Cultural Immersion

Running Head: Cultural Immersion & Agency Assessment Report
Cultural Immersion & Agency Assessment Report

Jenna M. Smith
AHS 8100
Wilmington University
Little Sisters of the Poor is a nursing home for the elderly poor with the age range of 66
and over. The process of admission is due to age and income eligibility, current living situation,
current needs and health concerns, and the hopes and expectations of the resident and their
family regarding placement in the home
(http://www.littlesistersofthepoordelaware.org/admissions/). There are currently 80 residents at
Little Sisters of the Poor in Newark, DE, both male and female, with the female population being
higher.
Populations History and Major Milestones:
According to the 2010 census the older population is an important and growing segment
of the United States population. In fact, more people were 65 years and over in 2010 than on any
previous census (https://www.cenus.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010b-09.pdf, page 1). In
1900, there were 3.1 million people ages 65 years and over in the U.S., this steadily increased
throughout the twentieth century and the older population reached its highest level at 40.3
million in 2010 (https://www.cenus.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010b-09.pdf, page 3).
As late as 1930, Americans older population numbered less than 7 million only 5.4%
of the population. Today, one in 3 Americans are now 50 or older. This rapid growth is due to
the aging of the Baby Boomers. In January 2011 the 1st of the approximately 77 million Baby
Boomers who were born between 1946 through 1964, all started to reach the retirement age.
Each year 3.5 million boomers turn 55. Due to the dramatic increase in the number of people
reaching the age of 65 along with their increased life expectancy, have caused an expansion on
the classification of those ages 65 and older to include 3 sub-populations
(http://www.transgenerational.org/aging/demographics.htm).
Those 3 sub-populations are:

The "Young Old" 65-74
The first wave of aging Baby Boomers reached full retirement age in 2011. For the next 20 years,
74 million Boomers will retire. This means that 10,000 new retirees will be added to the Social
Security and Medicare rolls each day.
The "Old" 74-84
During the next decade, increased life expectancy will strengthen the wave of aging Boomers
and steadily increase their total number contained within the elderly sub-population.
The "Oldest-Old" 85+
The fastest-growing segment of the total population is the oldest-oldthose 80 and over. Their
growth rate is twice that of those 65 and over and almost 4-times that for the total population. In
the United States, this group now represents 10% of the older population and will more than
triple from 5.7 million in 2010 to over 19 million by 2050.
(http://www.transgenerational.org/aging/demographics.htm).
A timeline of events from 1945 through present day show what the elderly have experienced in
their lifetime. Events such as:
1950-53 Korean War

1950-75 Vietnam War
1958 Explorer 1, the 1st American Satellite is launched
1959 Alaska becomes the 49th state of the US, followed by Hawaii becoming the 50th
state.
1963 Martin Luther King delivers his I had a dream speech and President Kennedy
was assassinated in Dallas, TX
1964 President Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act
1966 The Miranda Act was established, giving anyone arrested certain rights
1968 Martin Luther King was assassinated
1969 1st man lands on the moon
1970 4 students are shot at Kent State University
1971 Voting age is lowered from 21 to 18
1973 Roe vs. Wade legalizing abortion in the 1st trimester

1974 Nixon was recommended for impeachment, Nixon resigns and was granted a
pardon by President Ford
1981 President Regan shot during an assassination attempt and Sandra Day OConnor
is sworn in as the first female Supreme Court Justice
1986 Space Shuttle Challenger explodes during liftoff
1990 Iraqi troops invade Kuwait, leading to the Persian Gulf War
1991 End of the Persian Gulf War and the Rodney King beating is filmed
1992 Formal declaration of the Cold War is made
1993 The Waco, TX cult standoff, 80 members of the cult are killed
1995 Bombing of the Federal Office building in Oklahoma, killing 168 by Timothy
McVeigh
1998 Clinton scandal with Lewinsky, Clinton is impeached
1999 Senate acquits Clinton of impeachment charges, the Columbine School Shootings
occur
2001 September 11th more than 3,000 people are killed in terrorist attacks against the
United States. US and Britain attack Taliban after they do not hand over Osama Bin
Laden in regards to the 9/11 attacks. Taliban topples due to the air attacks.
