Professional Practice Social Work

Running head: PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE SOCIAL WORK
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE SOCIAL WORK
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1 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE SOCIAL WORK
Introduction
There is an elevating evidence base regarding the challenges related to loneliness and
social isolation in addition to the role of social workers in dealing with these disputes.
Loneliness is demarcated as an independent sort of feeling of lack of social association,
whereby social isolation denotes to the purpose measure of human relations with other
individuals (Tobiano, Marshall, Bucknall & Chaboyer, 2016). Since aged adults are facing
the risks for loneliness and interventions to endorse social associations are essential to
directly address this problem (Machielse, 2015). The following paper aims to provide a brief
summary of a case scenario of Mrs Betty Miller and offer a reflective piece by addressing the
skills and strategies to provide assistance to the patient.
Discussion
Case Scenario of Betty Miller
Around one out of three persons in old age tends to experience a fall in every year,
with this percentage rising with progressive age. As per studies, the factors related to falls
have been extensively investigated, as it is projected that the amount of aged adults will
upsurge and falls are widespread in old age along with falls predict opposing health
outcomes, for instance, institutionalize, continuing illnesses as well as mortality (Khosravi &
Ghapanchi, 2016). By drawing relevance to the case of Betty Miller aged 75 years has
experienced a fall in her home. Mrs Miller after the fall has spent the entire night on the floor
of her room as she was unable to move or call for help from others. While, the rehabilitation
team has arranged assistance for Betty to wear at every hour and arranged set of home
improvements, the elderly adult exhibited severe anxiousness and fear of returning to her
house due to severe loneliness. While, evaluating the case of Mrs Miller, it has been found
subjective examinations of social associations in relation to social exclusion and supposed
loneliness. Hawkley and Capitanio (2015) have cited example of falls which tend to be
related to the feelings of social loneliness as aged adults have the propensity to experience
fall, thus become incompetent to engage in instrumental activities of day to day living
especially related to buying daily needs or engaging into communal gatherings. According to
Kwak, Kim and Lee (2016), as these elderly individuals do not partake in popular activities,
they tend to develop a feeling of social isolation or loneliness.
Implementation of SOLER Skills
SOLER Skills as an active listening exemplary or way to substantially illustrate the
interest of social workers and commitment has been created by Gerard Egan. His model is
utilized today in the domain of clinical counselling along with professional settings across the
world, and is identified as a foundation for improved listening (Kay, 2018).
While, providing care to Mrs Miller, it is important to utilize SOLER skills (Square,
Open, Lean, Eye Contact and Relax) strategies to improve her level of comfort and help her
overcome loneliness and fear of social exclusion after the fall (Greenberg, Sullivan-Marx,
Sommers & Chittams et al., 2016)