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PERSON-ENVIRONMENT AND AGING. What is it?. Dynamic, interactive system Person and environment have to be studied jointly A person’s behaviour is a function of both the person and their environment – especially the person’s perception of their environment. Competence and environmental press.
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PERSON-ENVIRONMENT AND AGING What is it?
Dynamic, interactive system • Person and environment have to be studied jointly • A person’s behaviour is a function of both the person and their environment – especially the person’s perception of their environment
Competence and environmental press • Competence: best functional capacity of an individual Measured in five areas: • Biological health • Sensory-perceptual functioning • Motor skills • Cognitive skills • Ego strength
Competence and environmental press • Environmental press: demands placed by the environment on each individual • The demands can be: • Physical • Interpersonal • Social
Lawton and Nahemov’s model • The less competent a person is, the more impact the environment has
Kahana’s Congruence Model • People search for environments that best meet their needs • Environments vary in their ability to meet different people’s needs and demands • Congruence is especially important when options are limited • This model is helpful in assessing long-term care facilities
Stress and Coping Theory • Older adults’ adaptation to the environment depends on • Their perception of environmental stress and • Their attempts to cope • Social systems and institutions may buffer the effects of stress
Loss-Continuum Concept • Aging seen as a progressive series of losses that reduces one’s social participation • Therefore, home and neighbourhood become more important • Very important to help individuals maintain competence and independence • This model is more a practical guide and not a theory
Concept of Everyday Competence • Ability to perform behaviours essential for independent living: • Physical • Psychological • Social
Willis Model of Everyday Competence • Antecedents: individual (e.g. health, cognitive status) and sociocultural (e.g. social policy, health care policy) • Components: intraindividual (how a person experiences their health, cognition) and contextual (how a particular policy is implemented in each case) • Mechanisms: variables that can affect expression of competence, e.g. personal perception of self-competence or of control • Outcomes: primarily physical and psychological well-being, the basic components of successful aging
What Is Optimal Aging? • Avoiding disease • Engaged in life (as opposed to withdrawal) • Good cognitive and physical functioning • The last two more important: many seniors with diseases age successfully • Important: dignity and independence
Strategies • Healthy lifestyle • Cognitive stimulation • Positive, optimistic outlook • Social network • Healthy finances • Importance of health promotion programs adapted to all groups (SES, ethnicity, etc) • Four levels of preventive intervention (see text)