2003 Space shuttle Columbia explodes upon re-entry of Earth. War waged by US and
Britain against Iraq
2005 Hurricane Katrina the worst hurricane in US history
2007 Virginia Tech shootings
2008 President Barack Obama becomes the 1st African American president
2009 Fort Hood shooting by the base Psychiatrist
2010 Senate votes 65 to 31 in favor of Dont Ask, Dont Tell in the armed forces
2011 Hurricane Sandy becomes the 2nd worst hurricane in US history with 132 deaths
and an estimated 82 Billion in damages. Tammy Baldwin becomes the 1st openly gay
member of the Senate. The Sandy Hook shootings happen
2013 Boston Marathon Bombings
(http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0902416.html)
Immersion Experience Autobiography
I read the autobiography of Katharine Hepburns Me: The Stories of My Life, who was
known among her peers as someone that didnt follow the rules of society, this was a learned
behavior from her parents who allowed their children to do things most families would not allow,
such as the girls playing all manners of sports and the fact that the girls were encouraged to go to
college. Katharines grandparents taught their children to believe in higher education for both
genders and her parents also cultivated that view.
Due to Katharines upbringing she was a strong woman and didnt take no for an answer.
She fought hard to get started in her success as an actress when she was originally told she
wasnt a very good one. She had a few good reviews and allowed it to go to her head at one point
in which she started making mistakes and was fired from the job. This brought about her way of
thinking that she needed to do the best job possible at all times because she was replaceable.
And from there she started her long line of success first in plays then in movies. I grew up and
always loved black and white movies and she was definitely someone that had a little something
extra and she quickly caught my attention.
Because of her education once she reached the point that she was in demand she was able
to negotiate her own contracts and often argued with producers to get what she wanted. She
wasnt afraid to voice her opinion when she felt that something wasnt right with a script. She
was intensely close to her family and was lucky enough to have her mother with her into her 40s
and her father into his 50s. She even remembers her ex-husband as one of her best friends that
was absolutely amazing to her and admits that she wasnt as good to him. She talks about her
very long term affair with Spencer Tracy.
This book goes from her birth all the way until the time that she wrote the book at age 84,
she passed away in 2003 at the age of 96, leaving a mass of fans behind that looked up to her as a
role model. She was witty, abrasive, feisty, charming, no-nonsense, and always classy and
sophisticated. She loved her family and friends and loved her life right up to the end. (Hepburn,
Katharine (1991). Me: Stories of My Life, Ballantine Books, New York, NY)
Film:
For the film I watched Mr. Holmes, which is a movie based upon the life of Sherlock
Holmes as he ages. In the film it shows Mr. Holmes at an advanced age dealing with Dementia
or Alzheimers disease as he struggles to remember what happened during his last case that is
haunting him. He feels that he did something wrong and that is why he cannot remember it, and
because he did something wrong he has given up completing any other cases.
During the film you watch through his everyday living with a housekeeper and her son,
who is avidly interested in Mr. Holmes cases and also in the beehives that Mr. Holmes now
spends his time keeping. The story shows how Mr. Holmes starts to grow fond of the boy and
working with him with the bees as well as figuring out different problems, he also allows him to
read the story he is writing to help himself remember his last case, the story is about the last case
and the woman that is haunting him because of this case. Through flashbacks you see some of
the case that is no longer easily remembered by Mr. Holmes and is haunting him.
You also see a trip to Japan that he has while his memory is coming in and out and meets
up with what he thought was a potential client and finds out once he is there that the client is
really looking for answers about his father that left them and in the note saying he wouldnt come
back that he was doing this on the advice of one Sherlock Holmes. You can see clearly that Mr.
Holmes does not remember this person that he supposedly gave this advice to and he lets the
client know this.
