SocialWork - Casework And Case Management - Assessment Answer

SocialWork Case Study Assignment

Assignment Task

On completion of this task, you should be able to:

1. Describe the use of casework and case management in service delivery and their relevance and implications for social work and human services policy, practice and intervention
2. Demonstrate critical knowledge of theoretical frameworks, the major features, principles, functions, processes and roles of casework and case management practice and systems relevant to diverse contexts
3. Source, appraise and analyse valid literature to generate an evidence-informed intervention plan
4. Apply casework and case management processes and skills to service delivery situations and
5. Critically analyse and evaluate the major issues and dilemmas, including ethical issues, involved in the design and implementation of casework and case management practice or systems

Introduction

The global and technical expansion relate to the public health. Nowadays, there has been a vast upsurge in the mental illness treatment plans. One of the mental illnesses, Dementia is a major concern globally. Dementia is a persistent or chronic disorder of the mental process that is caused by brain disease or injury. A person suffering from dementia may have mental disorders, impaired reasoning, and changes in personality. The person faces difficulty in performing his daily tasks. Other common symptoms include a problem with language, emotional problems, a decrease in motivation. Dementia is a general term used to refer to decline in mental ability. It is not a particular disease. As stated by Smith et al.(2011), Aboriginal Australians have the occurrence of Dementia five folds greater than the Non-Aboriginal citizens do. Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia are some of the most common types of Dementia. It is also the responsibility of the people to adopt a basic knowledge about this ongoing research field, thereby, influencing awareness to the students, to perform research about the disease. In the given case study, Russell was affected with Alzheimer’s disease, in his late sixties.

Key Definitions

According to Lyketsos et al.(2000), Dementia is a common mental illness, caused mainly by Alzheimer's disease. The major effects of Dementia include mental illness and unusual behaviour of the affected patient.

Over a period, researchers have studied the ill effects of dementia. These case studies were especially in cases of the Aboriginal people of Australia. This was to make the people aware of the recent development of the disease, in the locality and globally. These case studies also include strategy about the treatment of Dementia affected people around the world. The research by Lyketsos et al.(2000) also stated that maximum of the older and less-educated people contracted Dementia.

According to Barberger-Gateau et al.(2007), Dementia is an outcome of the people predisposed to the Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, research, case studies, assignments and campaigns may influence people to understand the basics.

Literature Review

Extensive studies, research and surveys have led to extensive knowledge about Dementia and Dementia affected people all over the world. The factors that are responsible for the cause of the disease have come to the limelight. The care that Dementia affected people need has also been known. These have overall increased the preliminary assumptions and strategy to minimise the disease occurrences.

As described by Anstey et al.(2007), when smokers and non-smokers are compared, the smokers have a greater risk of contracting Dementia. Therefore, it is clear that smoking is absolutely a cause of Dementia. Therefore, this review essentially depicts the awareness of the people about bad habits including smoking. Apart from Dementia, Alzheimer's disease is a risk factor for the smokers. In addition, there are insufficient data that improperly evaluates the tenure of smoking and the contraction of dementia. This was also an observational study. Hence, it should not be concluded that smoking will definitely cause Dementia.

The research by Barberger-Gateau et al.(2007), showed that the consumption of fruits accompanied by green vegetables lowering the risk of Contracting dementia. Consuming fish was also indicated to be a reluctant in the causing of Dementia. Fish being rich in Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid reduces the chance of contraction. Moreover, the statistical data used may also have been ambiguous due to lack of accurateness. It does not forward any kind of message to the health care workers and hence no social message is implied.

The research by Birch & Draper (2009) explores the obstacles for proper caring of Dementia affected older individuals in hospitals. It focuses on the adaptability of the patients in the health care homes. It is termed "terminal illness" and as a result, utmost care is needed and is the major portion of discussion here. It is a perfect research and the results have an acute positive orientation in the approach of a country. Medical interventions have also been incorporated, thereby making the improvement approach very satisfactory. This research also signifies about the future research about the needs of the disease-affected people.

