- Title
- An appraisal of selected support services rendered by social workers to older persons in De Aar service area, Northern Cape Province
- Creator
- Feni, Manezi
- Subject
- Community health services for older people
- Subject
- Social work with older people
- Subject
- Older people--Services for
- Date Issued
- 2020-12
- Date
- 2020-12
- Type
- Master's theses
- Type
- text
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21047
- Identifier
- vital:46925
- Description
- This study was an appraisal of selected support services rendered by social workers to older persons in De Aar Service Area, Northern Cape Province in South Africa. The study endeavoured to achieve the following specific objectives: i) to appraise the nature and extent of the existing support services rendered by social workers to older persons; ii) to explore challenges experienced by older persons receiving support services from social workers; iii) to establish strategies that can be adopted by the Department of Social Development to restructure its interventions to enhance the services rendered to older persons; iv) and to assess measures that can be adopted by the service beneficiaries to ensure that they receive quality services. The study was premised on the theoretical lenses of sociology of weak ties (SWT) theory, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs model, and Social Exchange theory. The study was prompted by the growing number of elderly people who need the support services rendered by social workers as well as community based care. Methodologically, the study used a qualitative paradigm and was thus guided by the research design which was a case study complemented by explorative and descriptive study design types. The data was collected through in-depth one-on-one interviews, focus group discussions and key informants to strengthen the qualitative aspect of the study. This current study used a probability sampling method, specifically a purposive sampling technique, to purposefully select a study sample that has all the characteristics needed to contribute immensely to the phenomenon under study. Using this techniques, thirty-eight (38) participants were selected comprising sixteen (16) elderly persons who were 65 years and above, sixteen (16) Old-age Centre Caregivers, three (3) Generic Social Workers, and three Service Managers. Data was analysed qualitatively through thematic analysis, and revealed among other findings, that the social workers render extensive support to the older persons in De Aar Service Area, they do monthly assessments, conduct research, liaise with various stakeholders such as the DSD, Department of Health, SASSA, Caregivers, Older Persons (as service beneficiaries) and Municipalities in a bid to empower and improve the welfare of older persons. However, the study also showed that older persons receiving support from the Social Workers are experiencing various problems such as chronic illnesses and stress due to old age. Most importantly, the study gaps in the services rendered to older persons by Social Workers are identified and as a result, strategies to cover the gaps are suggested therefrom.
- Description
- Thesis (MSoc Sci) (Social Work) -- University of Fort Hare, 2021
- Format
- computer
- Format
- online resource
- Format
- application/pdf
- Format
- 1 online resource (98 pages)
- Format
- Publisher
- University of Fort Hare
- Publisher
- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
- Language
- English
- Rights
- University of Fort Hare
- Rights
- All Rights Reserved
- Rights
- Open Access
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Collections
UFH Department of Social Work & Social Development
| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | feni.pdf | 1 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |