Cultural and ethnic diversity

The purpose of this assignment is to structure Three (3) one-hour interviews via phone, Video Chat (Zoom, Skype, FaceTime), or face-to-face meetings (face-to-face, at least once, is strongly preferred if it can be done safely) with ONE older adult (i.e., 65 years and older – not a family member or close friend) and create one paper that explores those three contacts, theory, and your experience with the older adult and how this all relates to the course material. This written assignment is intended to help you understand the importance of older adulthood and aging issues as relevant to social work practice, theory, and public policy.

Students may choose a particular focus for the conversations such as:
Cultural and ethnic diversity
LGBTQ issues
Psychosocial adjustment to aging
Health and/or mental health issues
Spirituality and religiosity
The following are suggested questions to assist with the conversation surrounding the general life story section:
• What are some of the most significant accomplishments in your life?
• What have been some of the most significant challenges in your past life development?
• Today, what are some of the most important issues you face as an older adult?
• How are you preparing for your anticipated future needs (physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and/or financial)?
• If you were to review your life as a whole, how would you describe the most important meanings you have discovered?
• What wisdom would you like to share with others?
• How would you like to be remembered?
Format:
To complete the project, there should be a minimum of Three (3) one-hour interactions with the same individual. In terms of choosing this older adult, the use of family members or close friends is strongly discouraged. Students must seek permission from the instructor if they have a compelling reason that they can find no one else for this project other than family members or close friends. If a paper seems to be about a family member or close friend without permission, the paper will receive a ZERO. Written expectations include:
1. Prior to the first encounter: In approximately 2 pages, please write a description of:
The nature of the interaction you will be having with the older adult(s) – who, what, where. Please do not use the older adult’s real name (use a pseudonym). or other information that makes them readily identifiable. However, it is fine to identify the relationship you have with this person. Please give the older adult a pseudonym.
The goals you have for your own learning about older adults that will promote your personal or professional growth;
Your expectations of the three most challenging aspects of this assignment;
Your expectation of the three most rewarding aspects of this experience;
The strengths you bring to this project;
Weaknesses/stereotypes/biases you will have to address to make this project successful for yourself.
2. After the first encounter: In 1-2 pages, please write a description of:
a. Your first encounter (who was there and the nature of the interaction);
b. Your feelings and thoughts before, during, and after the visit;
c. Changes in your plans, goals, concerns, etc. from what you wrote prior to the visit and what accounts for these changes.
Please note, it is a good idea to note your initial thoughts and feelings immediately after the visit. Then let this percolate for a few days and then write the final version. If you wait too long to write things down, it will dilute the experience.
3. After the second encounter: In 1-2 pages, please write a description of:
What, if any, changes have taken place in the perspective you described after the first meeting;
Initial connections you are making between your observations and thoughts and the material covered in class, particularly the reading materials on older adults.
4. After the third encounter: In 1-2 pages, please write a description of:
a. Further connections you are making between the material covered in class and the reading materials on older adults. Please feel free to continue meeting with your older adult project partner. These continued interactions can contribute to your final write-up (see #5).
5. After the final encounter (which may or may not be the 3rd): In approximately one page, please summarize what you have learned from this experience that will promote your personal and professional growth and thinking about older adults.The purpose of this assignment is to structure Three (3) one-hour interviews via phone, Video Chat (Zoom, Skype, FaceTime), or face-to-face meetings (face-to-face, at least once, is strongly preferred if it can be done safely) with ONE older adult (i.e., 65 years and older – not a family member or close friend) and create one paper that explores those three contacts, theory, and your experience with the older adult and how this all relates to the course material. This written assignment is intended to help you understand the importance of older adulthood and aging issues as relevant to social work practice, theory, and public policy.
Students may choose a particular focus for the conversations such as:
Cultural and ethnic diversity
LGBTQ issues
Psychosocial adjustment to aging
Health and/or mental health issues
Spirituality and religiosity
The following are suggested questions to assist with the conversation surrounding the general life story section:
• What are some of the most significant accomplishments in your life?
• What have been some of the most significant challenges in your past life development?
• Today, what are some of the most important issues you face as an older adult?
• How are you preparing for your anticipated future needs (physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and/or financial)?
• If you were to review your life as a whole, how would you describe the most important meanings you have discovered?
