Counseling The Elderly

The elderly population is one of the most misunderstood and marginalized populations in the United States, so they need all the help they can get. Counseling the elderly requires special counseling skills such as active listening. Working with the elderly requires an individual to have the ability to listen to the elderly without interaction to give them a safe space to talk about their problems. Another special skill has to do with maintaining confidentiality and professional boundaries. This means that they should not disclose patient information to third parties. Additionally counselors should have training in counseling to work with the elderly population. Spirituality and religion tend to positively impact the elderly as it enhances their well-being, provides social support, increases their capacity to cope and give them an opportunity to contribute to society. Some of the difficulties counselors should expect when handling the elderly include mental issues, problems with everyday tasks and mobility, problems navigating healthcare and keeping them prepared for end life. Some of the issues facing the elderly patients have to do with a lost sense of purpose, access to healthcare, preparing for the end of life, and issues completing everyday tasks (Pölönen, Tiihonen, Hartikainen, & Nykänen, 2017). Stress, anxiety, and depression are also common problems that the elderly face. Assessment of elderly people covers physical, psychological and functional domains. One such assessment is the multidisciplinary, multidimensional assessment that is designed to evaluate the functional ability, mental cognitive and physical health of an elderly person. Geriatric therapy is a form of mental health therapy that focuses on emotional and psychological needs of people above 60 years.

References

Pölönen, S., Tiihonen, M., Hartikainen, S., & Nykänen, I. (2017). Individually tailored dietary counseling among old home care clients-effects on nutritional status. The journal of nutrition, health & aging, 21(5), 567-572.