2. “Everyman desires to live long, but
no man would be old.”
Johnathan Swift, 1667-1745
3. 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.
7. 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.”
8. 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.
9. 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”
13. 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)
15. 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
16. Peck’s Developmental Tasks of Aging
• Ego Differentiation vs. Work-Role
Preoccupation
• Body Transcendence vs. Body
Preoccupation
• Ego Transcendence vs. Ego Preoccupation
(Peck, 1968)
17. 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
18.
19. ????????????????????????
??????
What are factors which influences a
person’s success at achieving
developmental tasks?
20. 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)
21. Common Psychosocial Changes
• 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
22. Coping with Psychosocial Changes
& Developmental Crises
• Support System
• Community Resources
• Counseling
• Prayer/Religion
23. Spirituality and Religiosity
• These concepts are frequently
confused.
• Studies have found that nurses tend to
avoid addressing spiritual needs of
patients.
24. 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)
25. 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
26. 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
27. 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).
28. 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)
