervention
 Adult Protective Services

Session 12-13: Support Systems

 Spouses and/or Significant Other
 Goals
 Intervention with Couples
 Intervention with Caregivers

Session 14: The Last Stage of Life

 Process of Dying
 Social Worker Role
 Bereavement and Grief
 Intervention
 Advance Directives
 Ethical Issues

Mode of delivery
The course will be delivered with lecture of dictation type, group discussion,
role-plays, and problem based learning approaches. As much as possible each of
these methods will be used in different topic contents of the course at least once
in the course period

Mode of Assessment:
Attendance at all classes is expected and students should be prepared to
participate. Lack of attendance and failure to participate will affect adequate
progress through the course. Any assigned homework or extra participation
must be turned in at the time scheduled or no credit will be permitted. There will
be continuous assessment, including: quiz, individual assignment, group
assignment and final exam. The exams will cover reading assignments and
lecture material. Material in each exam will be cumulative and the Final
Examination will be comprehensive. Schedules and coverage of material may be
changed at the discretion of the instructor based upon course progress.
Grading Scale

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Raw Mark Interval [100 %] Corresponding fixed Corresponding
Number Grade Letter Grade

[90,100] 4.0 A+

[83, 90) 4.0 A

[80, 83) 3.75 A-

[75, 80) 3.5 B+

[68, 75) 3.0 B

[65, 68) 2.75 B-

[60, 65) 2.5 C+

[50, 60) 2.0 C

[45, 50) 1.75 C-

[40,45) 1.0 D
[30,40) 0 Fx
[<30) 0 F

References

Stuart, I. (2011). An Introduction to Gerontology. Cambridge University Press

Beaver, M. L. & Miller, D. A. (1992).  Clinical social work practice with the elderly. 
Belmont, CA:  Wadsworth.
Berkman, B. (2006). Handbook of Social Work in Health and Aging. Oxford: Oxford
University Press.
Bengston, V. L. & Schaie. (Eds.).  (1999).  Handbook of theories of aging.  New York: 
Springer.
Cummings, Elaine 1981 Further thoughts on the theory of disengagement. Aging
in America, pages 39-57.

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Haight, B. K. & Webster, J. D. (Eds.).  (1995). The art and science of reminiscing. 
Washington, DC:  Taylor & Francis.
Hillman, J. L.  (2000).  Clinical perspectives on elderly sexuality.  New York:  Kluwer
Academic/Plenium.
Kennedy, G. J. (2000).  Geriatric mental health care. New York:  The Guilford Press.
Maddox, G. L. (Ed.).  (1995).  The encyclopedia of aging. (2nd ed.)  New York: 
Springer.
Mezey, M. D. (Ed.).  (2001). the encyclopaedia of elder care. NY: Springer.