In the end the young boy Mr. Holmes is so fond of is stung by a swarm of wasps after he
solves his own mystery of why the bees keep dying. While waiting with the childs mother he
realizes that sometimes you shouldnt bluntly say what you are thinking, that sometimes the
answer you give isnt going to help. The ending of the movie with him remembering his final
case that haunted him was because he felt that he had gotten through to her in regards to her grief
and she later committed suicide. By bluntly giving her information she didnt really need he
didnt help her in anyway.
So in the end he writes the fake client in Japan a note that will allow that family to move
on by stating that the father had been doing work for the government that allowed him to save
countless lives and that he was advised that in order to protect his family he had to leave them.
Mr. Holmes also realizes that he really is suffering from something that is causing his memory to
go and he places the house he lives is living in with the housekeeper and her son in their names
so that they will always have a home and so the boy can continue to take care of the bees.
The movie is in so many ways deals with issues the elderly deal with all of the time, their
memory not being as sharp, not having any family to care for them as they age, loving the social
interaction with younger generations, and often times some form of dementia or Alzheimers.
Direct Immersion Experience: A Culture-Specific Event:
On November 1, 2015, I attended an annual event at Little Sisters of the Poor known as
the Spaghetti Dinner. This fundraising event is a way to earn money for the nursing home for the
elderly. During this event I was able to interact with many of the homes residents as well as the
volunteers that came out to make it a success, with many of the volunteers being family of the
residents. The residents themselves were grinning ear to ear the whole event and having so much
fun with the interactions they had with everyone.
Many of the residents that were capable of it were doing specific jobs during the event
such as serving appetizers, serving dinner, and handling raffles. They loved being a part of the
event and they look forward to it every year. I was able to watch and see how wonderful the staff
was with the residents, volunteers and the people coming in to attend the event, I was able to see
how happy the residents were with being able to meet new people as they arrived and I was able
to see people that didnt know any of the residents sit down to talk to a few of them and just give
their time and money to help this great organization.
I was lucky enough not to run into any animosity about my being a part of the day, they
welcomed me with open arms and a big thank you for being there. The residents loved showing
off their families to other guests and residents in the home. In the dining room I was able to
observe residents sitting and talking with people they didnt know and the guests were loving
every minute of it. I was able to see residents asking for help of guests and the guests happily
helping in any way that they could.
Personal Interview:
My personal interview was conducted on November 19, 2015. The person that I
interviewed asked that I not use their last name, she did say it was ok to use her first name Rose.
Rose and I talked about her time growing up in Pennsylvania with her parents and 3 brothers.
She was the second oldest of the children. They were a close knit Christian family that did a lot
with the church and that is how she met all of her friends and the fellows that she dated.
She dated often but knew none of them were the right man until she was 29 years old she
finally found the right guy. They dated for 8 months and were married and had 50 years together
before she lost him to cancer, they had 2 sons together. Before she was married she worked for
Alfred and Greenfield real estate as a secretary, after she was married she stayed home and raised
the boys and babysat often for a little extra income. About 10 years into marriage she went back
to work at Fidelity Bank.
Her husband worked at Motor Wheel and at Pathmark. He was a technical sergeant in the
Air Force and was stationed in Panama during World War 2, she remained in the US. After her
husband passed away she continued to remain active in the church, going out with the seniors
from the church often for lunches and dinners, she spent time with her kids, grandkids and great
grandkids. Rose will be 96 on December 8th and is about as feisty as they come. I dont think
shell be going anywhere anytime soon. It was an absolute pleasure to talk to her.
Summary and Synthesis:
Meeting and talking to the elderly gives you a life view that you dont see at my age.
They went through some of the roughest times and most came out stronger because of it. They
talked about different times of their life being hard but they learned from those experiences and
strived to make better lives for themselves and their families. They have cultivated relationships
that have lasted a long time and they have the sadness of losing some of those same relationships
due to health issues and age.
The elderly are stronger than they appear in so many ways and can hand out a lifes
lesson at a moments notice. There are many truths to the fact that the elderly are often taken
advantage of, but there are also so many that are still spry, alert and strong. Just because they are
living in a nursing home doesnt make them any less of a person and thats what I love about
Little Sisters of the Poor. Its a home for them, they are loved, cared for and respected. Ive
been in other nursing homes where that was not the case and Ive heard horror stories from
friends and family about the way their loved ones were treated.