• What wisdom would you like to share with others?
• How would you like to be remembered?
Format:
To complete the project, there should be a minimum of Three (3) one-hour interactions with the same individual. In terms of choosing this older adult, the use of family members or close friends is strongly discouraged. Students must seek permission from the instructor if they have a compelling reason that they can find no one else for this project other than family members or close friends. If a paper seems to be about a family member or close friend without permission, the paper will receive a ZERO. Written expectations include:
1. Prior to the first encounter: In approximately 2 pages, please write a description of:
The nature of the interaction you will be having with the older adult(s) – who, what, where. Please do not use the older adult’s real name (use a pseudonym). or other information that makes them readily identifiable. However, it is fine to identify the relationship you have with this person. Please give the older adult a pseudonym.
The goals you have for your own learning about older adults that will promote your personal or professional growth;
Your expectations of the three most challenging aspects of this assignment;
Your expectation of the three most rewarding aspects of this experience;
The strengths you bring to this project;
Weaknesses/stereotypes/biases you will have to address to make this project successful for yourself.
2. After the first encounter: In 1-2 pages, please write a description of:
a. Your first encounter (who was there and the nature of the interaction);
b. Your feelings and thoughts before, during, and after the visit;
c. Changes in your plans, goals, concerns, etc. from what you wrote prior to the visit and what accounts for these changes.
Please note, it is a good idea to note your initial thoughts and feelings immediately after the visit. Then let this percolate for a few days and then write the final version. If you wait too long to write things down, it will dilute the experience.
3. After the second encounter: In 1-2 pages, please write a description of:
What, if any, changes have taken place in the perspective you described after the first meeting;
Initial connections you are making between your observations and thoughts and the material covered in class, particularly the reading materials on older adults.
4. After the third encounter: In 1-2 pages, please write a description of:
a. Further connections you are making between the material covered in class and the reading materials on older adults. Please feel free to continue meeting with your older adult project partner. These continued interactions can contribute to your final write-up (see #5).
5. After the final encounter (which may or may not be the 3rd): In approximately one page, please summarize what you have learned from this experience that will promote your personal and professional growth and thinking about older adults.The purpose of this assignment is to structure Three (3) one-hour interviews via phone, Video Chat (Zoom, Skype, FaceTime), or face-to-face meetings (face-to-face, at least once, is strongly preferred if it can be done safely) with ONE older adult (i.e., 65 years and older – not a family member or close friend) and create one paper that explores those three contacts, theory, and your experience with the older adult and how this all relates to the course material. This written assignment is intended to help you understand the importance of older adulthood and aging issues as relevant to social work practice, theory, and public policy.
Students may choose a particular focus for the conversations such as:
Cultural and ethnic diversity
LGBTQ issues
Psychosocial adjustment to aging
Health and/or mental health issues
Spirituality and religiosity
The following are suggested questions to assist with the conversation surrounding the general life story section:
• What are some of the most significant accomplishments in your life?
• What have been some of the most significant challenges in your past life development?
• Today, what are some of the most important issues you face as an older adult?
• How are you preparing for your anticipated future needs (physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and/or financial)?
• If you were to review your life as a whole, how would you describe the most important meanings you have discovered?
• What wisdom would you like to share with others?
• How would you like to be remembered?
Format:
To complete the project, there should be a minimum of Three (3) one-hour interactions with the same individual. In terms of choosing this older adult, the use of family members or close friends is strongly discouraged. Students must seek permission from the instructor if they have a compelling reason that they can find no one else for this project other than family members or close friends. If a paper seems to be about a family member or close friend without permission, the paper will receive a ZERO. Written expectations include:
1. Prior to the first encounter: In approximately 2 pages, please write a description of:
The nature of the interaction you will be having with the older adult(s) – who, what, where. Please do not use the older adult’s real name (use a pseudonym). or other information that makes them readily identifiable. However, it is fine to identify the relationship you have with this person. Please give the older adult a pseudonym.
The goals you have for your own learning about older adults that will promote your personal or professional growth;
Your expectations of the three most challenging aspects of this assignment;
Your expectation of the three most rewarding aspects of this experience;
The strengths you bring to this project;
Weaknesses/stereotypes/biases you will have to address to make this project successful for yourself.
