What is it like to grow older while living in a society that privileges youth? Age is the one minority status all people will eventually face if they live long enough. Because of the array of populations they serve, social workers must understand experiences at different life stages. you will interview an older adult about their current experiences of aging.

Just as it is important not to make assumptions based on age, social workers also need to avoid making assumptions about how individuals identify with other identity characteristics. In this Assignment, and throughout the course, you may notice the singular “they” being used as a gender-neutral pronoun. Because LGBT aging is a focus of policy and practice (National Resource Center on LGBT Aging, 2016), a culturally competent social worker will not assume a client’s gender identity and will acknowledge the possibility of non-binary (she/he) genders. Consider this idea of cultural competence as you approach your interview.