Discussion 1: Self-Determination

In the Christ & Diwan (2008) article, the authors list seven domains that social workers should address in order to fully assess an older client’s needs. Each domain is considered equally important. This comprehensive evaluation fits well with the social work perspective that it is important to not only address the internal concerns of clients but also their environment. Making decisions for older adults without their input occurs often. In society people sometimes treat their elders like children—making decisions for them based on what they think is best rather than from the client’s perspective. While at times this may be well intentioned, the potential for infantilism and, in turn, compromised self-determination, occurs.

For this Discussion, review the program case study for the Petrakis family. You will focus not on Helen, but on her mother-in-law, Magda. What decisions were made about Magda’s treatment without a formal assessment and/or her input? Consider how Christ & Diwan’s (2008) seven domains relate to Magda’s case. Complete an assessment for Magda and identify the choices that were made without her feedback.

Post a summary of your assessment of Magda’s situation that addresses the seven domains. Fill in the gaps in content as necessary. Describe ways you would have included Magda in the original assessment and treatment plan. Include questions you would have asked Magda and her professional support system (doctors, nurses, etc.) to gain further insight into the situation.

Support your posts with specific references to the Learning Resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references.

SAMPLE ANSWER

Christ & Diwan’s (2008) seven domains that social workers should address in order to fully assess an older client’s needs

Introduction

It is widely accepted that social work assessment is a complex and multi-faceted process. In order to comprehensively assess an older client’s needs, Christ and Diwan (2008) identify seven key domains that social workers should address. These are: physical health, mental health, economic resources, social resources, environmental factors, spiritual/religious factors, and cultural factors. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at each of these domains and what social workers need to consider when assessing an older client’s needs. By understanding all of the potential areas of need, social workers can provide more targeted and effective services to their clients.

Christ & Diwan’s Seven Domains

When working with older clients, it is important for social workers to address all seven of Christ & Diwan’s domains in order to get a complete assessment of their needs. The seven domains are: physical health, mental health, social well-being, economic well-being, environmental well-being, spiritual well-being, and cultural well-being.

Physical health refers to the client’s overall physical condition and ability to function independently. This includes things like chronic illnesses, mobility issues, and pain management. Mental health refers to the client’s cognitive functioning and emotional state. This includes things like depression, anxiety, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Social well-being refers to the client’s ability to interact with others and maintain relationships. This includes things like social isolation, loneliness, and caregiver burden. Economic well-being refers to the client’s financial situation and ability to meet their basic needs. This includes things like income level, retirement planning, and long-term care costs.

Environmental well-being refers to the client’s living situation and whether it meets their needs. This includes things like home safety, access to transportation, and proximity to services. Spiritual well-being refers to the client’s sense of meaning and purpose in life. This can be addressed through conversation about values, beliefs, and life experiences.

Cultural well-being refers to the client’s connection to their culture and community. This includes things like language barriers, acculturation stress

The Importance of Addressing These Domains

There are seven domains that social workers should address in order to fully assess an older client’s needs: physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, economic, environmental, and social. Each of these domains can affect the other domains, and all of them should be taken into account when assessing an older client’s needs.

Physical domain: The physical domain includes the client’s physical health and wellbeing. This includes their current health status, any chronic health conditions they may have, their functional ability level, and their sensory abilities.

Emotional domain: The emotional domain includes the client’s psychological health and wellbeing. This includes their current mental health status, any mental health conditions they may have, their coping skills, and their support system.

Spiritual domain: The spiritual domain includes the client’s religious beliefs and practices. This can include their belief in a higher power, their involvement in a religious community, and their personal spirituality.

Intellectual domain: The intellectual domain includes the client’s cognitive abilities. This can include their memory functioning, their ability to reason and make decisions, and their critical thinking skills.

Economic domain: The economic domain includes theclient’s financial resources. This can include their income sources,their assets and savings,and any public benefits they may be receiving.
Environmental domain: The environmental domain includes theclient’s living situation. This can include where they live (e

How to Address Each Domain

When addressing each domain, social workers should consider the following:

1. How is the client’s physical health? This includes their overall physical well-being, as well as any chronic health conditions they may have.

2. How is the client’s mental health? This includes their cognitive functioning, mood, and any mental health disorders they may have.

3. What is the client’s living situation? This includes their housing situation, whether they live alone or with others, and whether they have any support systems in place.

4. What is the client’s financial situation? This includes their income, assets, and debts. It is important to assess whether the client has sufficient resources to meet their needs.

5. What are the client’s social relationships like? This includes their family and friends, as well as their involvement in the community. It is important to assess whether the client has a support system in place.

6. What are the client’s leisure activities and interests? This helps to identify what brings joy to the client’s life and how they like to spend their time.

7. What are theclient’s spiritual beliefs and practices? This helps to understand the role that spirituality plays in the client’s life and how it influences their decision-making

Conclusion

Christ and Diwan’s (2008) seven domains of assessment provide a comprehensive framework for social workers to use when assessing the needs of older clients. By taking into account all seven domains, social workers can ensure that they are providing the best possible care for their clients. This framework is particularly useful for identifying potential areas of need that may not be immediately apparent.

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