Opportunities and future prospects for gerontological social work with a critical lens

This chapter reflects on themes and issues identified in previous chapters and draws attention to the lessons that could be drawn from critical gerontology. It also proposes the opportunities and future prospects for a critical gerontological social work that challenges dominant narratives about age and ageing, and the tendency towards proceduralised practice that characterises much social work with older people. The chapter urges social work practitioners, older people and researchers to contribute to debates which are at the moral heart of social work (for example, rights-based practice, working with complex needs, citizenship, discourses on autonomy, relational practice grounded in an ethic of care; care democracy; choice and self-management). The chapter concludes by proposing priorities for gerontological social work over the next decade.