Social work with older adults and the ambitions of the new Social Services Act – A mapping of preventive social work in the field of elderly care

In the future, social workers will increasingly encounter older adults as clients with complex social problems. There are concerns that the ambitions of the new Social Services Act will not benefit older citizens; instead, interventions may be designed with a focus on basic care—within the framework of traditional elderly care—thereby neglecting knowledge regarding the social problems faced by older people.

The project focus aligns with the new Social Services Act’s ambitions to prioritize preventive work and make social services more accessible to citizens. However, there is a concern that these interventions will primarily target children and young people, while other groups—such as older citizens—will be affected to a lesser extent.

The project aims to highlight both the role of the social worker and the organization of preventive social work involving older citizens. A survey of preventive interventions currently being implemented or planned in Swedish municipalities will be conducted to generate deeper insight into how the social challenges faced by the older adults can be addressed in light of the new ambitions set out in the Social Services Act.