Service providers' perceptions of resilience, social support, and social isolation among older adults

Project (M.S.W., Social Work) -- California State University, Sacramento, 2013.This study explored service providers??? perceptions of resilience, social support and social isolation among older adults in the context of disengagement and continuity theories. Thirty voluntary service providers working with older adults and selected through non probability criterion sampling responded to survey that measured service providers??? perceptions of older adult???s level of depression, social support, social isolation and their ability to ???bounce back??? despite adversity. Quantitative data analysis found moderate association (Cramer???s V = .317) between professional categories and their perceptions of older adult???s ability to demonstrate high levels of resilience. An important finding of the study is that 87% of the service providers reported the older adults they work with as experiencing depression ranging from medium to high levels. Recommendations of the study include targeted programs to reduce isolation and loneliness among older adults, specifically those who are in vulnerable conditions. Researchers also recommend the importance of planning for the demographic shift that is likely to exponentially increase the demand for services for older adults. Specifically, preventative measures in the practice and policy fields of social work with older adults are required.Social Wor