ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors describe several principles from the introduction that emphasize how gerontological social work practice can be re-visioned through an anti-oppressive lens and encourage students and practitioners to join with us and with older adults to put these into practice. The reflection demonstrates that there are many possible points of hopefulness – moments of opportunity in which authors can enact their anti-oppressive gerontological (AOG) principles. Social work with older adults, their families, and communities is both a challenging and rewarding area of practice Doing AOG social work requires us to be reflexive, as well as to think and act differently on a daily basis. AOG as practice means learning to live in uncertainty and to question assumptions that are rooted in personal, cultural, and structural values, discourses, and ideologies. Recognizing and paying attention to how power operates within and across individual, professional, organizational, and structural contexts is central to AOG.