I dont think that I ever realized though how lonely they can be though until I spent time
at Little Sisters. There are so many of them that dont have visitors, no family to come and see
them and they just want someone to listen to them, someone to spend a little bit of time with
them. It opened my eyes up to the fact that I need to take more time out of what I consider a
busy schedule and spend more time with my two grandmothers that are getting up there in age
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and be more present. That was the biggest thing that I learned from this experience, the elderly
just want some of your time and someone to talk to.
Assessing the Field Work Agency
Agencys Community:
The name of the agency that Ive done my internship with is Little Sisters of the Poor and
they are located at 185 Salem Church Rd, Newark, DE 19713. Located around the home is a
55+ community next door. Christiana High School is across the street and has been amazingly
supportive of the home. There are numerous places to eat nearby such as Famous Daves, Red
Robin, Olive Garden, Red Lobster and so many more. Also Acme grocery store and several gas
stations. Christiana Hospital is less than 10 minutes away, the Christiana mall and several bigger
stores like Boscovs, Joanna Fabrics, DSW shoes. There are several banks to choose from like
PNC and TD bank.
The access to the home is incredible as its only moments from I-95, route 4 and route 273
and 40, making it easy to get to. Little Sisters of the Poor is also located near the Hudson State
Service building, but due to the nature of their business they have a social worker within the
home that can help with anything that they need. There are several beauty shops around but the
home provides a beautician that comes in a few times a week and does their hair for them.
Access:
The age and financial eligibility of the prospective Resident, current living situation,
current needs and health concerns, hopes and expectations of the individual and their family
regarding placement in our Home. Additionally, admission to our Home focuses upon those who
desire and are eligible for independent living. In this way, we can retain nursing care units for
Residents, who may require additional care due to the onset of illness or disability. Our Home is
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ecumenical and all faiths are welcomed and worshiped here

(http://www.littlesistersofthepoordelaware.org/admissions/).
Receptivity:
When you pull up to Little Sisters of the Poor you see an extremely large brick building
that is well manicured, with flower gardens and plant life. When you drive around the building
youll see several sitting areas for the residents to use, a pond they can walk to and look at.
There is parking for those in the home that still drive and they are assigned a parking space.
When you walk in the front door you are greeting by the receptionist with the door being open
from 7:30 am until 9:00 pm. After that the front doors are locked for security reasons and a
security guard mans the front desk.
The lobby area has comfortable chairs for guests and residents to sit in, with a flat screen
TV mounted on the wall that constantly has a show of pictures that have been taken at different
events and show the residents, staff, volunteers and nuns having a great time. From there you
walk into a large area that has plenty of seating of a wide variety for the residents, volunteers and
guests to use as they wish, to the left is Marys office, the tea room, the library and the country
store the residents are able to use.
To the right is an open court yard that the residents are able to go outside and sit and
enjoy the weather. There is a garden buddy system during the spring and summer where the
residents and another person that enjoy gardening go to work in the garden beds. Located on the
main floor of the home is the kitchen, staff break room, the maintenance office, 2 of the
residential wings, the activity room where big events like Bingo and the Spaghetti dinner is held
as well as the mall area which is an open room with more seating.
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On the 2nd floor is the chapel, viewing room, 2 more residential areas, the nursing area as
well as the physical therapy area. The 3rd floor is off limits to everyone but the nuns that reside
there. You have to have a special key to get onto the 3rd floor. The home is a nice comfortable
place where the residents are able to interact with each other, with guests, volunteers and staff.
There is comfortable seating placed all over and the residents are allowed to linger as they
please.
Administration and Staff Training:
Little Sisters of the Poor is a nursing home which is for the elderly poor. The staff and
volunteers are trained to treat them with kindness and respect at all times. It is mandatory for a
volunteer or staff member to report someone that is not treating the residents, other staff
members or volunteers in the appropriate manner. Because the population is of one kind the
training is catered to that population.