Charles worth et al.(2016) stated that peer support is one of the most effective methods of therapy for the Dementia affected people. This is a more definite approach in the treatment since theconclusion is drawn from the survey that included aspects including age, gene, literacy, and residing conditions. As these conditions are focused on this research, it appears to be very proficient as is a perfect material to be made approachable to the people. The primary and secondary outcomes of the patients are quite broadly explained and reasoned out to be made into account. The data for clinical trials have been collected from a very trustworthy research website (MARCO Electronic Data Capture). However, no discussion has been on the social health care improvement program. Only the tenure for caring and the ways of caring have been summarised.

As mentioned by Lothian & Philp (2001), if the older patient's negative approach is handled properly, their involvement and dignity may be restored. This handling is possible only through proper education and experience of the workers. Therefore, this field is very important in this research. However, information about the Aboriginal people has not been met. This research is extensively ideal about the approach of the health care homes and organisations.

The research by Coventry et al.(2005) elucidated the survival tenure of the patients with non-malignant diseases, including Dementia. In this research, the focus was induced mainly on a large statistical count of the patients with the disease. However, very little information about the Aboriginal people is mentioned. There are also publication biases that excluded the negative aspects from the study.

Svansdottir & Snaedal (2006) reported a very important aspect, in the treatment of Dementia. Music therapy is a non-pharmacological way of treating Dementia by the recognised music therapists. The research work included treatment of a patient by music therapy for a course of time and the improvements are statistically recorded. A marked reduction in the behavioural pattern occurred. However, patients of age between 71 and 87 have been surveyed. This leaves people of ages between 55 and 70, which also have a similar chance of contracting the disease. However, no light has been focussed on the social pattern and improvement of health care facilities.

Research by Smith et al.(2011) showed that Dementia is more prevalent among the Aboriginals than the non-aboriginal people are. This is a very important research field as it worked on the Aboriginal people that are exposed to Dementia. It provides insights on the caregivers and the care centres for the Dementia affected people. It also mentions amendments that are to be made, in the health care centres to ensure good facilities. Moreover, it also contains appeals about have more care centres for more accommodations for the people.

According to Lyketsos et al.(2000), the mental disturbances of a patient also influences negative effect on the caregivers and other patients surround the individual. Here, both dementia affected and non-affected people statistically reviewed and hence might be a little erroneous. Moreover, the country on which the survey was performed is less diverse and hence stereotype answer may result.

The research of Graham et al.(2000) explores the epidemiologic field of the disease including the effect on the memory of the patient. It focuses on the symptoms and their effect on the brain and memory. No light is thrown on the healthcare organisations or the strategies for their improvement.

According to Minas & Jorm (2010), gaps in treatment procedure are maximum in number in the developing countries. Mental health is one of the issues of the declining count of healthy individuals globally. Developing countries face a lag in medical research because of finance and hence this event must be taken into account. However, a little account of Aboriginals and health care centres has been mentioned.

Discussion

Being one of the most deadly diseases in the world with no full term recovery, all the fields need to be explored. The fields include healthcare organisations, their financial conditions, their financing by the respective governments, social partnerships and medical research. Many of the articles need to be consulted for the proper understanding of the scenarios in the world. Currently, there are no gaps in the management and research field associated with this field. Although it is quite hectic to evaluate every patient, yet it has to be done. The current scenario is mostly equipped with all the ammunitions to ensure safe living however; it needs to be oiled regularly.

Conclusion

All the above articles and the relevant researches prove that people are gradually promoting as well as accepting the awareness. This awareness will gradually prove to affect the health care homes and medical research field. There have to be improvements in the social approach of the workers with the patients. These patients must be treated with care and empathy. Providing freedom to the patients in a calculated and restricted way is also very essential to ensure their safety.