A Casework Study On Improving Depression Of The Elderly People Living Alone In The City Using The Method Of Reminiscence Therapy

With the social economic development and continuous restructuring of social structure,population structure has undergone great changes,the proportion of the elderly population is getting more much,elderly people living alone as a trend expanding vulnerable groups,they receive not too much attention by the community due to the their dispersion and concealment presence. Compared with the elderly who cared by children,their weak position not only in the physical,but also in the psychological,they are at high risk of depression.In this study,the author takes the elderly people living alone in Hui Ji Street as the object of study. The author tries to explore the feasibility of depression intervention by combination of the social casework and reminiscence therapy from the perspective of professional social work. t.The author assesses degree of depression of the object in this study by scale,observation and interview,and analyses the causes of depression. On the basis of that,the author determines to support reminiscence therapy to the elderly living alone based on the theory of Atchley Continuous theory. The author provides continuous seven-weeks reminiscence therapy for the object in this study and does a self-assessment by the social worker,an assessment by the others and an assessment by the service object to test service effect. Finally,the author does a reflection of reminiscence therapy used in improving depression of the elderly living alone and propose some suggestions to make other service more practical,,then look into the future of the use of reminiscence therapy in the form of social casework depression in the elderly social work.By reviewing the entire process of service practice,the author thinks the combination of reminiscence therapy and social case work has limitations,but it provides a warm and self-expression environment for the elderly people living alone, who can express strong emotions and suppress negative emotions in heart.As a foem of service,reminiscence therapy to alleviate depression in elderly people living alone have an active role in promotion and improvement. Social workers, community-based organizations and relevant government departments should pay much attention to develop it.