Ageing is the process of growing old, and it is a gradual biological impairment of normal functioning. These changes have a direct impact on the ability of organs, such as the heart, kidney and lungs, and biological systems such as the reproductive and digestive systems. These all affect the organism as a whole.
What we mean by “old” has also changed over recent years. Due to medical advances, improved hygiene and sanitation, people tend to live longer. Our life expectancy is the average number of years of life remaining at a given age – in other words, the average expected life span of an individual.
Our life expectancy is dependent on the country we live in, our health, and so on. For example, in countries with high infant mortality rates, the life expectancy will be different than in countries where the infant mortality rate is lower.
As people age, changes in their lives encompass everything from lifestyle to health, their capacity to do things, through to those activities they choose to pursue. This course helps you understand these changes, and the ways in which a counselor, career or anyone else might interact with and support an older person.
WHAT YOU WILL DO IN THIS COURSE
Discuss theories of ageing and develop an understanding of the different stages of human development.
- Describe psychological impact of changes that occur as a person reaches old age.
- Understand the effect of physical health problems on older people.
- Describe the nature and scope of support services – including counselling – for the elderly.
- Describe a range of solutions that can enable an elderly person adapt to changed circumstances in order to continue performing tasks or pursuing interests that are becoming increasingly difficult.
- Explain how a variety of counselling techniques can be applied to specific grief and loss situations for counselling elderly persons.
- Develop a strategy for counselling an elderly person who has been diagnosed with a debilitating or terminal illness.
- Develop a strategy for counselling an elderly person who has lost a loved one.
- Determine when and how to intervene in the life of an elderly person.
This course aims to develop your understanding of the ageing process, and your ability to help others cope more effectively with their grief. It is designed to be useful for counselling, by other care professions or anyone involved with elderly people in any other way, formally or informally.
Ageing is the process of growing old. It is a gradual biological impairment of usual functioning. Mobility can gradually decrease, the need for medical interventions may increase and old habits may need to be modified.
There is more to ageing than just the physical changes though. Many other things happen as a person ages, which can (and does) impact on their state of mind. These changes generally require adjustments in both outlook and lifestyle. They may include a reduction in disposable income; change in residence, loss of peers (friends, colleagues) and loved ones.
1. Understanding Ageing
Gerontology, what we mean by ageing. population ageing, the effects of the ageing population, theories of human development, Erikson’s Theory of Development, Levinson, theories of retirement, disengagement theory, activity theory, Atchley’s Model of Retirement.
2. Lifestyle Changes
Relationships, relationships with children, relationships with partners (husband/wife), relationships with grandchildren, friendships, sexuality and older people, cognitive changes, intelligence, depression, determining type of depression, unipolar and bipolar disorder, causes of depression, risk factors for depression, men and depression, depression in older people, symptoms.
3. Deterioration of Health
Physical changes – skin, hair, height, senses, reflexes, sex, eyes, chronic health problems, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, exercise, diet, nutrition, eating habits, pain relief, medication, stress.
4. Support Services
Preventative services, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, complimentary practitioners, counselling professionals, other support services (e.g. Meals On Wheels, funeral services).
5. Enablement Techniques
Common risks for elderly, risk of falling, vision, hearing, nutrition, sexuality, techniques to maintain quality of life, driving a car, banking, shopping, house cleaning, gardening, socialising, pets, exercise, sport.
5. Grief and Loss Counselling
What is grief, psychological aspects of long-term grief, family, work, financial pressures, loneliness, morality after bereavement, counsellors response and intervention, practical intervention, depression.
7. Debilitating and Terminal Illness
Dementia, kinds of dementia (Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia); strategies for counselling the demented client, communication, daily activities, sleeping difficulties, hallucinations and delusions, wandering, depression, terminal illness, patient’s response, anxiety, depression, guilt and anger, defence mechanisms, preparing for approaching death, practical preparations, emotional responses, responses of friends and family.
6. Losing a Loved One
Importance of loss, assessment, role of the deceased, death of a child, stigmatised death, co-morbidity, counselling strategies, bibliotherapy, use of rituals, bereavement support groups, special therapeutic situations, traumatic, sudden, and stigmatised loss, ongoing support, social stigmas of suicide.
9. Ethics and Intervention
Barriers to aged care counselling, addressing the client’s needs, common legal and ethical issues in aged care, decision-making capacity, competence, informed consent, confidentiality, euthanasia, etc.
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