Successful aging and
mental health
South African government Older Persons Act 13
o Maintain and promote security/safety of older
o Maintain rights
o Emphasis on care
o Regulate registration and information on residential facilities for older persons
o Combat abuse
Successful Aging
o Refers to freedom from disease
o Maintaining high cognitive capability
o Active engagement in social + productive activities
Rowe- Kahn Model
1. Methodological issues: inconsistency across conceptualisation of measures
2. Adaptations and extensions: adapting criteria
3. Objective and subjective meaning: successful aging assessed by means of objective
measures and neglects experience
4. Overemphasis on biomedical factors: aging refers to normal decline in biological or
cognitive factors. Successful aging refers to minimal function loss
5. Personal choice: overemphasis on lifestyle =/agency/choice
Attitudes towards aging
o Ageism is a form of prejudice and refers to discrimination based on chronological age
o Indicates prejudice against middle age
o “old people are all alike”
o “little to offer to society” and “behave like children”
o Implicit rather than explicit (assuming bad memory)
o Social stereotypes create self-stereotypes where thoughts about aging are
influenced
o Fear aging process
o Materialism plays a pivotal role in attitudes towards aging
o Negative attitudes about olde people found in children
Personality characteristics for successful aging
1. Strong Sense of meaning: a positive interpretation of one’s existence and value in life
2. Sense of mastery: global sense of control over life circumstances
3. Emotional stability: consistency and predictability in reactions and ability to
withstand setbacks
4. Flexibility: adjustability to change + willingness to compromise
5. Goal-directedness: attain a specific goal and finding ways to achieve goals
Compiled, Revised and Sold by Bronwyn de Sousa. DO NOT SHARE!!!
, 6. Conscientiousness: self-discipline
7. Extraversion: outgoing and confident approach to life
8. Low hostility level: not being aggressive or antagonistic
9. Resilience: capacity of an individual to adjust successfully + thrive on trauma
LOCUS OF CONTROL
o Ability to influence the course and outcome of life experiences
o Internal = I AND ME
o External = THEM AND OTHERS
o Aspect of control referred as a mastery
o Self-efficacy refers to a sense of mastery in specific tasks
o Old people less internal locus of control
Key element in life cycle = move from being dependent to independent
TYPES OF DEPENDENCY
1. Physical or medical dependency
• Degree to which physical health enables functioning independently
• Growing body = obesity/cognitive decline/loss of muscle mass
• Older people should perform instrumental activities
• Shopping, cooking, housekeeping etc.
• High dependency = facilities
2. Psychological dependency
• Cognitive abilities and emotional functioning
• Maintaining well-being
• Alzheimer’s disease or emotional disorders = no independence
3. Social dependency
• Capacity to maintain satisfying interpersonal relationships and to obtain
needed social support
• Making decisions about social interaction
• Elderly keep friendships and strong relationships
4. Financial dependency
• Inability to meet needs consistently with minimal or no financial
assistance
• Linked with poverty and blocked from self-fulfilment
Compiled, Revised and Sold by Bronwyn de Sousa. DO NOT SHARE!!!
mental health
South African government Older Persons Act 13
o Maintain and promote security/safety of older
o Maintain rights
o Emphasis on care
o Regulate registration and information on residential facilities for older persons
o Combat abuse
Successful Aging
o Refers to freedom from disease
o Maintaining high cognitive capability
o Active engagement in social + productive activities
Rowe- Kahn Model
1. Methodological issues: inconsistency across conceptualisation of measures
2. Adaptations and extensions: adapting criteria
3. Objective and subjective meaning: successful aging assessed by means of objective
measures and neglects experience
4. Overemphasis on biomedical factors: aging refers to normal decline in biological or
cognitive factors. Successful aging refers to minimal function loss
5. Personal choice: overemphasis on lifestyle =/agency/choice
Attitudes towards aging
o Ageism is a form of prejudice and refers to discrimination based on chronological age
o Indicates prejudice against middle age
o “old people are all alike”
o “little to offer to society” and “behave like children”
o Implicit rather than explicit (assuming bad memory)
o Social stereotypes create self-stereotypes where thoughts about aging are
influenced
o Fear aging process
o Materialism plays a pivotal role in attitudes towards aging
o Negative attitudes about olde people found in children
Personality characteristics for successful aging
1. Strong Sense of meaning: a positive interpretation of one’s existence and value in life
2. Sense of mastery: global sense of control over life circumstances
3. Emotional stability: consistency and predictability in reactions and ability to
withstand setbacks
4. Flexibility: adjustability to change + willingness to compromise
5. Goal-directedness: attain a specific goal and finding ways to achieve goals
Compiled, Revised and Sold by Bronwyn de Sousa. DO NOT SHARE!!!
, 6. Conscientiousness: self-discipline
7. Extraversion: outgoing and confident approach to life
8. Low hostility level: not being aggressive or antagonistic
9. Resilience: capacity of an individual to adjust successfully + thrive on trauma
LOCUS OF CONTROL
o Ability to influence the course and outcome of life experiences
o Internal = I AND ME
o External = THEM AND OTHERS
o Aspect of control referred as a mastery
o Self-efficacy refers to a sense of mastery in specific tasks
o Old people less internal locus of control
Key element in life cycle = move from being dependent to independent
TYPES OF DEPENDENCY
1. Physical or medical dependency
• Degree to which physical health enables functioning independently
• Growing body = obesity/cognitive decline/loss of muscle mass
• Older people should perform instrumental activities
• Shopping, cooking, housekeeping etc.
• High dependency = facilities
2. Psychological dependency
• Cognitive abilities and emotional functioning
• Maintaining well-being
• Alzheimer’s disease or emotional disorders = no independence
3. Social dependency
• Capacity to maintain satisfying interpersonal relationships and to obtain
needed social support
• Making decisions about social interaction
• Elderly keep friendships and strong relationships
4. Financial dependency
• Inability to meet needs consistently with minimal or no financial
assistance
• Linked with poverty and blocked from self-fulfilment
Compiled, Revised and Sold by Bronwyn de Sousa. DO NOT SHARE!!!
