Web Activities

Click on the following links. Please note these will open in a new window.

Activity 1: Video Interview

Watch this video interview, where Dr. Dawn Joosten, with the USC School of Social Work, answers the following questions:

Part I: Can you provide a broad understanding of advocacy within the gerontology sector and also an example of what advocacy looks like in working with an older adult?

Part II: As Americans become older, what will be some of the major challenges for the elderly and how do we as social workers confront these various issues from an advocacy perspective?

What are some agencies in your community that serve older adults? Are they addressing some of the issues that Dr. Joosten identifies? Visit these agencies’ websites and explore their services. Do they talk about advocacy or policy issues? If not, what policy issues are implicated?

Activity 2: National Council on Aging

The National Council on Aging brings the voices of older adults--especially the vulnerable and disadvantaged--and the organizations that serve them to Washington to protect and strengthen programs that work.

  • Select Elder Justice, then Elder Justice Now Campaign. View the video “An Age for Justice: Confronting Elder Abuse in America.” Which story stood out to you? What policy proposal or reform might be enacted to address this issue?
  • Select Advocacy Toolkit. Explore some of the information provided here. How might you use this information to advocate for older adults?
  • Select Federal Budget. Review some of the proposals and discuss the pros and cons.

Activity 3: The Joint Commission

Joint Commission accreditation can be earned by many types of health-care organizations, including hospitals, doctor’s offices, nursing homes, office-based surgery centers, behavioral health treatment facilities, and providers of home care services.

  • Select Accreditation, then What is Accreditation, then Benefits of Accreditation. What are some of the benefits of accreditation?
  • Select About Us, then Our History. How does an organization earn the Gold Seal of Approval?