Family centered social work intervention as a method to improve the life quality of the elderly

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of family-centered social work intervention on the quality of life of the elderly. The research is a qualitative study based on a phenomenological basis in order to examine family- centered social work intervention with elderly couples in depth. For this purpose, a family- centered social work intervention, which includes the planned social work intervention process, was designed to increase the quality of life of the elderly. Process analysis and thematic analysis of family- centered social work intervention were carried out using the MAXQDA 2020 Program. According to the results of the family- centered social work intervention, in the first two steps of the planned intervention, which are the meeting/connection and pre-assessment stages, the elderly couples made definitions about the problems they experienced and how these problems affect themselves and their families, and then developed/raised awareness about the effects of these issues on their life. Ineffective communication patterns; blurred borders and roles; gender roles; substance use disorders; An awareness of the negative effects of difficulties in making joint decisions and inability to express their emotions in a meaningful way on the quality of life individually and as a couple has been developed. In the planning phase, interventions for problem areas were planned by using social work and family therapy information in an eclectic way on the basis of empowerment approach, ecological approach and general system theory. The ineffective communication and coping skills of the elderly individuals and couples were replaced with effective ones to ensure the functionality of the individual and the couple. The awareness gained regarding the blurred boundaries and roles was reconsidered by the participants. During the implementation process, awareness was gained that gender roles affect the quality of life by damaging the couple's relationship, and family members made a joint decision to change ineffective roles. In the final evaluation and termination stages, the process was completed by evaluating the ways of coping with the problems affecting their quality of life and the gains they achieved together with the participants. In the monitoring phase, the positive effect of the gains obtained in the process on the success of the continuation and quality of life was evaluated together with the families. In order to strengthen the individual and family, which is one of the main focuses of the social work discipline, to increase their functionality and well-being, and to ensure social change, the importance of applying their professional knowledge and skills to the needs of the clients within the framework of their values, role and status change in society and family, social losses, age Increasing health problems due to health problems increase even more for elderly individuals who experience significant changes such as retirement and the sharing of living spaces of spouses. It is extremely important in terms of reducing the negative effects of the problems experienced by the elderly on their quality of life, gaining the skills to cope with the problems to be encountered, and supporting their quality of life by increasing the functionality of the family by bringing solutions to these problems specified by the family- centered social work intervention, which includes planned intervention steps created to increase the life quality of the elderly. .