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Social work students and faculty are increasingly embracing online education and collaborative teaching. Yet models to support these activities have not been adequately developed. This paper describes how a team of instructors developed, delivered, and evaluated an undergraduate gerontological social work course using a collaborative online teaching and learning model. Our findings suggest that the course model served to: facilitate undergraduate students' use of higher order learning (reflection, reflexivity and application of knowledge to practice), reduce ageism, and provide gerontology training to undergraduate social work students across a large geographical area.

Older adults aged 55 to 64 are vulnerable to housing insecurity and homelessness due to complex, interacting factors including decreasing options for employment, poor health, changing life circumstances, and ineligibility for seniors' benefits or seniors' subsidized housing. Despite the vulnerability of low-income preseniors, few researchers have examined the housing experiences of this population. This participatory action research study was guided by an advisory committee (n = 11) comprised of individuals with lived experiences of homelessness and service providers. We conducted in-depth, qualitative individual interviews with low-income preseniors (n = 30), who experienced housing insecurity or homelessness, to better understand their unique challenges and barriers to obtaining affordable, safe and suitable housing. Low-income preseniors (n = 6), who had direct experience with housing insecurity or homelessness, collaborated with the data analysis process. The constant comparative method was used to identify themes related to: (1) risk factors for homelessness, (2) barriers in securing housing, (3) characteristics of desirable and undesirable housing, and (4) the importance of advocacy in addressing the complex challenges they encounter. Study findings also highlighted the influence of contextual and structural factors that contribute to the preseniors' quality of life, health, and well-being as they age. Recommendations are provided to inform subsidized housing practices, policies, and services targeted at meeting the unique needs of this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined 76 female homeless shelter consumers' accounts of their experiences with homelessness and shelter life to determine the role spirituality played in their lives. The themes represented in women's narratives: religiosity, identity, and connection to others were closely aligned to themes identified in feminist literature comprising women's spirituality. Women in the study elaborated on themes identified by feminist scholars with respect to the role of women's spirituality. Their narratives suggest that spirituality is a resource that contributes to the personal resilience of homeless women, and that they draw upon to understand, contend with and overcome adversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]