Gerontology & Geriatric Research

Abstract

Book Review: Youdin, Robert (2014). Clinical Gerontological Social Work Practice

Matthew Hugh Erdelyi

It is generally known that a demographic tidal wave is sweeping through the United States and other advanced economic nations, with drastic economic, political, and social implications. By 2020, according to data cited by Youdin, there will be 53 million persons over the age of 65 and 7 million over the age of 85 in the United States. The mental health professional cannot, even if specializing in other areas, ignore the issue of aging people which, as Youdin shows, are exceptionally variegated. It is, actually, inevitable that the problems of aging will significantly touch the practice of the mental health professional since clients themselves may be graying or have already advanced to older age and, on top of their earlier presenting problems, encounter the often crushing psychological, social, and medical challenges of older age. Even if the client were to be a younger middle-aged adult, it is a cinch that the problems of elderly parents or relatives impinge on the client’s life, often with overwhelming exigencies. Therefore, it is a virtual necessity for the modern mental health professional to have a broad grasp of gerontological issues.