Social Theories of Aging

• Disengagement Theory – as older adults slow down, they gradually withdraw from the society. Disengagement is a mutual activity in which the elderly not only disengaged in the society, but the society disengages from the older adult. The elderly develops greater self-preoccupation and decrease emotional ties with people and reduced interest in social activities. Such social withdrawal and increased self-absorption were thought to increase life satisfaction among them.
• Activity Theory– as opposed to the disengagement theory, this theory argues that the more active and involved the elderly are, the more likely that they are satisfied with their lives. It is therefore important to find substitute activities for them after their retirement.
• Social Breakdown -Reconstruction Theory - This theory states that aging is promoted through negative psychological functioning brought about by the negative views of the society about elderly and inadequate provision of services for them. Social reconstruction can occur by changing the society’s view of the elderly and by providing adequate social services for them.

Considerations for Ageing Adults

Ageism - Negative attitudes toward the process of aging or toward older individuals.

Elder Abuse - Maltreatment of older adults, including neglect and emotional, financial, physical, and sexual abuse.

• Perpetrator is most often a family member. Family situations: previous trauma, pattern of violence, stress from living situations, financial burdens, low social support.
• Physical abuse. Lack of necessary equipment, bruises or welts, dehydration or malnourishment, inappropriate administration or lack of medication, frequent ER visits.
• Financial exploitation. Missing personal items, will or checks changed/signed when person is incapable, refusal of care by power or attorney.
• Self-Neglect. Not likely to report due to shame, intimidation, or fear of institutionalization.

Other Considerations

• Dementia/Alzheimer’s
• Depression & Anxiety
• Poverty
• Discrimination
• Loneliness
• Physical Health
• Loss of purpose
• In transition or life crisis
• Service should be easily accessible (physical location and virtual environment)
• Possibility for retirement
• Limit barriers to services
• Adequate lighting
• Free from extraneous noise
• Cognitive decline is normal, but majority of older adults do not demonstrate significant cognitive decline
• Difficulty multitasking

Therapies/ Counseling Methods that Help

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – Treatment involving the combination of behaviorism and cognitive therapy (based on the theory that our cognitions or thoughts control a large portion of our behaviors). Useful tools are breathing techniques and relaxation techniques.
• Reminiscence Therapy (Life Review) – A technique in which self-esteem and personal satisfaction are restored, particularly in older persons, by encouraging patients to review past experiences of a pleasant nature. Music, pictures, objects, smells, sounds, and memories can all be used to facilitate reminiscence.
• Caregiver Family Therapy - The strategy is to address systematically the core processes that caregiving family systems must address, regardless of the stage of care or the care recipient's diagnosis. Of the six core processes, those that are challenging the family become the focus of intervention: naming the problem, structuring care, role structuring, role reverberations, caregiver self-care and widening the lens. The six areas are presented as a heuristic for the therapist to follow but does not imply a rigid prescription of intervention work in all six areas or that work in one area must be completed before moving to another area. (apa.org)
• Narrative Therapy - Treatment for individuals, couples, or families that helps them reinterpret and rewrite their life events into true but more life-enhancing narratives or stories. Narrative therapy posits that individuals are primarily meaning-making beings who are the linguistic authors of their lives and who can reauthor their life stories by learning to deconstruct them, by seeing patterns in their ways of interpreting life events or problems, and by reconstruing problems or events in a more helpful light. (apa.org)