Older Adult- Psychosocial

Question 1

What is the integrity vs despair crisis?

Answer 1

-Coming to terms with one’s life choices and path
Integrity
-Adults well developed sense of integrity feel whole, centred, complete and satisfied with life
-Well adapted to successes and struggles in life
-Realise overall life choices are meaningful for life
Despair
-Feel they have made many wrong choices and lack of time to follow through to allow themselves to reach integrity
-Hard to accept they are towards end of life
-Overwhelmed with bitterness, defeat, hopelessness, anger, contempt

Question 2

How does the social clock theory affect older adults?

Answer 2

• Retirement
• Needing a mobility aid
• Downsizing house for retirement
• Losing independence
• Becoming grandparent
• Age of death

Question 3

Describe social isolation in older adults?

Answer 3

• Period of increasing social isolation
• Due to death of spouse, separation from friends/family, retirement, loss of independence/mobility, lacking transportation
• Social isolation (objectively apart from people), different to loneliness (subjective distressing feeling of being alone)

Question 4

What are the health risks of social isolation?

Answer 4

• High BP
• Heart disease
• Obesity
• Decreased physical activity
• Increased sedentary behaviour
• Weakened immune system
• Stress, anxiety, depression
• Cognitive decline
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Premature death

Question 5

What are strategies that can reduce social isolation?

Answer 5

• One to one interventions
• Group interventions
• Service based interventions
• Technology based intervention
• Neighbourhood based interventions
• Social structures