Download Theories of Aging

Theories of Aging
Vaunette Payton Fay, Ph.D.
“Everyman desires to live long, but
no man would be old.”
Johnathan Swift, 1667-1745
Theories of Aging
Biological Theories
• address the anatomic and physiologic
changes occurring with age.
Psycho-Social Theories
• explain the thought processes and behaviors
of aging persons.
Biological Theories of Aging
Genetic Theories
Nongenetic Theories
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• Immunologic /
Autoimmune
• Free Radical
• Wear & Tear
• Cross link or Collagen
Gene
Error
Somatic mutation
Programmed
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Psycho-Social Theories of
Aging
• Disengagement
Theory
• Activity Theory
• Continuity Theory
Disengagement Theory
• developed by Cummings and Henry in late
1950’s.
• “aging is an inevitable, mutual withdrawal
or disengagement, resulting in decreased
interaction between the aging person and
others in the social system he/she belongs
to.”
Activity Theory
• developed by Robert Havighurst in the 1960’s.
• supports the maintenance of regular activities,
roles, and social pursuits.
• persons who achieve optimal age are those
who stay active.
• as roles change, the individual finds substitute
activities for these roles.
Continuity Theory
• proposed by Havighurst and co-workers in
reaction to the disengagement theory
• “basic personality, attitudes, and behaviors
remain constant throughout the life span”
“ENJOY THE BALLET, LORETTA ….AND TRY TO SELL MY TICKET.”
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What is the relevance of the
biological and psychosocial
theories of aging to nursing?
Developmental Tasks of Aging
Developmental Task
• an activity or event that arises at a
certain period in the life of an individual
• successful achievement leads to
happiness, growth, and success with
later tasks
• failure leads to unhappiness,
disapproval by society, and difficulty
with later tasks
(Havighurst, 1972)
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What are some important
roles that older individuals
fulfill?
Erickson’s Developmental
Stages
• Young Adulthood (20-30)
- Intimacy vs. Isolation
• Middle Adulthood (30-60)
- Generativity vs. Stagnation
• Older Adulthood (60+)
- Integrity vs. Despair
Area of Resolution and Behavior:
Intimacy - capacity for relationships
vs.
Isolation - impersonal relations
Peck’s Developmental Tasks of Aging
• Ego Differentiation vs. Work-Role
Preoccupation
• Body Transcendence vs. Body
Preoccupation
• Ego Transcendence vs. Ego Preoccupation
(Peck, 1968)
Havighurst’s Developmental Tasks of Aging
• Adjusting to decreasing physical strength
and health
• Adjusting to retirement and reduced income
• Establishing an affilitation with one’s age
group
• Meeting civic and social obligations
• Establishing satisfactory living arrangements
• Adjusting to death of spouse
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What are factors which influences a
person’s success at achieving
developmental tasks?
Nursing Interventions
How can nurses assist elders accomplish
developmental tasks?
• encourage clients to maintain and establish
roles and relationships
• offer maximum opportunities for decision
making
• build on client’s unique interests ands skills
• listen to client’s concerns
• promote reminiscence
(Eliopoulas,1995)
Common Psychosocial Changes
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Assume Grandparent Role
Adjust to Retirement
Increase Volunteer Activity
Maintain or Develop New Interests
Cope with Death of Spouse, or S.O.
Adjust to Change in Intimacy & Sexuality
Cope with Relocation
Cope with Losses
Coping with Psychosocial Changes
& Developmental Crises
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Support System
Community Resources
Counseling
Prayer/Religion
Spirituality and Religiosity
• These concepts are frequently
confused.
• Studies have found that nurses tend to
avoid addressing spiritual needs of
patients.
Spirituality is the:
• “totality of man’s inner resources,
• the ultimate concerns around which all other
values are focused,
• the central philosophy of life that guides conduct,
• and the meaning-giving center of human life
which influences all individual and social
behavior” (Moberg, 1979)
• “trust & faith in a power greater than oneself”
(levin & Taylor, 1997)
Religion is:
• only one aspect of spirituality;
• an organized practice of beliefs;
• may or may not fill an individual’s
spiritual needs eg. spiritual needs are
much broader & more personal than
any particular religious persuasion
Church and Synagogue Attendance
is:
• Lowest among those in their 30’s,
• Peaks in the late 50’s - early 60’s,
• Declines in late 60’s and early 70’s,
however 65+ are the most likely to
belong to church-affiliated groups
Research Findings:
• Black women tend to be significantly more religious
than black men and whites of both genders (Levin &
Taylor, 1993).
• Involvement in church activities tended to increase
self-esteem (Krause, 1995).
• Religious preference & practice were inversely
related to depressive symptomatology (Kennedy,
1996).
• Persons who attended religious services had lower
mortality (Oman & Reed, 1998).
Nursing Interventions that enhances
the spirituality of clients:
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Presence and acceptance
Active Listening & Touch
Value clarification
Discuss pt’s. source of strength & instill
hope
• Conduct a spiritual assessment
• Call/make referral to clergy
• Pray, or obtain religious articles (Poncar,94;
MacLennan & Tsai, 95)