This course covers human development across the life span and emphasizes the interaction between people and their social environments. The purpose of this assignment is to structure two interviews via phone, Zoom, or face-to-face meetings (face-to-face, at least once, is strongly preferred) with ONE older adult (i.e., 60 years old or older) and create one paper that explores those contacts, theory, and your experience with the older adult and how this all relates to the course material. This written assignment is intended to help you understand the importance of older adulthood and aging issues as relevant to social work practice and the theories involved. Paper should be 4-6 pages, follow APA format, and include at least one peer-reviewed article.
A. Demographics
1) Please tell me about your childhood, family and school life
2) Do you consider yourself old? At what ages (or stages) did you notice that you were getting older?How do you feel about changes?
3) What is the most important historical event or period of time that you have lived through?How did it influence or impact you personally?
4) What is the biggest change you have seen in how people live their everyday lives today compared to when you were younger?
5) What have been the best years of your life so far?
6) What things have you accomplished that are important to you?What things do you still want to accomplish?
7) What advice would you give younger people to help them prepare for their older age? To prepare for life?
8) Do you think people treat you differently as you have gotten older? In what ways?
9) What are your plans for the future?
10) How do you want to be remembered?
11) Do you fear dying?Why or why not?
To complete the project, there should be a minimum of two interactions with the same individual. Written expectations include:
1. Prior to the first encounter: In approximately 2 pages, please write a description of:
a. The nature of the interaction you will be having with the older adult(s) who, what, where. Please do not use the older adults real name or other information that makes them readily identifiable. However, it is fine to identify the relationship you have with this person.
b. The goals you have for your own learning about older adults that will promote your personal or professional growth.
c. Your expectations of the three most challenging aspects of this assignment.
d. Your expectation of the three most rewarding aspects of this experience.
e. The strengths you bring to this project.
f. Weaknesses/stereotypes/biases you will have to address to make this project successful for yourself.
2. After the first encounter, in 1-2 pages, please write a description of:
a. Your first encounter (who was there and the nature of the interaction);
b. Your feelings and thoughts before, during, and after the visit;
c. Changes in your plans, goals, concerns, etc. from what you wrote prior to the visit and what accounts for these changes. Note: it is a good idea to write down your initial thoughts and feelings immediately after the visit. If you wait too long to write things down, too many other things may dilute the experience.
3. After the final encounter, in 1-2 pages, please write a description of:
a. What, if any, changes have taken place in the perspective you described after the first meeting;
b. Connections you are making between your observations and thoughts and the material covered in class, particularly the reading materials on older adults. You should apply theories related to older adults.
c. What have you learned from this experience that will promote our personal and professional growth and thinking about older adults.
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