The home does employ some people of an older age, many of the volunteers that are in
on a very regular basis are in their 60s, 70s and 80s. The home also use the residents to handle
some of the volunteer spots, such as the country store that residents are allowed to shop in, some
residents like to work in the kitchen and in the laundry area and also in the knitting and sewing
clubs. They do not discriminate against, age, race or gender.
Funding:
As Little Sisters of the Poor, we devote our lives to making the elderly happy, but we
cannot do it alone. The cost of caring for the elderly in a manner respectful of their dignity far
exceeds the income received from the Residents pensions, Social Security and Medicaid. Over
55% of our operating costs must come from donations; over $250,000 a month is needed. To
cover this constant deficit and to make necessary facility repairs, we rely on the generosity of
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others. Little Sisters of the Poor is funded by private donations such as online donations, Gifts
of stock, bonds and securities are accepted, Memorial and honorary gifts, Corporate and
matching gifts, Planned giving and Form of Bequests
(http://www.littlesistersofthepoordelaware.org/donations/).
Staff Sensitivity:
By all accounts when I am with staff and they are with the residents I see them treat them
with respect, kindness and caring. Sometimes the staff isnt as great at being the same way with
volunteers. They are never rude or mean the volunteers but I think that they are so focused on
taking care of the residents that they often forget about the volunteers there helping them. In
some ways I can see how that would upset a volunteer a bit but Im happy to see their care and
devotion to the residents, after all that is why they are there.
Agency Programs and Services
Effort:
There are not really programs within my agency that I can refer to. We do reach out to
the community at large for volunteers to help in many aspects of the home. Anywhere from
kitchen, laundry, cleaning, activities and just spending time with the residents. We do get
feedback from the volunteers and residents about things that they like and dont like. And very
recently focus groups were completed to get feedback from the volunteers about things they like,
what they would want to change, etc.
Quality:
Little Sisters of the Poor has a social worker on staff that handles the needs of the
residents. The home takes care of the needs as well as the residents get their own private room,
meals, activities, they go out into the community, they are taken to their doctors appointments as
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well as smaller but important things like having a beautician that comes in a few times a week to
take care of them. The cultural variations are not really an issue in the home. Even though it is a
catholic based nursing home you do not have to be of any religion to become a resident there.
They do not make the residents attend mass, it is a choice the residents make. Because
the home is run by nuns and mass is included as well as prayer before meals, you can tell it is a
faith based organization, but the residents simply choose if they are going to go with anything
religion related.
Effectiveness:
After talking with many of the residents on many different occasions with no staff being
around, I have not once felt that any of the residents are unhappy with the home. Every once in a
while youll hear a complaint about a meal that was served being too bland or not enough of
something but theyll also laugh at the same time and say well when I cooked I used loads of
butter or salt or I made such and such this way.
When meals are being served for over 80 people and many of them have dietary
restrictions its not easy to please everyone. Other than that Ive heard no complaints at all. A
request was made for the knitting club to meet one extra day a month and to have both days be 2
hours instead of the 1 hour a month they currently have and this is something that looks like will
happen sooner rather than later and it was only brought to the nuns attention less than 2 weeks
ago. This home wants their residents, volunteers and staff to be happy.
Efficiency:
Little Sisters of the Poor has many regular donors that help with the home, such as
ShopRite donating food, Coke donating sodas on a regular basis, florists that donate flowers on a
weekly basis, they are actively involved in the community and the community is actively
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involved in the home. The home is working on a web based system that will make volunteering
much more efficient and we are hoping that it will be up and running fully before the New Year.
Right now the volunteers are getting emails from the web based system but are not yet
able to sign up for volunteer hours on the site. Because this system has been worked on off and
on by interns and work study students from Wilmington University it has been delayed a few
times. At the suggestion of an extremely regular volunteer we will be training him on how to run
the system so that in the event that the work study person that is currently handling the web
based system had to leave there is someone else there that will be able to smoothly transition into
handling it.
The homes referral system is done through the social worker and based on need, finances
and the fit of the person requesting a room at the home as well as space available is whether or
not the person will be accepted at Little Sisters of the Poor. Unfortunately the only way that a
new resident is admitted to Little Sisters of the Poor is because they lost a resident due to death,
as there is no time limit on how long a resident can reside at Little Sisters.
Personal Cultural Competencies
Engagement, Trust and Relationship-building:
For me the way that I began building relationships at Little Sisters of the Poor was to
begin by volunteering in different areas and through that I met other volunteers and residents.
Also being very present in the home, they became more familiar with my face and from there
they started to reach out to me. I also took the time to listen to staff members that were very
familiar with the residents and knew what they liked and didnt like.
In this home there doesnt seem to be any cultural issues that you need to be aware of.
The only thing that I find a little difficult is that because they are elderly it is hard for me to call
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them by their first name which they often request, for me its how I was raised. One resident
asked me about it when I didnt call her by her first name and once I explained to her that wasnt
how I was raised, she understood and we compromised on me calling her Ms. Eileen instead of
Ms. Jones. It was a compromise that we were both comfortable with and Ive asked a few
other residents if that is ok with them and they all have agreed so far.
Assessment and Problem Definition:
I feel that to effectively engage a client that being open and honest with them is the best
way. Theyve been around awhile and can probably tell when someone isnt being truthful with
them. Another thing would be to explain as you are doing the assessment what you are doing, it
will make them feel at ease if they understand what is going on. In different cultures it might be
necessary to have a man talk to a man versus a woman talking to the male client and vice versa.
In other cultures it wouldnt be appropriate to touch a person even for a handshake. I try
to address that before I even meet them by asking. I have found that to ask is better that to
possible insult and thats of any generation or client base. To help them explore services that
they need I would make myself as aware as possible of what their needs are and help them
address those needs. I would step back if not needed but let them know that I am there to help
and would make myself heard if my client were not being handled with respect.
Contracting and Goal Setting
1. One goal would be to get the client out into the community with people that are familiar
to them.
2. Another goal would be to have the client invite a family member or friend over 1 night a
week for interaction
3. And a 3rd goal would be to have the client try new activities until they find the one that is
right for them.
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The goal that I selected would be to get the client out in the community around people that
are familiar to them. The reasons why I would want to pick that goal are:
1. They are getting out and interacting with others and with it being in the community that
doesnt necessarily mean it would be of the same age range.
2. They are being social which is always a good thing for most people and it helps them feel
included
3. The 3rd objective would be that allowing them to interact with others in the community
they are familiar with, there is always a change that they will meet new people and
having a strong support system can go a long way.
The time frame would be one event per week for three months. From there you will be able
to figure out if it is helping the person in any way. Does it make them feel more included, do
they feel more energized by being out in the community and interacting with others? If the
answer is yes then the objective is working in a positive way. If they do not feel that it is
working in a positive manner than you know that you need to try another goal.
Intervention:
Some culturally appropriate interventions for a client would be:
1. Helping with their medications by putting pills in a pill container and setting alarms or
writing down reminders somewhere they would easily be able to see at the appropriate
time.
2. Helping the client with things around the house that they would like to do themselves but
may not be able to totally do it alone.
3. Helping a client become more involved in the community, by taking them to new
activities.
4. Making sure that the clients are able to remain with their long term doctors for continuing
care so that they feel more comfortable.
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5. Making sure that they have help when it is needed so they feel more secure in either
being home or in some kind of resident placement.
Some culturally inappropriate interventions for a client would be:
1. Forcing them to take their medication against their wishes by either being mean,
demanding or forceful.
2. Just doing everything for the client and not letting them do the things they are capable of,
or not helping at all.
3. By forcing the client to go to activities that they know they have no interest in at all but
demanding they give it a try.
4. Telling the client that its not an option to stay with their current doctor because its the
easy way out, such as there is a doctor that comes to the nursing home they are staying it,
and they are told they have to see that doctor instead of the one that knows them, knows
their medical history and they are comfortable with.
5. By isolating the client and not giving them the help that they need it makes them feel they
have nowhere to turn to. And by not having help available as needed you are saying to
the client/elderly person that their needs do not matter.
