Although the status and role of gerontological social work varies locally (Pajunen et al, 2009) and by country (see Chapter 5), it has commonly been regarded as a low-status area of practice with poor professional potential (Lymbery, 2005). Arguably, the low status afforded to gerontological social work and the older population it serves has contributed to its limited success in developing its identity and visibility as a distinct speciality. A tendency for social work to focus on meeting ‘care’ and ‘health’ needs in old age means that it has often occupied a more marginal space in its ability to fully respond to the diversity of ageing experience. The variable presence, visibility and purpose of gerontological social work has arguably been reinforced by managerialist approaches in public service and welfare policy. Increased pressure to reduce public sector funding is common in most developed countries (Pentaraki, 2018). The impact of austerity measures over the past decade has increased the strain on public service professionals, including social work. For example, in Greece and Spain, but echoed to varying degrees throughout Europe, the impact of cuts to health and other public sector organisations has exacerbated challenges for social workers coping with the implications of long waiting lists for services, rapid and inappropriate discharge from hospital, social work shortages and increased pressures on older people to cope alone with deteriorating and difficult circumstances or to rely on families, assuming the older person has one (Ioakimidis et al, 2014; Verde-Diego et al, 2018; Deusdad, 2020).

A unifying goal of this edited collection is to advance the development of gerontological social work by contributing theoretical, conceptual and practical understanding of age and ageing. Each chapter has presented examples of the ways in which a critical gerontology lens can enhance and further the goals of an ethical social work practice with older people. To this end, this book creates an important space for practitioners, scholars and educators to consider and reflect on the challenges, possibilities and spaces gerontological social work might have or be able to create, to develop gerontological social work.