School of Human Sciences & Institute for Lifecourse Development, University of Greenwich , London, UK.
School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol , Bristol, UK.
J Gerontol Soc Work. 2020 Nov-Dec;63(8):736-742. doi: 10.1080/01634372.2020.1821143. Epub 2020 Sep 24.
The Coronavirus pandemic and associated measures for the protection of the public have impacted differently on different parts of the population and across different nations. In many areas, COVID-19 has also either exacerbated already existing or created new inequalities in relation to specific parts of the population. Older individuals are one group in society that has been widely impacted, while social isolation/shielding measures have placed them in higher risk of loneliness, isolation, financial deprivation and mental health challenges, to name a few. This commentary reflects on such inequalities across four European nations (the United Kingdom (UK), Republic of Ireland, Finland, Spain) and draws attention to the critical role of Gerontological Social Work (GSW), while emphasizing the ways in which social work can intervene. First, we identify common concerns for the rights of older people that span across all four nations, and second, we identify significant roles for GSW practitioners at the individual, community and policy levels and conclude with a call for GSW in these four nations to be reimagined in a time of global crisis.
冠状病毒大流行和为保护公众而采取的相关措施对不同人群和不同国家的影响不同。在许多地区，COVID-19 还加剧了与特定人群有关的已经存在的不平等现象，或者造成了新的不平等现象。老年人是社会上受到广泛影响的一个群体，而社会隔离/保护措施使他们面临更大的孤独、孤立、经济贫困和心理健康挑战等风险。本评论反映了四个欧洲国家（英国、爱尔兰共和国、芬兰、西班牙）的这些不平等现象，并提请注意老年社会工作（GSW）的关键作用，同时强调了社会工作可以干预的方式。首先，我们确定了跨越所有四个国家的老年人权利的共同关注点，其次，我们确定了 GSW 从业者在个人、社区和政策层面的重要作用，并呼吁在全球危机时期重新构想这四个国家的 GSW。
