SOCIAL CAPITAL, SUPPORT NETWORKS AND BLACK ELDERLY PERSONS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15270/43-2-283Abstract
The Department of Social Services and Poverty Alleviation in the Western Cape sees itself asthe lead Department for social capital formation. (Department of Social Services and Poverty
Alleviation, 2005:5). The said Department accepts the following definition of social capital:
“Social capital refers to the strengthening and establishment or networks, relationships, norms
and values that contribute to the building of social cohesion, racial integration and the
strengthening of a social safety net during times of crisis (economic, natural and other). It is
not an end in itself, but a means to an end” (Department of Social Services and Poverty
Alleviation, 2005:23). Putnam (2000:19) makes the following statement: “social capital refers
to connections among individuals – social networks and the norms of reciprocity and
trustworthiness that arises from them. In that sense social capital is closely related to what
some have called ‘civic virtue’. The difference is that ‘social capital’ calls attention to the fact
that civic virtue is most powerful when embedded in a dense network of reciprocal social
relations. A society of many virtuous but isolated individuals is not necessarily rich in social
capital.” Social capital is thus of pivotal importance in the provincial and national agenda of
fostering social cohesion and social inclusiveness
Downloads
References
BEAVER, M.L. & MILLER, D.A. 1992. Clinical social work practice with the elderly (2nd
ed). Belmont, Ca: Wadsworth Publishing Co.
BIEGEL, D.E., MAGAZINER, J. & BAUM, M. 1991. Social support networks of white and
black elderly people at risk for institutionalization. Health and Social Work, 16(4):245-257.
BISCOMBE, H. (red) 2006). In ons bloed. Stellenbosch: Sun Press.
CAPE WINELANDS DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY 2006. Chapter 4, Stellenbosch local
municipality.
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION. 2005. Social
Capital Formation Document. Cabinet Lekgotla, 9-10 February 2005.
DE VOS, A.S., STRYDOM, H., FOUCHÉ, C.B. & DELPORT, C.S.L. 2002. Research at
grass roots: for the social sciences and human service professions (2nd ed). Pretoria: Van
Schaik Publishers.
FERRARO, K. (ed) 1990. Gerontology. Perspectives and Issues. New York: Springer
Publishing Co.
FIELD, J. 2003. Social capital. London: Routledge.
GERMAIN, C.B. & GITTERMAN, A. 1980. The life model of social work practice. New
York, NY: Columbia University Press.
HOLAHAN, C.J., MOOS, R.H., HOLAHAN, C.K. & BRENNAN, P.L. 1996. Social support,
coping strategies, and psychosocial adjustment to cardiac illness: Implications for assessment
and Prevention. Journal of Prevention and Intervention in the Community, 13(1/2):33-52.
HOOYMAN, N.R. & KIYAK, H.A. 1991. Social gerontology: a multidisciplinary
perspective. (2nd ed). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
HOWES, F. & GREEN, S. 1996. Buite-egtelike moederskap in die Paarl-Wellingtongebied:
die moeder se versorgingspotensiaal en steunstelsel. Raad vir Geesteswetenskaplike
Navorsing, Pretoria.
KART, C.S. 1985. The realities of aging. An introduction to gerontology (2nd ed). Boston:
Allyn & Bacon, Inc.
LIN, N. 2001. Social capital: a theory of social structure and action. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press.
MOKONE, J.M. 1999. The role played by the family as a support system for the elderly and
the challenges of caregiving. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 35(2):133-137.
MOKONE, J.M. 2006. Challenges experienced by grandparents raising grandchildren: an
exploratory study. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 42(2):187-200.
MOODY, H.R. 1998. Aging. Concepts and controversies (2nd ed). Thousand Oaks, Ca.: Pine
Forge Press.
MUTRAN, E. & REITZES, D.C. 1990. Intergenerational exchange relationships in the aging
family. In: FERRARO, K. (ed) Gerontology. Perspectives and issues. New York: Springer
Publishing Co.
NGHATSANE, D.D.M. 1992. The dynamics of informal support and social service
delivery systems in Langa, Guguletu and Khayelitsha. Stellenbosch: University of
Stellenbosch. (DPhil)
NORTON, D.G. 1978. The dual perspective: inclusion of ethnic minority content in the
social work curriculum. New York: Council of Social Work Education.
PUTNAM, R.D. 2000. Bowling alone. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.
SHEAFOR, R.W., HOREJSI, C.R. & HOREJSI, G.A. 1994. Techniques and guidelines for
social work practice. London: Allyn & Bacon.
STELLENBOSCH MUNICIPALITY INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT PLAN. 2006.
Fourth Annual Review, May.
STRYDOM, H. 2001. Social development and services for disadvantaged older persons in
Potchefstroom. Die Maatskaplikewerk-Navorser-Praktisyn/The Social Work Practitioner-
Researcher, 13(2)98-117.
TRACY, E.M. & WHITTAKER, J.K. 1990. The social network map: assessing social support
in clinical practice. Families in Society, 71(8):461-470.
WARREN, D. 1981. Helping networks. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press.
WILCOX, J. & MERLIN, A.T. 1991. Informal helpers of elderly home care clients. Health
and Social Work, 16(4):258-265.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This journal is an open access journal, and the authors and journal should be properly acknowledged when works are cited.
Authors may use the publishers version for teaching purposes, in books, and with conferences.
The following license applies:
Attribution CC BY-4.0
This license lets others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation.
Articles as a whole may not be re-published with another journal.
