Group Work with Older Adults

Online Courses

Description

This course focuses on understanding the various types of groups, the stages of group development, knowledge about group dynamics, and the skills needed for the role of the group facilitator. The content and exercises in this course aim to enhance skills for those facilitating a variety of types of groups for older adults with diverse backgrounds. In addition, participants will look at methods to evaluate the effectiveness of group interventions.

Contributing Authors:

Donna McLaughlin, MSW, LICSW, is a Full Clinical Professor at Boston University School of Social Work, where she teaches foundation and advanced level courses on working with individuals and groups. She is known for her expertise in social work practice with groups and individuals, behavioral health and trauma, and supervising, training, and consulting health and human service organizations. Her interests include supervising and mentoring students and new workers, and community training in group work, trauma, living with chronic illness, and issues facing the LGBTQ+ community.

Bronwyn Keefe, PhD, MSW, MPH is the Assistant Dean of Workforce and Professional Development at Boston University School of Social Work where she is also the Director for The Center for Aging and Disability Education and Research (CADER) and The Network for Professional Education.

Objectives

• Explain why you would choose a group as a method for healing and empowerment.
• Name and describe the five major group types discussed in this course and how you would select amongst the types.
• Identify the key steps involved in planning a group.
• Describe the skills necessary to problem-solve, address conflicts, and handle boundary challenges in working with groups.
• Discuss how to develop groups for diverse populations.
• List the best practices in evaluating groups.
• Discuss new developments in virtual groups.