The role of Social Work in Overcoming Psychosocial Problems in Retirement

The presentation is based on a research study conducted in fulfillment of the

requirements for a Bachelor's degree in Social Work. The academic supervisor is

Nino Shatberashvili, Associate Professor at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State

University.

Retirement is regarded as one of the most significant and transformative stages in

a person’s life. Attempts to conceptualize retirement are quite diverse. There is still

no international agreement on the exact meaning of this term, which is due to the

multidimensional nature of the term itself. Most often, retirement is associated

with the end of one’s career and leaving the workplace. It is noteworthy that, due

to demographic changes, perceptions of retirement as a process have varied

considerably across societies. However, studies indicate that retirement continues

to be linked to major changes and challenges today, particularly in developing

countries, including Georgia. Among these challenges are the loss of role identity,

reduced social interactions, increased loneliness, depression, economic issues,

heightened anxiety surrounding death, difficulties in finding alternative ways to

structure life, and losses related to loved ones and both physical and emotional

resources. In the process of overcoming these challenges, supporting professions

play a crucial role, with social work being one of the leading fields. However, it is

essential to acknowledge that the role of social work in the retirement process

remains unclear, and academic interest in this topic has yet to emerge in the local

context.

Research conducted in Georgia generally acknowledges the challenges associated

with the elderly, though social work methods and competencies specifically related to working with the elderly, especially at the stage of retirement, are not

clearly defined. In line with the profession’s development, it becomes crucial to

specialize and identify the core professional knowledge and methods that are

particularly relevant to specific target groups, including the elderly.

Consequently, the present research aims to define the role of social work as a

supportive profession during the retirement phase. The study will highlight the

core methods and competencies of social work that are essential for successfully

overcoming the psychosocial aspects associated with retirement. Therefore, the

research will have both theoretical and practical value for the development of

professional practice. This research aims to introduce new perspectives in the

development of professional practice. The research is based on a desk study, and

the PRISMA technique—The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews

and Meta-Analyses—was employed for data analysis, for the accurate

presentation of results. The study found that social work, as a supporting

profession, has a variety of effective methods for addressing the psychosocial

issues associated with retirement. social work methods are characterized by

diversity and include not only individual work, but also methods of working with

groups and families, which may not traditionally be associated with the elderly.

Analysis of the data allows us to say that the approaches in social work are based

on a very diverse theoretical foundation, which emerged from various sciences and

religious ideas. Among them, the leading fields are: psychology, humanities, and

religious ideas (e.g. Buddhism, Taoism). The literature review emphasizes that

social work methods and professional social work knowledge and competencies

are sufficient in responding to all kinds of needs that arise at this stage.