SOCW6210 WK7 Discussion Question Responses to teacher and 2 students

Respond to at least two colleagues who applied a theory of successful aging to Helen’s case that differs from the one you applied. State whether you agree that your colleague’s strategy for applying the theory to Helen’s case is likely to be helpful. Provide support for your response and suggest one additional way your colleague might support Helen’s psychological well-being. (Everbody picked the same theory, so say if you agree with their post and how one of the other theories could apply from a social work aspect.

Be sure to support your responses with specific references to the resources. If you are using additional articles, be sure to provide full APA-formatted citations for your references.

Response to Michael

Classmates,

Explain key life events that have influenced Helen’s relationships. Be sure to substantiate what makes them key in your perspective.

One of the key life events in Helen’s life that has influenced her relationships is her having to care for mother-in-law (Magda) because of her broken hip and recent diagnosis of early dementia. According to Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen (2014), Helen no longer has time to go shopping, and out to eat with friends because she attends to Magda’s apartment numerous times throughout the week (pg. 20). Helen also feels as though she “is failing as a wife and mother because she no longer has time to spend with her husband and children” Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen, 2014, pg. 20). Another key life event is Helen having to deal with her son stealing money from the grandmother, and concealing this from her husband. Lastly, the funds that Helen and her husband are supposed to be using for vacation is going to the helper that oversees Magda during certain times of the week.

All these interfere with Helens well-being. Helen has stressed her anger for having to spend so much time taking care of Magda. This frustration coupled with the increase in care for Magda, her deceitful son, and a husband that I am just going to say does not appear to appreciate what Helen is doing for his mother, all intersect to affect Helen’s self-care.

Explain how you, as Helen’s social worker, might apply a theory of successful aging to her case. Be sure to provide support for your strategy.

I like the activity theory when applying a theory of successful aging for Helen. According to Johnson, Whitlatch & Menne (2014), “older adults, regardless of impairment status, can benefit from maintained physical and social activity levels” (pg. 156). The activity theory suggest that the more people are physically and mentally active, “the more successfully they will age” (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2016, pg. 696). I would suggest to Helen that self-care is very important during any stage of the aging process. Since this is a family problem, I would ask for the family to be part of some of the therapy session. I would suggest an equal distribution of responsibility (for those that will be responsible) so that Helen does not burn herself out. According to Pines, Neal, Hammer & Icekson (2011), burnout is the “state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion; lowered sense of accomplishment; depersonalization; and disengagement” (pg. 363). Burnout is the result of long-term participation in situations that are emotionally draining and involve care taking duties.

“Emotional exhaustion has been shown to be the central, dominant, and most significant component of burnout” (Pines, Neal, Hammer & Icekson, 2011, pg. 363).

Reference

Johnson, J. D., Whitlatch, C. J., & Menne, H. L. (2014). Activity and Well-Being of Older Adults: Does Cognitive Impairment Play a Role?. Research On Aging, 36(2), 147-160. doi:10.1177/0164027512470703

Pines, A. M., Neal, M. B., Hammer, L. B., & Icekson, T. (2011). Job Burnout and Couple Burnout in Dual-earner Couples in the Sandwiched Generation. Social Psychology Quarterly, 74(4), 361-386. doi:10.1177/0190272511422452

Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., Brocksen S. (Eds.). (2014). Sessions: Case histories. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader].

Zastrow, C. H., & Kirst-Ashman, K. K. (2016). Understanding human behavior and the social environment(10th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

Response to Teacher:

Hello Everyone:

The activity theory, disengagement theory, and social reconstruction syndrome theory are all aging theories.

Being engaged, stimulated (physically, intellectually, and spiritually) all contribute to successful aging. All of these components allow an individual to feel connected to their environment (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2013). Disengagement (in my humble opinion) is rather sad as it essentially states older adults remove themselves from their “community” in preparation for death. As you read the section on disengagement theory, I’m interested to “hear” your thoughts on whether this is a sound theory. Last, but not least, is the social reconstruction syndrome theory which offers three ways “we” can shift thinking as it relates to older adults. Which theory do you most agree with and why?

Reference:

Zastrow, C. & Kirst-Ashman, K. (2013). Understanding human behavior and the social environment (9th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole Publishing.

Dr. Wilson

Response to China

Explain key life events that have influenced Helen’s relationships. Be sure to substantiate what makes them key in your perspective.
Sara has lived a relatively simple life minus the mental health issues of depression and hoarding. A few of the key events that have happened over her lifetime are the attempted suicide of her daughter Stephanie, the death of her husband, and her family system relationships. According to Plummer (2014), Sara started her hoarding while Stephanie and Jane were in high school. This correlates to around the time that Stephanie had her attempted suicide. This is a significant event for a parent and one that without self-care of Sara she developed her measures to combat her stress. When her husband died, this also increased her stress leading to more hoarding. According to Zastrow (2016), some of the indicators of key life events are the death of a spouse and widowhood, Sara experienced both do to the fact that she did not get remarried. Also Zastrow (2016), stated that widowhood can lead to increased chance of mental health problems such as depression. The family system is an integral part of people life’s; they are the ones that you share a bond with beyond friendship. When there are complications to this system additional stress is added to the life of the individual. In the case of Sara, her 48-year-old daughter living with her and being estranged from her daughter Jane, again bring elements that bring conflict into their other relationships.

Explain how you, as Helen’s social worker, might apply a theory of successful aging to her case. Be sure to provide support for your strategy.
As a social worker, to appropriately assist Sara in her treatment the best treatment for her would be that of activity theory. Sara currently attends a day treatment at a local hospital; this does not fully support the activity theory. As she is getting interaction, the reading does not imply exactly what that activity is. According to Zastrow (2015), Older individuals gain self-rated happiness by being productive and more socially active. To do this getting Sara involved more within the community and discussing with her some areas or hobbies that she may enjoy could increase her self-rated happiness. This increase may just be what she needs to assist her with her hoarding and her overall health in general.

Reference:

Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., Brocksen S. (Eds.). (2014). Sessions: Case histories. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader].

Zastrow, C. H., & Kirst-Ashman, K. K. (2016). Understanding human behavior and the social environment (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

Reference

Robert J. Havighurst; Successful Aging,
The Gerontologist, Volume 1, Issue 1, 1 March 1961, Pages 8–13,
https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/1.1.8