Late Life Families-Death and Loss

Question 1

Aging and SES

Answer 1

-More health issues variable by race/SES. Aging is harder if you are poor/black

Question 2

Heterogeneity

Answer 2

• Age means less as a marker as you get older.
• Extended middle age- healthier older.
• Varied pathways through later life. (Multiple marriages, co-habitation, single living etc).

Question 3

Ageism

Answer 3

• Limits accurate views of older adults.
• Aging individuals have a long history of of strengths, competencies, and coping strategies, but are rarely acknowledged for this….therapy needs to be strengths based.
• current culture worships the young.
• elderly stereotyped as old-fashioned and boring.
• Adult children may be patronizing and controlling.
• Important for mental health professional to check their own bias about elderly people.

Question 4

Depression and Dementia

Answer 4

Are NOT normal parts of aging.

Question 5

Larger Vision of Older Life

Answer 5

change, growth, and new learning occurs.
-older brain is more complex
-traditional norms, rules and rituals are less encompassing and restrictive.
-search for greater meaning in life.
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Question 6

Tasks (of Later Life)

Answer 6

• Grieving losses and facing mortality
• managing physical heal
• financial security and “estate” planning
• reinventing oneself and one’s future
• awareness of past deficiencies, hurts and disappointments are put into perspective = wisdom.
• adapting to new structures and roles.
• defining a new sense of purpose and meaning
• using leisure time for new learning and experimentation or enjoying already established hobbies/pursuits.

Question 7

Good Aging

Answer 7

• Established neurological patterns can make new tasks difficult-negative plasticity
• Those who are most happy report being freer to be themselves.
• humor, compassion, curiosity, commitment contribute to sense of integrity.
• Older adults with a greater purpose in life have reduced risk of Alzheimer’s and mild cognitive impairment.
• Research finds link between social support and longevity.

Question 8

Aging and Loss

Answer 8

• social roles and respect
• income
• relatives and friends, beloved pets
• physical health
• family bonds are central.

Question 9

Family Bonds

Answer 9

-Intergenerational bonds are mutually beneficial. -Old wounds may need to be addressed. Families provide most social interaction and support for elderly family members.
-Importance of sibling relationships over lifetime
-Companion animals.
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Question 10

Grandparenthood

Answer 10

• generativity of grandchildren eases acceptance of mortality.
• Interaction with children adds to appreciation of life and new perspectives
• Special bond not complicated by responsibility, obligations and conflicts of parent-child relationship.
• When Grandparents are the primary caretakers of their grandchildren, this may complicate their role transition and take a toll on their own health and well-being. (Positive or Negative).
• Offers opportunities for reconnection with children and healing of old intergenerational wounds.

Question 11

Role Transitions

Answer 11

Retirement: loss or freedom or both.

• Are expectations about grandparenting shared?
• Increasing Dependence.
• Loss of driver’s license can be devastating for an older client.
• “Boomerang” adult children moving back home (often with children) as parents look forward to retirement due to financial stress.
• With increasingly complicated families the question of who assumes responsibility for care?

Question 12

Widowhood

Answer 12

-Men tend to be less prepared for widowhood but women tend to have less financial resources and remarriage prospects.

Question 13

Retirement

Answer 13

• Loss of identity/status/income
• Time for relationships and interests (old and new)
• Work no longer serves as a diversion so whatever personal or interpersonal issues are unresolved may loom.
• Role shifts in the couple relationship.

Question 14

Care-giving

Answer 14

Increasingly, adult children past retirement age, with limited resources are caring for their elders.

• Lack of useful management guidelines by medical specialists can contribute to confusion and frustration (lower SES caretakers may feel less entitled to demand clear guidelines.
• Important to understand caregivers responses.
• Problematic

Question 15

Stress Process Model

Answer 15

Stress comes from both the objective and subjective components of the process of providing care.

Question 16

Dementia and Caregiving

Answer 16

• spouses with more realistic expectations have fewer negative consequences.
• Loss of identity.