Old age

breakout

Reading graphs and the relativity of old age

Work in a group of 3 and answer these questions• What age were you when you no longer felt

youthful? • What events (body, mind, spirit) signal, for you, the

end of youth?• At what age did your mother or father become

“old”?• What events (body, mind, spirit) signal, for you, the

beginning of old age? • What age bracket in Fig 4.6 is closest to you?

Where does youth end and old age begin?

% of older (55-64) people in work by age and country (2006)

New Zealand labour force participation rates by age group, 1987-2008

Interpret Figure 6.2 What does it tell you about young people? What does it tell you about old people?

Do you “strongly agree=5”, “agree=4”, “not sure either way=3”, “disagree=2”, or “strongly disagree=1”

Workers 55 and older……can serve as mentors to younger workers.…are respected.…are more productive… are more reliable than younger workers.…adapt well to new technology.…are eager for training.…work well with younger supervisors.…are just as likely to be promoted as younger workers …have great loyalty to the company.…are flexible.…are interested in being promoted

Perceptions about older workersLevel of agreement 1-5 (5=strongly agree)

Perceptions about older workersLevel of agreement 1-5 (5=strongly agree)

Questions to ponder

• Which perspective do you fit best - Traditionalist (65+), Baby Boomer (45-64), Generation X (25-44), or Generation Y(16-24)?

• What questions show the biggest and least differences between young and old? Can you create some ideas as to why?

• How well does this information, the information in Fig 6.2 and your reflections about the events that signal old age fit with the models of old age suggested by Erikson and Tornstam on page 2 and 3?

Note addition of questions

• Both the Erikson and Tornstrum versions of old age have questions you could use to explore aspects of the experience old age.

• These questions about the quality of life, the importance of recollection, the sense of mystery or spirit, the presence of death, and experience of relationship

Dementia Care• Watch the video on dementia care (

http://tvnz.co.nz/sunday-news/dementia-crisis-3811929/video) – 16:12 minutes

• Summarize the key points about effective dementia care (see p3, after you’ve made your own list).

Dementia care• Dementia is a life lived in fragments timeless - painful

or joyful. • No antipsychotic drugs needed• Socialization activities, work, community, dogs• Create a familiar environment circa 1950• Relationships really knowing them - real talk about

real life• Have great flexibility Choice - they are not children• Re-engagement of the whanau See their whanuanga

active and engaged will encourage more connection

Life review• Life review seems to be an important part of these

two old age models. Why might doing a life review be a helpful process in old age or at any adult age?

• Show videos on Reminiscence therapy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXdRZSxSUHA) and Music Therapy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gm92jrIgk-s&feature=relmfu). and Communication

• (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFKACRqNJFE)

and anything can happen

Letting go (2 mins from 3:15)

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNJxq4J5kYY video on letting go

Final question

• Dementia seems like a different path of development. How does dementia connect with Erikson’s and Tornstam’s models of old age?