Resolving Ethical Conflicts in Providing Case Management Services to the Elderly

Case management is an effective social work practice model widely used with elderly clients. However, its structure and orientation to service delivery can lead to ethical conflicts for the practitioner. This article discusses four types inherent in the case management model: autonomy vs. paternalism, fiduciary relationship to the agency vs. fiduciary relationship to the client, protection of client confidentiality vs. sharing client information, and distributive justice vs. injustice. Practice techniques are oiTered as a as a means to reduce ethical conflicts experienced by the practitioner.