Evaluation:
If the client is saying that they like being more active and out in the community you
know the goal is a success. The family members and/or staff may notice a difference in the
way they look, act and how their attitude is. If a client voices their opinion that they do not
like the goal, but the family is asking them to give it a little more time and they are willing
then its ok to make the exception but if the client is adamant that they do not want to do
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those activities that is a clear indication that they are not interested and it is time to move on
and try something new.
Termination:
If the client voices that they no longer wish to participate in the activities it is best to find
out why. If they no longer find the activity appealing after the newness of it wears off you
can help the client in any matter, by either calling the person coordinating the activity and
letting them know the client would not be back, or even helping them write a resignation
letter if it is needed. A client should never feel that they have to continue to do something
simply because they feel obligated in any way.
If they have built friendships within the activity but no longer wish to continue the
activity, you can help them by contacting those friends in person, phone or by letter, letting
them know that while they are no longer interested in participating in that activity they would
like to remain friends and find out if it is acceptable to that person. If you have built
relationships in these activities there is no reason that the client would need to give up those
relationships unless otherwise instructed by the person they wish to remain in contact with
and maintain the relationship.
NASW Standards for Cultural Competence:

The standards selected for review are Ethics and Values Social workers shall function in
accordance with the values, ethics, and standards of the profession, recognizing how personal
and professional values may conflict with or accommodate the needs of diverse clients. And also
Empowerment and Advocacy Social workers shall be aware of the effect of social policies and
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programs on diverse client populations, advocating for and with clients whenever appropriate. I
feel that these are two of the most important standards there are.
Without ethics and values you would be no good to your client because you wouldnt be
able to see if someone was doing something wrong to them, treating them unfairly or risking
their health or wellbeing. Empowerment and advocacy is equally important because if you are
advocating for your client and their families and empowering them to advocate for themselves
when possible, who else will do so? By empowering your client to take charge, you are giving
them the gift of having a voice in their own affairs. By advocating for them, you give them the
support that they need to get what they truly want.
Little Sisters of the Poor sets their ethics and values very high, the nuns are dedicated
100% to the residents and making sure they are comfortable, happy, safe and well cared for.
They want them to feel like they are with family. As a nun its pretty common to have high
ethical standards and they employ those standards throughout the entire home. When it comes to
empowerment they allow the residents to make their own decisions when they are capable of
making them, they give them the freedom to come and go as they please within the building and
they advocate for the residents on a regular basis making sure they are getting the services and
care that they need.
The nuns make sure that there are plenty of things to do within the home and also make
sure that outings are possible whenever they can. Things such as Bingo which is a huge hit is
done at least once a week, along with other similar games, they also have services available such
as church, physical therapy, dining, visitation, crafts, sewing and knitting available as well to
help the residents remain active and happy.
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Completing this workbook is eye opening and really makes you think about all of the
things that you have learned about the population that you chose. It made me more aware of the
things that are needed when it comes to the elderly. That socialization is key for any person to
thrive but especially someone that may have already lost so many. By giving them peers to
interact with, it gives them something to do and look forward too. It also makes you realize that
you need to spend more time with your elderly relatives as you dont know how long they will be
around and all they want from you is a little bit of your time.
Ill definitely carry with me moving forward all that I have learned from this population
and know that Ill continue to visit and interact with the elderly population. I already had a love
for the elderly, hearing their stories, knowing the things that they went through and how they
handled things back in their day are always fascinating for me and this made me really realize
that I love the elderly population and want to continue to be involved in some way.
References
http://www.littlesistersofthepoordelaware.org/admissions/
https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-09.pdf
http://www.transgenerational.org/aging/demographics.htm

http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0902416.html
Hepburn, Katharine (1991). Me: Stories of My Life, New York, NY
Canning, I., Carey, A. and Sherman, E. (Producers) and Bill Condon (Director). (Date of
Publication July 24, 2015). Mr. Holmes [Motion Picture]. United States: Miramax
http://www.littlesistersofthepoordelaware.org/admissions/
http://www.littlesistersofthepoordelaware.org/donations/
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Running Head: Cultural Immersion & Agency Assessment Report