ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book emphasises the potential of social work with older people and explores a range of social work roles with older people, including service facilitation, counselling, group work, community development and policy work. It focuses on the policy context for social work practice with older people, emphasising the potential of social workers as 'policy actors'. The book describes the value of gerontology knowledge for social work, especially in informing an understanding of older people's worlds. It examines psychological, social, cultural and critical perspectives of older age and ageing. The book examines ageism, as well as other concepts that clarify the extent of the disadvantage experienced by older people. It identifies dementia as a major issue in an ageing Australia and as an important group of conditions for social workers to know about and be able to work with.
