Later adulthood is considered to begin at age 65 and continue through 85 and on (Hutchison, 2015, pp. 365)). The United States is experiencing an increase in the aging population, with 13% of the population being 65 and older and expecting to increase to 33% by 2031 (Lam, Cervantes, & Lee, 2014). The older adult populations encounter many challenges; one major issue among this population is depression. Clinical systems of major depression are found in 15% to 30% of community-dwelling older adults. Studies also found the rate of major depression were 14%-42% higher among older adult residents of long-term facilities (Lam, Cervantes, & Lee, 2014). Utilizing theories such as resilience theory and Erikson’s psychosocial theory, social workers
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Adults are experiencing many developmental characteristics during this transition into later adulthood. Some biological changes that occur are a decrease in vision, hearing and brain mass (Hutchison, 2015). A critical psychological change in later adulthood is the changes of personalities, such as ego integrity and despair. Intellectual changes, learning and memory are also changes that occur within in late adulthood. While experiencing many changes, older adults also face environmental changes when they are put into long term care facilities. Depression seems to be the most common health problem in older adults (Hutchison, 2015, pp. 390). Older adults are at a stage in their life where they are coping with difficult life events, such as death of loved ones or physical …show more content…
Although older adults are at risk for depression, it is also important to pay attendance to the resilience of older adults. Resilience is the ability to successfully adapt to negative life events. In addition, researchers viewed resilience as involving internal factors, such as temperament and attitude, and external elements such as neighborhood or community well being (Greene, Galambos, & Lee, 2004). There are also many protective factors that older adults have that can help them gain resilience and overcome their depression. Older adults that have a support system are more likely to decrease their depression. Depression levels significantly decreased as levels of social support from significant others, from family, from friends, and total support increased (Lam, Cervantes, and Lee, 2014). Another factor is the warm relationship that they had with their mother. What goes right in childhood is more important for life in late adulthood than what goes wrong (Hutchison, 2015, pp. 409). Also, unhappy childhoods become less important over the stages of childhood. Fortunately, people recover from psychosomatic illness over a few decades. There are a few variables that predict healthy aging; such include; exercising, years of education, stable marriage, healthy weight, not abusing alcohol, not smoking and using
Adults are experiencing many developmental characteristics during this transition into later adulthood. Some biological changes that occur are a decrease in vision, hearing and brain mass (Hutchison, 2015). A critical psychological change in later adulthood is the changes of personalities, such as ego integrity and despair. Intellectual changes, learning and memory are also changes that occur within in late adulthood. While experiencing many changes, older adults also face environmental changes when they are put into long term care facilities. Depression seems to be the most common health problem in older adults (Hutchison, 2015, pp. 390). Older adults are at a stage in their life where they are coping with difficult life events, such as death of loved ones or physical …show more content…
Although older adults are at risk for depression, it is also important to pay attendance to the resilience of older adults. Resilience is the ability to successfully adapt to negative life events. In addition, researchers viewed resilience as involving internal factors, such as temperament and attitude, and external elements such as neighborhood or community well being (Greene, Galambos, & Lee, 2004). There are also many protective factors that older adults have that can help them gain resilience and overcome their depression. Older adults that have a support system are more likely to decrease their depression. Depression levels significantly decreased as levels of social support from significant others, from family, from friends, and total support increased (Lam, Cervantes, and Lee, 2014). Another factor is the warm relationship that they had with their mother. What goes right in childhood is more important for life in late adulthood than what goes wrong (Hutchison, 2015, pp. 409). Also, unhappy childhoods become less important over the stages of childhood. Fortunately, people recover from psychosomatic illness over a few decades. There are a few variables that predict healthy aging; such include; exercising, years of education, stable marriage, healthy weight, not abusing alcohol, not smoking and using