BEYOND LIFE EXPECTANCY - SOCIAL-WORK WITH CENTENARIANS

Although the older population as a whole is increasing faster than any other age group, the most dramatic growth is in the oldest old. Cente narians, those individuals who have survived 100 or more years, have i ncreased ten times in size over the past forty years. This population trajectory is expected to accelerate even more into the next century. Unfortunately, social work with the older population rarely includes p ractice issues related to work with these older adults who have surviv ed well past the average life expectancy. This article provides a desc ription of the current cohort of centenarians from a biopsychosocial f ramework and presents an agend a for social work practice, policy and research.