Results of GeroRich Project Gerontology Survey

MSW students

Spring 2002

Number of questionnaires distributed: 226

Number of questionnaires returned: 35 - 6 turned in blank = 29

Response rate: 12.8 percent

Number of questionnaires with missing pages = 8

Total number of complete questionnaires returned = 21

Question 1 "Which of the following topics in aging were discussed in your MSW foundation year courses?"

Question 2 "To what extent do you believe basic skills in working with older adults are important in social work practice?"

Number of students completing question 2 = 22

Number of students who believe basic skills in working with older adults are important or very important in social work practice = 22 ---- 100%

Number of students who believe basic skills in working with older adults are somewhat important, somewhat not important, or not at all important in social work practice = 0 ---- 0%

Question 3 "To what extent do you believe basic skills in working with older adults are important for your social work career?

Question 4 "Are you interested in coursework in gerontological social work during your second and/ or third years of the MSW program?"

Number of students completing question 4 = 28

Number of students responding yes = 20 ---- 71.4%

Number of students responding no = 8 ---- 28.6%

Other age-related topics discussed in foundation courses:

"We had one speaker in class who addressed issues in working with older adults...that was it."

"In HBSE I, we were asked to select a life stage and issue and apply theories to it. A group of students presented on sexuality/ sexual activity and needs/ issues regarding elderly women."

Additional comments:

Please add classes in gerontological social work! Important in our lives and professions.

Would like courses on intergenerational [topics], death and dying

Absolutely [no attention to aging] topics -- outrageous! I would especially have liked to learn more about grief and bereavement, death and dying.

Gerontology is actually what I would like to specialize in! I was actually surprised the MSW program did not offer more gerontological social work courses already. It is a critical area -- and in crisis!