The Practical Progress and Policy Implications of Social Work Involvement in Elderly Care Services: An Analysis Based on 62 Cases from Jiangsu Province
Based on an analysis of 62 elderly care service cases selected from the Outstanding Social Work Cases and Projects in Jiangsu Province between 2014 and 2022, this study focuses on the practical progress of social work involvement in the provision of elderly care services. It examines what social work has done, what it is capable of doing, and how well it has performed in the field of elderly care services. By analyzing the professionalism of social work services in the elderly care system from perspectives such as implementing institutions, service providers, and service contents, the study finds that social workers’ direct services, case management, and resource integration capabilities are conducive to improving the effectiveness of elderly care services, and also help social work occupy a core position in the elderly care service system. On this basis, the study further reflects on the positioning and functions of social workers within the elderly care service system and discusses the policy implications of gerontological social work services, so as to promote the high-quality development of elderly care services.
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