NASW Specialty Practice Sections held a webinar providing an overview of recent research studies of compulsive hoarding in older adults, discussing ethical and legal issues, and new developments in knowledge and skills for practice with older adults who hoard. Specialty Practice Section members can view the webinar in its entirety.

Presenter(s):

• Barbara A. Soniat, Ph.D, MSW

Moderator(s):

• Chris Herman, MSW, LICSW

Excerpts from the webinar

“Where do you draw the line, when is it more than clutter?  Hoarding is an obsession or excessive acquiring.  When you have an obsessive acquiring or excessive acquiring coupled with difficulty discarding materials, that results in inability to use the space for its intended purpose…”

“We have recently seen a lot of attention from the media, and as well as in clinical and research literature about hoarding.  The severity of hoarding behaviors range from mild to severe, at its most severe level, we’ve seen hoarding result in serious injury and in some instances death of people…”

Questions Raised:

1. What causes hoarding?
2. Is there a connection between hoarding and anxiety disorders or OCD?
3. Why does hoarding seem more prevalent in older adults?
4. What treatments have proven successful with persons that hoard?

Did You Know?
Hoarding only affects 1% of the population.

Written by Ayisha Jones, NASW intern.   She is a studying to receive her MSW this year.

Do you have access to fresh fruit and veggies? Are you within walking distance of a grocery store or does your local transit provide easy access to organic food and super markets? If you answered yes to these questions, chances are you are not living in poverty. Recently I have been overcome by the reality of nutritional neglect within low-income, urban communities. The effects of poor nutrition on pre-natal early childhood development as well as academic achievement are documented. Poor nutrition is also directly associated with cognitive delays, poor school performance, behavioral challenges with children. However, the connection between inadequate nutrition and lack of access to healthy food choices is often overlooked. Many urban communities are flooded with liquor stores, convenience stores, and fast food restaurants, and many residents who receive food stamps are often unaware that food stamps can be used at organic food markets and farmers markets.

I recently signed on to support and participate in a community organization project in West Baltimore. I was surprised to find that one of the local concerns was transportation and access to proper nutrition in the poor communities. I drove about 5 miles down a major street in the middle of the community and saw one grocery store that was filled with processed food ads in the window. However, in that same proximity I saw several gas stations, liquor stores, fast food chains, and fried chicken and Chinese food restaurants.

According to Bon Secours hospital in Baltimore, MD the extended stays required for many patients stemmed from malnutrition. The consumption of processed food often leads to hypertension, malnutrition, high cholesterol, diabetes, and adult and childhood obesity. Preventative health care relies heavily on proper nutrition and cannot be successful without it. Medication and weekly doctors’ visits will not help a chronic condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol unless accompanied by proper nutrition and exercise. Nutrition is such a major part of life preservation that some of the issues affecting children and families living in poverty can no longer be ignored. What action can we take as social workers to remedy this problem?

NASW Plays Key Role in Developing Recommendations

Social workers and other providers caring for individuals with dementia in their homes will find a valuable resource in Dementia Care Practice Recommendations for Professionals Working in a Home Setting, released by the Alzheimer’s Association this November in honor of National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month.

The document is the fourth in a series of recommendations for health care providers serving people with dementia and part of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Campaign for Quality Care. (The first three sets of recommendations address assisted living and nursing home providers.) As one of more than 20 leading health and aging organizations that participated in an extensive consensus-building process, NASW played a key role in developing all four sets of evidence-based recommendations. Individuals in the early stages of Alzheimer’s also helped develop the recommendations.

Noting that approximately 70% of people with dementia or cognitive impairment live at home, the publication emphasizes a person-centered, culturally competent approach to meeting the changing needs of persons with dementia. Topics addressed include home safety, communication and decision-making, physical and behavioral symptoms, family caregiver support, end-of-life care, and provider self-care.

Click here to view Dementia Care Practice Recommendations for Professionals Working in a Home Setting and Dementia Care Practice Recommendations for Assisted Living Residences and Nursing Homes.

RELATED RESOURCES

• Find consumer-friendly information and resources on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
• Listen to, or read the transcript of, the Specialty Practice Sections teleconference, Helping Families Face the Early Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease.
• Read the Specialty Practice Sections article, Hope and Help in the Early Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Thursday, October 29, 2009 - Specialty Practice Sections Teleconference

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM ET
Credit Hours: 1 CEU(s)

Presenter:

• Paul D’Agostino,ACSW, LCSW

Moderator:

• Bekki Ow-Arhu,MSW, LICS

There is relatively little in the literature discussing any links between child abuse and bullying behavior in children. Yet both are examples of aggressive/violent responses and many believe that these are learned behaviors. This teleconference will explore the possible link between childhood abuse and bullying.

Click here to REGISTER for this teleconference.

NASW Members, click here for information on joining a Specialty Practice Section.

NASW is promoting the Joint Commission’s Annual Behavioral Health Care Conference in November 2009 as an important program for social workers and other professionals committed to the treatment of behavioral health. These seminars address all aspects and dimensions of behavioral health care including community mental health, substance abuse, opioid treatment programs, inpatient crisis stabilization, and children and youth services and programs. NASW CE credits approved.

Annual Behavioral Health Care Conference: Hope in Uncertain Times

November 17-18, 2009, Westin River North Hotel, Chicago, IL [#09071]

Uncertain times provide us with great opportunities to forge lasting improvements in behavioral health care. This conference will shed new light on best practices and help you serve as a catalyst for improving the health and welfare of your clients. The agenda features a roster of respected clinical faculty from the government, the private sector, and national organizations. Count on:

► Current and relevant evidence-based information to take back to your behavioral health care setting and immediately apply.

► A CD-ROM toolkit comprised of proven strategies and useful tools designed to offer solutions and help implement change.

► Collegial resources for continual networking and problem solving.

For more information, or to register for this conference, go to:

http://www.jcrinc.com/Conferences-and-Seminars/Annual-Behavioral-Health-Care-Conference/1523/

or phone Customer Service at 877-223-6866.

Preconference Workshop: Behavioral Health Care Seminar: The Joint Commission 2010 Behavioral Health Care Standards and Survey Process Update

An in-depth workshop straight from the surveyors about accreditation topics you cannot afford to miss, including: challenging standards from 2009, survey process and accreditation changes for 2010, and what to expect in 2010 related to National Patient Safety Goals.

November 16, 2009, Chicago, IL [#09070] (This is a pre-conference to the Behavioral Health Care Conference)

For more information, or to register for this preconference seminar, go to:

http://www.jcrinc.com/Conferences-and-Seminars/Behavioral-Health-Care-Update/1522/

or phone Customer Service at 877-223-6866.