Graduation Semester and Year

Spring 2025

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

Social Work

First Advisor

Kathy Lee Siepker, Ph.D., LCSW, CDP

Second Advisor

Noelle Fields, Ph.D., LCSW

Third Advisor

Tracy Orwig, LCSW-S, FNAP

Abstract

Objective: This qualitative study investigates social workers’ perception of their preparedness and confidence in their ability to address the needs of the population of visually impaired residents of nursing home and assisted living facilities. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven participants with experience in long term care, to explore how social workers viewed their work with visual impaired residents. Data were analyzed using the RaDaR method. Results: The following themes emerged from the data analysis: Challenges for Residents and Staff, the Importance of Experience, and Resources. Discussion: Participants indicated that they were currently confident in serving their visually impaired residents and expressed a need for additional vision-specific resources. Findings suggest the need for further investigation of social workers’ methods of working with visually impaired long-term care residents as well as investigation of social workers’ pre-professional and continuing education needs in the area of visual impairment.

Keywords

Visual Impairment, Social work

Disciplines

Social Work

License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Included in

Social Work Commons

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