Social Network Interventions with the Elderly

This paper presents a teaching and in-service training model for practitioners who provide services to the aging. The emphasis is on helping trainees to understand and to utilize the concepts of social networks and social support in their work with the elderly. The model was developed and tested through a statewide training program conducted by the authors under contract with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Aging. The benefits and limitations of utilizing this model are reviewed and evaluated. The important of transferring findings to practice through in-service training strategies are also discussed.