Age-related Disorders&

Communicating with Older Adults

Treatment of Depression Cognitive Therapy Interpersonal Therapy Reminiscence therapy and life review

Cognitive therapyClient: I feel all alone in the world. My husband is dead, and since we never had

children, I don’t have anyone to look after me.Therapist: Who do you see on a day-to-day basis?C: Well, my neighbors in the apartment, but they have problems of their own.T: Do you see any of your relatives?C: I talk to my brothers every week and my niece comes to take me out nearly every

week. But they have their families. T: Do you do anything in the community?C: I want to go to Senior Citizens, but I haven’t gotten there yet. When the weather

is good, I go to church.T: So it sounds as if you really are lonely for your husband, but when you look at

your day-to-day life, there are a number of people you are in contact with.

C: I guess I’m not completely alone.

Cognitive therapy

Cognitive therapy focuses on the role of _____________

What does this therapy want to correct?_____________________________

Interpersonal Therapy Focus on ____________________________ Initial stage __________________________ Identify problem areas:

Grief: Interpersonal disputes: Role transitions: interpersonal deficits:

Social Skills training:

Reminiscence therapy Describe one of your experiences of

communicating with an older adult. What did you talk about with him/her?

Why do you think reminiscence (remembering and talking about past events) can promote emotional well-being?

Webster’s reminiscence function scale 8 categories

Boredom reduction Death preparation Identity Problem solving Conversation Intimacy maintenance Bitterness revival Teach / inform

Reminiscence Engagement Process 5 steps

Introduction Model Reminiscence Listen and Emphasize Facilitate process Conclude visits

See handouts: Please identify the 5 phases in this interview. Which functions does this interview perform?

Sleep disorder See the article about Charlie Morin and the

Treatment of Insomnia in Older Adults

1. What is the key thing that distinguishes older adults with insomnia and those without insomnia?

2. In Morin et al’s study in 1999, what were the four conditions? What were the independent variables? What was the dependent variable? What were the findings?

3. What does cognitive-behavioral therapy consist of? 4. What are the dysfunction attitudes that cognitive-behavioral

therapies seek to eliminate?

Older Adult Development&

Communicating with older adults

Development of Older Adults Maslow’s hierarchy of needs Erikson’s stages of psychosocial

development Elementality Cohen’s four phases of the second of

life

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Erikson’s last stage of psychosocial development Ego Integrity vs Despair

Life review; find meanings A broader perspective Resolve feelings of guilt Grieve losses Celebrate past success and happiness Awareness of death

Elementality Quality of life Awareness of death

Cohen’s 4 phases of the second half of the life1. Reevaluation and exploration (mid 30s to 60s)

2. Liberation and experimentation (mid 50s to late 70s)

3. Summing up (mid 60s to 90s)

4. Encore (late 70s to end of life)

Exercise See handout, “Older Adult

Development” p. 35 to 38 Answer questions 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9.

Communicating with Older Adults Pace Volume Non-verbal Communication Goal directed (trying to get the message

across successfully) Relationship focus