Groups for the Elderly

1
Groups for the Elderly

• Chapter 12

2
Some Key Points

• You may encounter obstacles in your attempts to
  organize and conduct groups for the elderly
• Groups can be great for the elderly, who often
  have a need to be listened to
• Groups can help elderly people integrate current
  life changes into an overall developmental
  perspective
• Elderly people need a clear explanation of the
  groups purposes and why they can benefit from
  it
• Revealing personal matters may be extremely
  difficult for some elderly people because of
  their cultural conditioning

3
Themes in Working with Elderly Populations

• Themes that are prevalent with the elderly
  include
• Loss and the struggle to find meaning in life
• Loneliness and social isolation
• Poverty
• Feelings of rejection
• Dependency
• Feelings of uselessness, hopelessness, and
  despair
• Fears of death and dying
• Grief over others deaths
• Sadness over physical and mental deterioration
• Regrets over past events

4
Special Needs of Elderly Client

• Different generations, different ways of dealing
  with emotions
• Hearing issues
• Vision issues
• Slowed processing
• Physical or medical issues that may interefere
  with attendance, participation

5
Examples of Groups for the ElderlyTopics that
may be focused on . . .

• Reminiscing
• Grief work
• Occupational therapy
• Music and art therapy

• Preretirement and postretirement issues
• Organic brain syndrome
• Health-related issues