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Article: Social work and end-of-life care for older people: a historical perspective.
- Article from:
- Health and Social Work
- Article date:
- February 1, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 National Association of Social Workers. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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During the 20th century, vast changes occurred in how Americans die. "Death has become the province of the elderly," wrote Kearl (2000), "with nearly 80 percent of all deaths ... occurring to individuals over 65 years of age (p. 5). Although death is inevitable, social workers can promote respectful treatment at the end of life by addressing concerns such as the inability to maintain dignity and control, inadequate decision making, and suffering (Hanson, Tulsky, & Danis, 1997; Wesley, 1996). In 1993 the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) became one of the first professional organizations to respond to the ethical dilemmas inherent in end-of-life care by issuing ...