SOCIAL-WORK ACCOMPANYING CARE PROCESSES IN PRIVATE HOUSEHOLDS

From a gerontological point of view, social work which accompanies car e processes is absolutely necessary. The social production of care dep ends crucially on an appropriate attention toward the fitting between informal and formal help systems. Social work can support these fittin g processes bath on a firm level and on a neutral level. Some specific attributes of social work with elder care-dependant living in their p rivate homes are discussed, such as threatening, difficult or ashaming aspects, as well as the necessity of all involved persons agreeing in the developed help-planning process. Practice research and Social sci ence perspectives are discussed as appropriate reference system for li fe-world orientated social work with informal caregiving arrangements. Concerning the support of informal caregivers as an important example of ambulant social work with elder people, some dimensions of theoret ical and practical professionality are proposed.