Aging & Society: Eighth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

This study discusses the possibility of businesses being used by social workers as community care agencies; including supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants, banks, and other local businesses. The subjects of this study were six social workers from three agencies in two areas. Semi-structured interviews were conducted focusing on three broad themes. Interview data was analyzed by focusing on the availability of two kinds of resources; physical resources and human resources. The research revealed that some businesses, such as supermarkets and restaurants, contribute physical resources by providing their facilities for social workers and other professionals to offer talks on understanding senile dementia and other issues. Other business had developed specific commodities and services for the elderly. Meanwhile some businesses contributed human resources by encouraging their employees to pay special attention to elderly customers’ safety. Some banks have created a manual to help bank clerks cope with customers with senile dementia, based on their own experiences and consultation with social workers. Consequently, such resources have created opportunities for collaborations between social workers and businesses to support the community life of the elderly.