GROWING UP AND MOVING ON: GROWING UP AND MOVING ON: TRANSITIONING TO ADULT CARETRANSITIONING TO ADULT CARE

Jill Weissberg-Benchell, Ph.D., CDEJill Weissberg-Benchell, Ph.D., CDE

KEY TASKS FOR KEY TASKS FOR EMERGING ADULTS (18-30)EMERGING ADULTS (18-30)

Mapping your course through lifeMapping your course through life Searching for your place in societySearching for your place in society Searching for a sense of Searching for a sense of

commitment/attachment to others –commitment/attachment to others –friends and loves.friends and loves.

Balancing competing demands:Balancing competing demands:• Education, relationships, career buildingEducation, relationships, career building

KEY TASKS FORKEY TASKS FOREMERGING ADULTS EMERGING ADULTS

Regular Tasks:Regular Tasks:• Finding/keeping a place to liveFinding/keeping a place to live• Paying bills/ Balancing check bookPaying bills/ Balancing check book• Managing creditManaging credit• Relationships that may be “forever”Relationships that may be “forever”• Choosing a careerChoosing a career

Now with less help/structure/support than Now with less help/structure/support than before.before.

Now must weave daily regimen into all of the Now must weave daily regimen into all of the regular stuff no matter how demanding. regular stuff no matter how demanding.

KEY TASKS FOR KEY TASKS FOR EMERGING ADULTS EMERGING ADULTS

Arnett’s survey. 18-24 year olds. Arnett’s survey. 18-24 year olds. Hallmarks of being an adult:Hallmarks of being an adult:• Accept responsibility for yourselfAccept responsibility for yourself• Make independent decisionsMake independent decisions• Become financially independentBecome financially independent• Independently form beliefs and valuesIndependently form beliefs and values

VERY few believed they achieved these VERY few believed they achieved these goals. goals.

EARLY PHASE OF EARLY PHASE OF EMERGING ADULTS (18-22)EMERGING ADULTS (18-22)

2000 U.S. 2000 U.S. CensusCensus::• 56% of males, 56% of males,

43% of females 43% of females in this age group in this age group live at home with live at home with parents.parents.

• 4% live alone4% live alone

TAKING CARE OF YOUR OWN TAKING CARE OF YOUR OWN PSYCHOSOCIAL NEEDSPSYCHOSOCIAL NEEDS

Self- Care is NOT EASYSelf- Care is NOT EASY Lapses are NOT a sign of failureLapses are NOT a sign of failure

• Life can get in the wayLife can get in the way• Lapses Lapses ≠ going on strike ≠ there’s no ≠ going on strike ≠ there’s no

point to trying.point to trying. Set goals that are achievable.Set goals that are achievable. Everyone works/learns at a different Everyone works/learns at a different

pace.pace.

PSYCHOSOCIAL NEEDSPSYCHOSOCIAL NEEDSRelationships with PeersRelationships with Peers

Who To Tell?Who To Tell?• Legal/honest for insurance/driver’s license Legal/honest for insurance/driver’s license

applicationsapplications• Roommate? Boss? Co-worker? Person you’re Roommate? Boss? Co-worker? Person you’re

dating?dating? What To Tell?What To Tell?

• Clarify misperceptionsClarify misperceptions• How to treat lowsHow to treat lows

When To Tell?When To Tell?• What is your own sense of comfort/timing?What is your own sense of comfort/timing?

PSYCHOSOCIAL NEEDSPSYCHOSOCIAL NEEDSRelationships with ParentsRelationships with Parents

Call your mom –she worries!Call your mom –she worries!• Keep your parents up to date about your Keep your parents up to date about your

healthhealth

• Talk about experiences with new Talk about experiences with new providersproviders

PSYCHOSOCIAL NEEDSPSYCHOSOCIAL NEEDSRelationships with ParentsRelationships with Parents

Key Tasks for ParentsKey Tasks for Parents::• They are learning how to tolerate They are learning how to tolerate

separation yet still remain connected to separation yet still remain connected to you. you.

• They are learning how to be supportive They are learning how to be supportive without being intrusive. without being intrusive.

• They may be struggling with their role of They may be struggling with their role of still helping you out financially. still helping you out financially.

PAST EXPERIENCES WITH PAST EXPERIENCES WITH HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALSHEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS

Relationship Building Experiences?Relationship Building Experiences?–Unrealistic expectations for self-care behaviorUnrealistic expectations for self-care behavior–Unrealistic expectations for glucose controlUnrealistic expectations for glucose control–Punitive/judgmental clinic visitsPunitive/judgmental clinic visits–Feeling burned-out/a chronic failureFeeling burned-out/a chronic failure

PAST EXPERIENCES ADVOCATING PAST EXPERIENCES ADVOCATING FOR YOUR OWN HEALTHFOR YOUR OWN HEALTH

Can You Be an Effective Patient?Can You Be an Effective Patient?• Finding a Finding a teamteam that understands YOU make the day that understands YOU make the day

to day decisions. to day decisions.• Finding a Finding a teamteam that’s up to date on research & that’s up to date on research &

technology.technology.• Finding a Finding a teamteam that knows they’re your coach or that knows they’re your coach or

guide. They don’t dictate what you “should” or guide. They don’t dictate what you “should” or “must” do.“must” do.

• Remembering to ask for the things you needRemembering to ask for the things you need– PrescriptionsPrescriptions– LettersLetters

• Feeling comfortable talking about the annoyances so Feeling comfortable talking about the annoyances so you have others to help you problem-solve.you have others to help you problem-solve.

• Less time in clinics in adult programs (@15min).Less time in clinics in adult programs (@15min).