Click to read The Homebound Elderly, Alcoholism, and Psychoanalysis

Aging
It can be a positive experience - July, '99

Aging can be a positive experience. In their new book Successful Aging Rowe and Kahn (1998) explode some of the myths of aging. Following are some important points made in Successful Aging.

1) The extent of loss of mental function in old age is not as great people think. For instance, of all the elderly people 65 to 100 years of age or more, only 10 percent are Alzheimer's patients. The predictors of strong mental function in old age are regular physical activity, strong social support systems, and a belief in the ability to handle what life has to offer. Older people can, with training, improve cognitive functioning.

2) Older Americans are generally healthy, not frail and sick.
 
3) It is never too late to substitute healthy habits for unhealthy practices. For instance, weight loss can significantly reduce the probability of heart disease.

4) The role of genetics in aging has been overstated. Although genes have a role in disease promotion, "For all but the most strongly determined diseases, such as Huntington's disease, MacArthur Studies show that the environment and lifestyle have a powerful impact on the likelihood of actually developing the disorder. This is wonderful news for individuals with strong histories of some cancer, heart disease, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritus, and many other conditions. We now know that diet, excercise, and even medications may delay, or completely eliminate, the emergence of the disease" (p. 29). Furthermore, when it comes to mental and physical functioning, studies of Swedish twins have shown that "...only about 30 percent of physical aging can be blamed on the genes"...and further studies of twins over the age of 80 show "...that only about half of the changes in mental function with aging are genetic" (p.30).
 
5) It is not true that the elderly are not productive. Productivity is often only measured by paid work, and doesn't take into account the many unpaid jobs that the elderly are involved in that are important to society such as volunteer work and assistance to families. Furthermore, employers often will not hire the elderly, nor are employers inclined to initiate changes in work schedules, hours, etc. so that an older person can maintain his or her employment.

6) Although sexual activity does tend to decrease with age, this does not mean that older people do not have an active sex life.


Rowe and Kahn show, through various research studies, that people who are more connected with others and have social-emotional support live longer, healthier lives. "Lonliness breeds both illness and early death. And as a rule, people whose connections with others are relatively strong - through family (including marriage), friendships, and organizational memberships - live longer" (p. 156).

Relevance to Psychotherapy - Psychotherapy can help build social connections by reducing depression and tendencies toward isolation.