Strengthening Rural Social Work Practice with Older Persons: The Relevance of Intermediate Resources in a Newfoundland Community

In Newfoundland and Labrador, the combined trends of population aging and out-migration call for social workers to develop an understanding of the gaps and opportunities in the availability and accessibility of supports to older persons in rural communities. This case study explores the capacity of one rural NL community to enable its older residents to remain in their homes and communities despite health or mobility restrictions.

In particular, the study focuses on intermediate resources. Intermediate resources are locally organized supports for seniors who require moderate levels of assistance with activities of daily living. They include activities such as the provision of meals, home maintenance, transportation and opportunities for recreation and socialization.

Intermediate resources are of importance to social work practitioners for two reasons. First they are developed from existing local assets. Second the organization of intermediate resources requires a configuration of associations within the community which themselves may contribute to community capacity building. Data will be collected in individual interviews and focus groups with older persons, community leaders, and service providers.