OLD AGE : vocational and OLD AGE : vocational and family adjustmentfamily adjustment

Work and family Work and family

Economic factors Economic factors

Vocational adjustmentVocational adjustment

Attitude towards work Attitude towards work Vocational opportunities for older workersVocational opportunities for older workersAppraisal of older workersAppraisal of older workers

Conditions limiting employment Conditions limiting employment opportunities for older workersopportunities for older workers

Compulsory retirementCompulsory retirementHiring policiesHiring policiesPension plansPension plansSocial attitudesSocial attitudesFluctuations in business cyclesFluctuations in business cyclesKind of workKind of worksexsex

Adjustment to retirementAdjustment to retirement

Kinds of retirementKinds of retirement

Voluntary or compulsoryVoluntary or compulsoryRegular or earlyRegular or early

Sex differences in adjustment to Sex differences in adjustment to retirementretirement

Women, adjust better to retirement than Women, adjust better to retirement than men. men.

1. women plays a domestic role, married/ 1. women plays a domestic role, married/ singlesingle

2. work provides fewer psychological 2. work provides fewer psychological benefits and social supports for womenbenefits and social supports for women

Its less traumatic for them than for menIts less traumatic for them than for men3. they do not feel that they have suddenly 3. they do not feel that they have suddenly

lost all their power and prestigelost all their power and prestige

adjustment to changes in family life adjustment to changes in family life in old age in old age

1. Relationships with spouse1. Relationships with spouse - sexual activity in old age- sexual activity in old age - factors influencing sexual behavior- factors influencing sexual behavior - effects on marital adjustment- effects on marital adjustment2. relationship with offspring2. relationship with offspring3. parental dependency 3. parental dependency 4. relationship with grandchildren4. relationship with grandchildren

5. assessment of adjustment to changes in 5. assessment of adjustment to changes in family lifefamily life

Adjustment to loss of a spouse in Adjustment to loss of a spouse in old age old age

Adjustment problems for menAdjustment problems for menAdjustment problems for womenAdjustment problems for women

Remarriage in old ageRemarriage in old age

Age difference in remarriageAge difference in remarriageAdjustment problems of remarriageAdjustment problems of remarriage

Adjustment to single hood in old Adjustment to single hood in old ageage

Living arrangements for the elderlyLiving arrangements for the elderly - needs in living arrangements- needs in living arrangements - types of living arrangement- types of living arrangement

Some condition influencing choice Some condition influencing choice of living arrangements for the of living arrangements for the

elderlyelderlyEconomic statusEconomic statusMarital statusMarital statusHealthHealthEase of caring forEase of caring forSexSexChildrenChildrenDesire for companionshipDesire for companionshipclimateclimate

Institutional living for the Institutional living for the elderlyelderly

Disadvantage and advantagesDisadvantage and advantages

disadvantagedisadvantage

It is more expensive than living in one’s It is more expensive than living in one’s own homeown home

Like all institutional food, it is usually less Like all institutional food, it is usually less appealing than home cooked foodappealing than home cooked food

Choice of food is limited and often Choice of food is limited and often repetitiousrepetitious

Close and constant contact with some Close and constant contact with some people who may be uncongenial people who may be uncongenial

The location is often some distance away The location is often some distance away from shops, amusements, and community from shops, amusements, and community organizationsorganizations

Locations is usually at some distance from Locations is usually at some distance from family and friendsfamily and friends

Living quarters tend to be considerably Living quarters tend to be considerably smaller than in former homessmaller than in former homes

advantagesadvantages

Maintenance and repairs are provided by Maintenance and repairs are provided by the institutionthe institution

All meals are available at reasonable costAll meals are available at reasonable costProvision is made for suitable recreations Provision is made for suitable recreations

and amusementsand amusementsOpportunities are available for contacts Opportunities are available for contacts

with contemporaries with similar interest with contemporaries with similar interest and abilitiesand abilities

Greater chance for acceptance by Greater chance for acceptance by contemporaries than when with younger peoplecontemporaries than when with younger people

Eliminates loneliness because people are Eliminates loneliness because people are always available for companionshipalways available for companionship

Holiday celebrations for those who have no Holiday celebrations for those who have no family are providedfamily are provided

Opportunity or prestige based on past Opportunity or prestige based on past accomplishment that would not occur in groups accomplishment that would not occur in groups of younger people.of younger people.

Vocational and family life Vocational and family life hazards of old age hazards of old age

Vocational hazardsVocational hazards

Prevention from workingPrevention from workingRetirement Retirement

Conditions contributing to the Conditions contributing to the seriousness of unemployment in seriousness of unemployment in

old ageold ageKind of workKind of workNew job versus job shiftNew job versus job shiftNecessity for retraining Necessity for retraining Minority group statusMinority group status

Family life hazardsFamily life hazards

Sexual deprivationSexual deprivationLonelinessLonelinessLiving arrangement Living arrangement Role changesRole changes

Assessment of adjustment Assessment of adjustment to old ageto old age

Some factors influencing Some factors influencing adjustment to old ageadjustment to old age

Preparation for old agePreparation for old age Earlier experienceEarlier experience Satisfaction of needsSatisfaction of needs Grown childrenGrown children Social attitudesSocial attitudes Personal attitudesPersonal attitudes Method of adjustmentMethod of adjustment Health conditionHealth condition Living conditionLiving condition Economic conditionEconomic condition

Common characteristic of Common characteristic of good and poor adjustment in good and poor adjustment in

old ageold age

Good and bad adjustmentGood and bad adjustment

goodgood

Strong and varied interestStrong and varied interest Economic independenceEconomic independence Many social contacts Many social contacts Enjoyment of workEnjoyment of work Participation in organizationsParticipation in organizations Enjoy present activitiesEnjoy present activities Minimum worry about self or othersMinimum worry about self or others Avoidance of criticism Avoidance of criticism Avoidance of fault findingAvoidance of fault finding

Bad / poorBad / poor

Little interest in the worldLittle interest in the worldWithdrawal to the world of fantasyWithdrawal to the world of fantasyConstant reminiscingConstant reminiscingConstant worryConstant worryLonelinessLonelinessConstant complainingConstant complainingRefusal to take part in activitiesRefusal to take part in activities

Some important conditions Some important conditions contributing to happiness contributing to happiness

A favorable attitude toward old age developed A favorable attitude toward old age developed as a result of earlier pleasurable contacts with as a result of earlier pleasurable contacts with elderly peopleelderly people

Happy memories of childhood and adulthoodHappy memories of childhood and adulthood Freedom to pursue a desired lifestyle without Freedom to pursue a desired lifestyle without

outside interferenceoutside interference A realistic attitude toward and acceptance of the A realistic attitude toward and acceptance of the

psychological changes that aging inevitably psychological changes that aging inevitably bringsbrings

Acceptance by , respect from, the social Acceptance by , respect from, the social groupgroup

A feeling of satisfaction with marital status A feeling of satisfaction with marital status and sex lifeand sex life

Reasonably good health with chronic Reasonably good health with chronic health problems health problems

Enjoyment of social activities with relatives Enjoyment of social activities with relatives and friendsand friends

Productive activities whether with relatives Productive activities whether with relatives and friendsand friends

A financial situation adequate to meet A financial situation adequate to meet needs and wants needs and wants