GROUP WORK WITH THE ELDERLY

GROUP ISSUES: ANGER FEAR LONLINESS LOSS DEATH AND DYING USELESSNESS & POWERLESSNESS SELF-ESTEEM

ISSUES ISOLATION DEPRESSION

LEADER CHARACTERISTICS SENSITIVITY RECOGNIZING THE ELDERLY ARE UNIQUE COMFORT DISCUSSING DEATH AND DYING

THE NEED FOR REMINISCING CAN BE HEALTHY PROCESS LIFE AND SELF-ESTEEM IDENTIFIES CURRENT ISSUES EXAMPLES: FAVORITE HOLIDAY; FAVORITE TIME WITH FAMILY/SPOUSE; FAVORITE VACATION, ETC.

GOALS/TYPES OF GROUPS: PROVIDING INFORMATION I.E. MEDICARE “MAKING THINGS HAPPEN”- TASK ORIENTED PERSONAL ISSUES (COUNSELING) SOCIAL CONTACTS (SUBGROUPING OK) REALITY ORIENTED GROUPS (I.E. DEMENTIA) REMOTIVIATION GROUPS (GOALS FOR FUTURE)

TYPES OF GROUPS (KRAUSE) REMINISCING GROUPS (THE IMPORTANCE OF LIFE REVIEW; AIMED AT INCREASING LIFE SATISFACTION AS OPPOSED TO IMPROVING SOCIAL SKILLS) PSYCHOTHERAPY AND COUNSELING GROUPS (REMEDIATION OF SPECIFIC PROBLEMS SUCH AS ROLE CHANGES, SOCIAL ISOLATION, FEAR OF FUTURE)

TYPES OF GROUPS (KRAUSE) TOPIC-SPECIFIC GROUPS (CENTERED AROUND A PARTICULAR TOPIC SUCH AS WIDOWHOOD, SEXUALITY, HEALTH, GRANDPARENTING, ETC.) MEMBER-SPECIFIC GROUPS (FOCUS ON TRANSITIONS SUCH AS GRIEF, HOSPITALIZATION, INSTITUTIONALIZED DAY CARE)

GROUP SETTINGS COMMUNITY MINIMUM CARE FACILITIES NURSING HOMES INSTITUTIONS

SUGGESTIONS FOR WORKING WITH ELDERLY PROVIDE SAME QUALITY OF TREATMENT BE HOLISTIC RATHER THAN SYMPTOM ORIENTED ALLY YOURSELF WITH THE FAMILY IDENTIFY STRENGTHS

SUGGESTIONS HELP CONNECT THEM TO OTHERS BE ACTIVE WRITE THINGS DOWN SEPARATE EMPATHY FROM SYMPATHY BE AWARE OF TRANSFERENCE AND COUNTERTRANSFERENCE

SUGGESTIONS TREAT WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT NEVER PATRONIZE SET SPECIFIC AND ATTAINABLE GOALS

GROUPS FOR CARETAKERS PROBLEMS MAY INCLUDE SUCH THINGS AS: * CONFINEMENT * INFRINGEMENT OF LIFESTYLE * RESTRICTED SOCIAL LIFE * WORK AND FAMILY CONFLICTS * EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL STRESS

GROUPS FOR CARETAKERS FEELINGS INCLUDE FRUSTRATION, RESENTMENT, AND PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL STRAIN GROUPS ARE PREVENTIVE IN NATURE. THEY AFFIRM, SUPPORT, EDUCATE THEY LINK CARETAKERS WITH OTHERS WHO CAN HELP THEM HANDLE UNIQUE AND UNIVERSAL PROBLEMS