Theories of AgingVaunette Payton Fay, Ph.D.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.

Biological Theories of Aging

Genetic Theories• Gene• Error• Somatic mutation• Programmed

Nongenetic Theories• Immunologic /

Autoimmune• Free Radical

• Wear & Tear• Cross link or Collagen http://prolongyouth.com/

theories.html

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”

“ENJOY THE BALLET, LORETTA ….AND TRY TO SELL MY TICKET.”

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What is the relevance of the biological and psychosocial theories of aging to nursing?

Developmental Tasks of Aging

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)

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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

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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

• 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

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)