Singapore Social Work: Elders' Late Adulthood Transition and Associated Needs

Question 1 (40 marks total)
At age 50, Tony Tan lives with his father aged 72, in a small 3 room HDB apartment flat which they bought a long time ago. Tony’s father became a widow one year ago after his wife died of cancer. His wife had battled with breast cancer on and off for 5 years. Tony’s father was the primary caregiver right till Mrs Tan (Tony’s mother) passed away peacefully at home. They had always celebrated their wedding anniversary. The year Mrs Tan (Tony’s mother) died was soon to be their 50th anniversary. Mr Tan (Tony’s father) was devastated as he witnessed his wife’s transition from an abled body to a bed-bound condition requiring full nursing care. The pain and sadness were all consuming for the family. Tony now closely watches his dad’s diabetic condition and vertigo. Because of the condition, Mr Tan (Tony’s father) tends to feel giddy. He once fell in his bedroom right after he got off from bed. The small old HDB apartment flat has undergone HDB EASE program (a government initiative) with the installation of eight grab bars. Mr Tan (Tony’s father) is a retired civil servant. He lives on his government annuity pay-out, sufficient enough so he does not have to rely so much on Tony. The latter (Tony) works as a freelance photographer and earns an irregular income. He has a long time girlfriend but has been postponing his plan to settle down as he is not certain that his future wife-to-be would live “harmoniously” with his elderly father. Tony has 2 older sisters who are married and have their family commitments. Tony wishes that his siblings can contribute slightly more and pay more regular visits. But the elder Mr Tan (Tony’s father) prefers not to involve them unnecessarily. One of the daughters of elder Mr Tan has a child with special needs while the daughter’s mother in law is undergoing kidney dialysis.
(a) Discuss (Tony’s father) elder Mr Tan’s late adulthood transition and his associated needs.
(20 marks)
(b) Explain the challenges of Tony in fulfilling his caregiving role as the only son in the family, in the context of his own developmental needs.
(20 marks)
Question 2 (30 marks total)
(a) Analyse the relevant biological, psychological, and social aspects of ageing that explain the ageing process and transition of an elderly from an independent to a frail status.
(15 marks)
(b) The increased longevity, rise in chronic disease prevalence, and the growing public expectations may place a huge demand for the intermediate and long term care (ILTC) services. Appraise the key areas in Singapore eldercare policies that will help ensure the capacity scaling in the ILTC sector to meet the projected needs of community-dwelling frail elderly with functional limitations.
(15 marks)
Question 3
Billy has just graduated and started work as a social worker in a non-profit centre that provides home palliative and hospice services. His main portfolio is, first of all, to assess the holistic needs of the elderly who are terminally ill and spending their final days at home. This will be followed by psychosocial care and support, advance care planning discussion, grief and bereavement, application for various home consumables or assisted devices, and appropriate referral to suitable community-based services. This seems a huge task and role for a new worker and Billy wonders if he could adjust adequately to his role. As Billy’s supervisor, your task is to ensure Billy attains a set of knowledge and skills needed in this specialized palliative care setting. More importantly, to cultivate the right values in the staff as well such as empathy and teamwork. Apply the relevant values, knowledge, and skills competency learnt in your course as well as from your personal reading to enhance Billy’s competency as a social worker working with the elderly in their palliative care.
 (30 marks)