Event Title
Poster: Social Support Systems for Elderly and the Role of Social Work for Elder Care in Belize
Location
Moakley Atrium
Start Time
10-5-2017 4:00 PM
End Time
10-5-2017 5:00 PM
Description
Belize is a developing country, with 7.1% of its population 60 years and older and expected to double by 2025. Additionally, as a profession, social work in Belize is in the beginning stages of development. The purpose of this study was to understand the social support systems for the elderly and the role of social work for elder care in Belize. Forty semi-structured interviews were conducted with elder Belizeans both from community and institutional settings. Nine key informant interviews were conducted with governmental policy makers, social work faculty members, and elder care service providers. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using best practice for thematic analysis of qualitative data.
Results indicate that the family is still recognized as the fundamental unit of society and there is widespread cultural preference for care provision in community-based settings. There are very limited residential facilities (only 3 residential homes in the whole country) with no specialty unit options. There are no adult day care services and limited senior centers. Staffing and admission decision-making for government-run facilities is at the governmental level not facility level. Currently existing services are underutilized due to lack of awareness and accessibility. In addition, the elderly in rural area are especially vulnerable with unmet medical care needs. Social work as a profession is absent from the long-term care system, and there is a great need for master level trained social workers. Findings from this study could provide important and meaningful information for social work profession, service providers, and policy makers in Belize.
Poster: Social Support Systems for Elderly and the Role of Social Work for Elder Care in Belize
Moakley Atrium
Belize is a developing country, with 7.1% of its population 60 years and older and expected to double by 2025. Additionally, as a profession, social work in Belize is in the beginning stages of development. The purpose of this study was to understand the social support systems for the elderly and the role of social work for elder care in Belize. Forty semi-structured interviews were conducted with elder Belizeans both from community and institutional settings. Nine key informant interviews were conducted with governmental policy makers, social work faculty members, and elder care service providers. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using best practice for thematic analysis of qualitative data.
Results indicate that the family is still recognized as the fundamental unit of society and there is widespread cultural preference for care provision in community-based settings. There are very limited residential facilities (only 3 residential homes in the whole country) with no specialty unit options. There are no adult day care services and limited senior centers. Staffing and admission decision-making for government-run facilities is at the governmental level not facility level. Currently existing services are underutilized due to lack of awareness and accessibility. In addition, the elderly in rural area are especially vulnerable with unmet medical care needs. Social work as a profession is absent from the long-term care system, and there is a great need for master level trained social workers. Findings from this study could provide important and meaningful information for social work profession, service providers, and policy makers in Belize.