Judith E. Voelkl, PhD, CTRS and Begum Aybar-Damali, MS

chapter

12

Aging and the Life Span

Learning Outcomes

• Describe the characteristics of the older adult population in the United States

• Identify the key theories of successful aging• Describe the basic tenets of each theory and explain

how they differ from one another• Describe the characteristics of older adults who (a)

receive services in an adult day center, (b) reside in assisted-living facilities, and (c) reside in nursing homes

• Describe the typical activity offerings in each type of setting

• Describe the innovative programming that therapeutic recreation specialists are currently providing to older adults

Older Adult Clients

• Change in prevalence rates• Ethnically diverse profile in America• Gender and marital distribution • Decline in resources• Unique characteristics of older adults• Residency

Theories of Successful Aging

• Activity theory (vs. disengagement theory)• Continuity theory• Selective optimization with compensation

theory (figure 12.1)• Socio-emotional selectivity theory

Activity Theory (vs. Disengagement Theory)

• Disengagement theory suggests that people enhance life satisfaction by:– Decreasing emotional ties with others and society– Becoming more self occupied

• Activity theory refutes this idea– Older people are happier when active, engaged with

life, and energetic– Therapeutic recreation programs often used to

assist older people in finding meaningful leisure

Continuity Theory

• People develop habits, attitudes, preference and relationships while growing old

• Maintaining these aspects of life is important as we age

• People develop personal adjustment styles to deal with any limitations that arise– Emphasizes individual differences– Understanding personal lifestyles, attitudes, and

preferences of clients is important

Selective Optimization With Compensation Theory

• Successful aging is an adaptation process that– Minimizes loss– Maximizes gains

• Strategies for adaptation– Selection– Optimization– Compensation

• Life transforms with aging, but can be satisfying• Figure 12.1

Socio-Emotional Selectivity Theory

• People are motivated to have social contact by a variety of goals

• Several goals persist throughout life– Emotional regulation– Development and maintenance of self-concept– Information seeking

• Friendships are important to well-being– May have fewer associates than younger people,

but have the same number of close relationships

Work Environments

• Adult day programs– Typical clientele and services– Prevalence– Characteristics of the setting– Example programs (table 12.1)

• Assisted-living facilities (figure 12.2)• Nursing homes: considerations in designing

therapeutic recreation interventions

Long-Term Care Strategies

• Changes in provision of services• Innovative program strategies

– Treatment protocols• Dementia: definition and prevalence• Role of therapeutic recreation specialist• Evidence-based protocols

– Other useful modalities– Culture change

• Shift from medical model to community/home model• Eden Alternative facilities

Discussion Questions• Which of the theories of successful aging would be most useful to

a therapeutic recreation specialist who is designing programs in an adult day center? In an assisted-living facility? In a nursing home? Explain.

• Discuss the challenges facing older adults within each of the three settings reviewed. What actions may a therapeutic recreation specialist engage in to assist residents in overcoming such challenges?

• Review the modalities presented in chapter 5. Which of these do you believe would be most useful when working with an elder with dementia? Which would be most useful when working with a nursing-home resident with no sign of dementia but with multiple physical limitations?

(continued)

Discussion Questions (continued)

• Interview an older adult regarding his or her current lifestyle, focusing on the role of recreation participation. Consider which theory of successful aging best fits the person’s life experiences.

• Visit a traditional nursing home and an Eden Alternative nursing home. Describe how the two facilities are different and similar.

• Observe a therapeutic recreation specialist implementing a dementia practice guideline protocol. How well does the implementation of the protocol support the tenets of the theories of successful aging? Explain.

• Which of the five theories can help you best as a therapeutic recreation specialist? Explain.