Chapter 7 Aging and Services for the Older Adult Introduction to Human Services: Through the Eyes of Practice Settings, 3 rd Edition Michelle E. Martin.

Chapter 7

Aging and Services for the Older Adult

Introduction to Human Services: Through the Eyes of Practice Settings, 3rd Edition

Michelle E. Martin

© 2014 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2014, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Aging of America: Changing Demographics

• The aging of the baby boomers

• 50% increase in human life span the U.S. has experienced during the 20th century

• There are approximately 40 million people over the age of 65 living in the U.S.

• Global Financial Crisis

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Old and Old-Old: A Developmental Perspective

• Cultural expectations in the United States, such as: – Marriage, child rearing, employment, and

home ownership: • Certainly have an impact on those in early and

middle adulthood

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Old and Old-Old: A Developmental Perspective

• Just as retirement, increased physical problems, & widowhood have an impact on those in later life

• Developmental Theories– Erik Erikson– Daniel Levinson– Tornstam– Degges-White

Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development

Approximateage Stage Description of Task

Infancy Trust vs. mistrust If needs are dependably met, infants(1st year) develop a sense of basic trust.

Toddler Autonomy vs. shame Toddlers learn to exercise will and (2nd year) and doubt do things for themselves, or they

doubt their abilities.

Preschooler Initiative vs. guilt Preschoolers learn to initiate tasks(3-5 years) and carry out plans, or they feel

guilty about efforts to be independent.

Elementary Competence vs. Children learn the pleasure of applying(6 years- inferiority themselves to tasks, or they feel puberty) inferior.

Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development

Approximateage Stage Description of Task

Adolescence Identity vs. role Teenagers work at refining a sense of self by(teens into confusion testing roles and then integrating them to 20s) form a single identity, or they become

confused about who they are.

Young Adult Intimacy vs. Young adults struggle to form close relation- (20’s to early isolation ships and to gain the capacity for intimate 40s) love, or they feel socially isolated.

Middle Adult Generativity vs. The middle-aged discover a sense of contri-(40s to 60s) stagnation buting to the world, usually through family

and work, or they may feel a lack of purpose.

Late Adult Integrity vs. When reflecting on his or her life, the older(late 60s and despair adult may feel a sense of satisfaction orup) failure.

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Old and Old-Old: A Developmental Perspective

• Developmental Theories– Daniel Levinson

• Reflection• Intrinsic values vs. Extrensic

A Developmental Perspective

– Tornstam• Gerotranscendence – From material to spiritual

(existential)• External to internal• 3 Dimensions of Transcendence

– Cosmic – view of life and death– The Self – from self-centeredness to toward altruism– Relationships with others – roles and self ID

• Degges-White – Life Review – uses gero-transcendence

© 2014, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2014, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Successful Aging

• The process of getting the most out of one’s life in later years

• The aging process seems to discourage high activity levels in virtually all domains

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Current Issues Affecting Older Adults & Human Service Role

• Ageism– Myths to describe old age

• Housing– Retirement community– Government-subsidized older adult housing

• Homelessness and the Older Adult Population

© 2014, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Current Issues Affecting Older Adults & Human Service Role

• Adjustment to Retirement– The Honeymoon Phase– Disenchantment– Reorientation– Stability– Termination

© 2014, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Current Issues Affecting Older Adults & Human Service Role

• Grandparents Parenting

• Very High Depression Rates

• Dementia– Alzheimer’s affects about 5% of Americans

65-74 and 50% over 85

• Elder Abuse– Elder abuse tends to be grossly

underreported

© 2014, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2014, 2011, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Practice Settings Serving Older Adults

• Unfortunately working with older adults remains a rather unpopular career pursuit

• Adult day cares, geriatric assessment units, nursing home facilities– Veterans’ services, elder abuse programs,

adult protective services, hospices– Bereavement services, senior centers