The field of social care has been undergoing significant changes in recent decades, encouraging the establishment of community care for people, user involvement in support services, and efforts towards the pluralization of services. With such changes, social work plays a crucial role, as this profession is responsive to individual needs and the individual planning of necessary care. In Slovenia, institutional forms of services for the older people prevail. In this master's thesis, I aim to explore the position that the field of social work holds in different homes for older people. Due to the requirements of users entering institutional care and the changes brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of medical staff had to increase, leading to social work being overlooked, social work principles becoming insignificant, and legislation conflicting with the code of ethics for social workers. The social worker in a home for older people, with their competencies and working methods, contributes to better teamwork and the comprehensive care of the elderly. It is important for other collaborating professions to be aware of the significance and tasks that social workers within homes for older people can contribute. There are still many opportunities for innovation in the field of long-term care, where social workers also play a crucial role. The need for care and safety for the older people is continuously growing. The elderly person is a partner in the assistance process, so we must prioritize their right to choose different forms of assistance, emphasizing their active role in seeking solutions and co-creating answers with the help of a social worker.
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