Action Research About Application Of Social Group Work In Community Participation Of Urban Elderly

Community participation is the impetus of community development and a main indicator, is also an influential factor in the success of community construction. With the improvement of living standards and medical care, population aging is accelerating, the government promotes active aging and encourages the elderly especially the urban elderly to participate community activities, and achieving achievements in community development and promoting the life quality of the elderly. Since2009, the government of Jinan accelerated the construction of talent team of social workers, to attract professional social workers to community construction, and make them to be the backbone of the elderly community participation. Many elders participate community activities and forme group teams and making the method of social group work to be a main guiding method. However, in the application of social group work, due to the inconsistency of demand between social workers and elders, the effect of group work is not satisfied. This study attempts to apply action research to find the reasonable way of social group work. Social workers can provide the better service for elders as a guide.With the method of action research, the author does the study from four aspects: firstly, conducting needs assessment of the elders in L community, to get the information of their participation, then to identify the content and form of the activity, and to construct the group team; secondly, developing the leader of the team, and drawing up plan with the elders then designing the group activity plan to carry out seven activities; thirdly, according to the practical activities, the author monitors the effect and observe the members’change, to improve the plan; then conducts the assessment; fourthly, evaluating the group activities to find the problems.Finally, the author makes the professional reflection based on the practical experience and the analysis of results, summaries the model of application of social group work under the action research paradigm. Social group work is the main method to guide the elderly to participate community activities, and action research can help the social worker know the needs of elders to improve the team effectiveness and service quality.