Social work with elderly people: how to build support programmes based on the relational approach

This volume offers an up-to-date reflection on social work with older people, an increasingly important field in a society shaped by population ageing and the transformation of welfare systems. Moving beyond a purely procedural view of intervention, it highlights the complexity of the social worker’s role, placing the individual, their relationships and the context in which they live at the centre of practice.

Drawing on the Relational Social Work approach, the book explores the key theoretical and methodological foundations needed to develop effective, collaborative support pathways. It also addresses highly relevant issues such as ageism, the protection of rights, the relationship between autonomy and vulnerability, abuse and the various forms of violence against older people, providing valuable perspectives for understanding the new challenges arising from the evolving landscape of social services and social policy.