Psychological Aging

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CHAPTER 5

• Psychological Aging

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PERSONALITY

• Studies and work on personality indicates there
  is little change in personality in some
  individuals.
• more than any query, studies of personality in
  adulthood and aging have been dominated by the
  straightforward question, Does personality change
  as people grow older, or is it stable?

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Developmental Tasks

• Developmental tasks define the things an
  individual needs to accomplish, adjustments to be
  made, and problems to solve.

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Havighurst DuvallDevelopmental Tasks of Aging

• Adjusting to decreasing health and physical
  strength
• Adjusting to retirement and reduced income
• Finding meaning in life
• Maintaining satisfactory living arrangements
• Finding satisfaction w/in the family
• Adjusting to the reality of death
• Accepting oneself as an aging person

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Eriksons Developmental Tasks of Aging

• Ego Integrity Versus Despair
• person accepts person develops
• that life has dread of dying
• been what it
• had to be disgust and bitter
• about their lives

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• Developmental tasks of late life in hierarchic
  order
• Go to overhead!

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Mental Health Issues That Face the Elderly

• Depression
• Suicide
• Substance Abuse
• Delirium
• Dementia
• Alzheimers Disease

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The Ulyssean Approach

• The following are tips that leisure professionals
  could use when working with the elderly and with
  people with Alzheimers Disease

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TIPS

• Speak to the person as an adult
• Address the person by proper title
• Never argue or disagree if incorrect instead
  find positive ways to validate feelings and
  orient to reality
• Emphasize recognition, not recall
• For conversation topics, focus on opinions
  rather than facts

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• Be aware of every aspect of presentationtone,
  posture, facial expression, etc.
• Alert the person by touching or saying his or her
  name and make eye contact
• In social situations, always introduce other
  persons by providing name and orienting
  information so that the individual will not feel
  embarrassed for not recognizing others
• Speak slowly and clearly

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Selecting and Conducting Activities

• Use familiar activities
• Choose simple and repetitive, not overly
  challenging, but age-appropriate activities
• Emphasize sensory experiences
• Emphasize persistent social skills
• Use activities to foster social interaction such
  as small parties

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• Maintain exercise program and encourage
  ambulation
• Stimulate cognitively, do not assume potential
  participants are not able to perform activities
• Allow for expression of emotions

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• Take advantage of intact remote memory and
  encourage reminiscing
• Explain the purpose of the activities
• Choose activities that are meaningful and have
  practical purposes
• Use activities that relate to seasonal life
  themes and experiences from the work environment.
• Cue or prompt procedural memory by concrete,
  non-verbal instruction
• Break down complex tasks and give instruction in
  steps
• Offer only 2 choices if they are required
• Use consistent routines in the presentation of
  activities

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• When working in groups, do not expect to have
  everyone work on the same step independently
• Use a parallel format, in which each individual
  completes each step of the activity in turn
• Plan the week or month around a familiar theme
  and schedule all activities related to major
  themes
• Use ample, familiar, concrete physical cues
• Use demonstration

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• Repeat successful activities
• Use small groups of 3-5
• Determine the best time to do activities
• Read short stories

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Environment

• Keep it safe by removing obstacles
• Remove sources of potential illusions, such as
  glare
• Allow space for walking
• Avoid dangerous areas
• Keep things simple, avoid distractions
• Make the environment as home-like as possible
• Compensate for physical deficits

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• Follow routines as much as possible
• Simplify tasks
• Be gentle
• Dont rush participants
• Be creative and flexible
• Make the environment safe
• Include daily exercise
• Use simple instructions
• Be alert
• Provide ample time for responses
• Keep activities at an adult level

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Final Tips for Activity Planning

• Prepare in advance and make sure you have
  everything you need to complete the activity and
  ensure success.
• Plan enjoyable activities, upbeat!
• Encourage participation by family and friends
• Have fun!