2. After the first encounter: In 1-2 pages, please write a description of:
a. Your first encounter (who was there and the nature of the interaction);
b. Your feelings and thoughts before, during, and after the visit;
c. Changes in your plans, goals, concerns, etc. from what you wrote prior to the visit and what accounts for these changes.
Please note, it is a good idea to note your initial thoughts and feelings immediately after the visit. Then let this percolate for a few days and then write the final version. If you wait too long to write things down, it will dilute the experience.
3. After the second encounter: In 1-2 pages, please write a description of:
What, if any, changes have taken place in the perspective you described after the first meeting;
Initial connections you are making between your observations and thoughts and the material covered in class, particularly the reading materials on older adults.
4. After the third encounter: In 1-2 pages, please write a description of:
a. Further connections you are making between the material covered in class and the reading materials on older adults. Please feel free to continue meeting with your older adult project partner. These continued interactions can contribute to your final write-up (see #5).
5. After the final encounter (which may or may not be the 3rd): In approximately one page, please summarize what you have learned from this experience that will promote your personal and professional growth and thinking about older adults.The purpose of this assignment is to structure Three (3) one-hour interviews via phone, Video Chat (Zoom, Skype, FaceTime), or face-to-face meetings (face-to-face, at least once, is strongly preferred if it can be done safely) with ONE older adult (i.e., 65 years and older – not a family member or close friend) and create one paper that explores those three contacts, theory, and your experience with the older adult and how this all relates to the course material. This written assignment is intended to help you understand the importance of older adulthood and aging issues as relevant to social work practice, theory, and public policy.
Students may choose a particular focus for the conversations such as:
Cultural and ethnic diversity
LGBTQ issues
Psychosocial adjustment to aging
Health and/or mental health issues
Spirituality and religiosity
The following are suggested questions to assist with the conversation surrounding the general life story section:
• What are some of the most significant accomplishments in your life?
• What have been some of the most significant challenges in your past life development?
• Today, what are some of the most important issues you face as an older adult?
• How are you preparing for your anticipated future needs (physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and/or financial)?
• If you were to review your life as a whole, how would you describe the most important meanings you have discovered?
• What wisdom would you like to share with others?
• How would you like to be remembered?
Format:
To complete the project, there should be a minimum of Three (3) one-hour interactions with the same individual. In terms of choosing this older adult, the use of family members or close friends is strongly discouraged. Students must seek permission from the instructor if they have a compelling reason that they can find no one else for this project other than family members or close friends. If a paper seems to be about a family member or close friend without permission, the paper will receive a ZERO. Written expectations include:
1. Prior to the first encounter: In approximately 2 pages, please write a description of:
The nature of the interaction you will be having with the older adult(s) – who, what, where. Please do not use the older adult’s real name (use a pseudonym). or other information that makes them readily identifiable. However, it is fine to identify the relationship you have with this person. Please give the older adult a pseudonym.
The goals you have for your own learning about older adults that will promote your personal or professional growth;
Your expectations of the three most challenging aspects of this assignment;
Your expectation of the three most rewarding aspects of this experience;
The strengths you bring to this project;
Weaknesses/stereotypes/biases you will have to address to make this project successful for yourself.
2. After the first encounter: In 1-2 pages, please write a description of:
a. Your first encounter (who was there and the nature of the interaction);
b. Your feelings and thoughts before, during, and after the visit;
c. Changes in your plans, goals, concerns, etc. from what you wrote prior to the visit and what accounts for these changes.
Please note, it is a good idea to note your initial thoughts and feelings immediately after the visit. Then let this percolate for a few days and then write the final version. If you wait too long to write things down, it will dilute the experience.
3. After the second encounter: In 1-2 pages, please write a description of:
What, if any, changes have taken place in the perspective you described after the first meeting;
Initial connections you are making between your observations and thoughts and the material covered in class, particularly the reading materials on older adults.
4. After the third encounter: In 1-2 pages, please write a description of:
a. Further connections you are making between the material covered in class and the reading materials on older adults. Please feel free to continue meeting with your older adult project partner. These continued interactions can contribute to your final write-up (see #5).
5. After the final encounter (which may or may not be the 3rd): In approximately one page, please summarize what you have learned from this experience that will promote your personal and professional growth and thinking about older adults.

Last Completed Projects