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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
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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.
Genetic Theories Gene Error Somatic mutation Programmed Nongenetic Theories Immunologic / Autoimmune Free Radical Wear & Tear Cross link or Collagen http://prolongyouth.com/theories.html Biological Theories of Aging
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”
?????????????????????????????? What is the relevance of the biological and psychosocial theories of aging to nursing?
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)
?????????????????????????????? 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
?????????????????????????????? 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 • AssumeGrandparent 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 • 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: • 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)