Social Work with the Aged and Their Families - Functional-Age

Our review of Social Work with the Aged and Their Families finds it a practical, theory-driven resource for clinicians and students who work with older adults and multigenerational families; its single biggest reason to buy is the clear presentation of the functional-age model (FAM) that integrates biological, psychological, socio-cultural, and spiritual age into assessment and intervention. The fourth edition adds targeted guidance for mental health assessment in geriatric practice, making it a timely classroom and field manual for social workers adopting human behaviour theories in line with current curriculum standards.

Key Features

• Functional-Age Model: Presents a coherent FAM framework that helps practitioners evaluate older adults across biological, psychological, socio-cultural, and spiritual dimensions for more holistic assessments.
• Family System Evaluation: Explains how to incorporate family roles and family development into clinical formulation so interventions reflect intergenerational dynamics.
• Mental Health Assessment Additions: Offers new techniques specifically aimed at identifying and addressing mental health concerns common in geriatric populations.
• Practice-Oriented Guidance: Balances theory with actionable interventions at the individual and family level to move from assessment to treatment planning.
• Curriculum-Relevant: Aligns with the Council on Social Work Education mandate to use human behaviour theories, making it useful for instructors and students.

Who It's For

This book is best for social work practitioners, gerontology students, and instructors seeking an integrative, applied theoretical framework for work with older adults and their families. Clinicians who value assessments that go beyond chronological age to include psychological and spiritual factors will find the material especially useful.

Those looking for an exhaustive text on medical gerontology or a step-by-step manual for specialized medical procedures should look elsewhere; the emphasis here is on psychosocial assessment and family systems, not on detailed medical protocols.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Provides a clear, integrative functional-age model that helps clinicians frame assessments holistically.
• Includes new, practical techniques for mental health assessment tailored to older adults.
• Balances theory with family-focused interventions, useful for intergenerational treatment planning.

Cons

• Not a medical reference; readers needing detailed clinical medical guidance will need supplemental texts.

Specifications

Our Verdict

Social Work with the Aged and Their Families is a worthwhile purchase for social work students and practitioners who need a usable, theory-based approach to geriatric assessment and intergenerational treatment. Its integration of family system evaluation with mental health assessment makes it good value as both a classroom text and a field reference.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this edition include new material on mental health?
Yes. The fourth edition adds techniques and guidance specifically for assessing and addressing mental health in older adults.

Is the book suitable for clinical practice use?
Yes; it emphasizes practical interventions and assessment strategies for social workers in clinical and community settings.

Who is the author?
Roberta R. Greene authored the book and presents the Functional-Age Model used throughout the text.