A Guide to Aging and Well-Being for Healthcare Professionals: Psychological Perspectives

by Norman M. Brier

Overview

This book provides practical evidence-based strategies that will help clinicians across a broad range of disciplines to address and discuss the main issues an aging person is likely to face and overcome if they are to maintain a sense of well-being as they age.

Based on an extensive body of research, the relevant up-to-date knowledge for each topic is concisely presented, followed by practical, concrete, evidence-based suggestions as to how a healthcare provider might acknowledge and create a partnership with their clients to help the person increase their sense of well-being. Each chapter contains a list of key terms, a summary, and case examples that illustrate in realistic and humanistic ways how a person might present the concern being addressed and intervene.

The specific challenges associated with aging that are addressed include: anxiety attached to an increasing awareness of mortality; retirement; the increasing number of losses of significant others; regrets; memory loss; the arrival of old-old age and feelings of loneliness, mattering insufficiently, and a loss of purpose; and finally, dealing with imminent death.

This book is suitable for all health professionals who provide clinical services or advice to older adults including physicians (i.e. particularly in the specialties of internal medicine, family medicine, geriatrics, and geriatric psychiatry), nurses, social workers, psychologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and audiologists.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781000754650
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	01/16/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	138
File size:	744 KB

About the Author

Norman M. Brier (PhD) is a psychologist who was a Professor of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine (AECOM). He has supervised hundreds of healthcare professionals in assessing and intervening with patients presenting with a variety of clinical concerns, and for more than 20 years has taught a class in patient-doctor communication. Dr. Brier is the author of a number of original articles and books. He continues to maintain a private practice in Bedford, New York and focuses especially on facilitating well-being in older individuals.

Table of Contents

Introduction; 1. Aging and well-being; 2. Well-being and the anxiety about the awareness of limited time people have remaining; 3. A major challenge to well-being as people age: Retirement; 4. A second major challenge to a person’s well-being as they age: The increasing number of deaths of significant others; 5. Aging, well-being, and life regrets; 6. Still another challenge: Age-associated memory loss; 7. Aging, well-being, and old-old age; 8. Three additional threats to a person’s well-being in old-old age: Loneliness, a loss of purpose, and a feeling of mattering less; 9. Decline, imminent death, and well-being; 10. Summary and synthesis; References; Index

Editorial Reviews

"Norman M. Brier has written a clear and concise guide for clinicians seeking to help older adults and their families to navigate the challenges of advanced age. The recommendations are realistic, pragmatic and empirically based. Both students and practitioners will benefit as they prepare themselves and those they serve to age with grace." Gary J. Kennedy MD, Professor, Vice Chair for Education, and Director of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Science, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

From the Publisher

Reviewer: Natasha Lukasiewich, DNP, MSN, RN (Legal Nursing Solutions, LLC)
Description: This easy-to-read guide to aging and well-being for healthcare professionals goes through the milestones that aging adults will possibly experience in their later years. The book has case study examples so readers can understand concepts more deeply.
Purpose: The purpose is to offer readers considerations of the aging adult from psychological perspectives. Many situations are presented to help readers understand. This book meets the objectives and is an important contribution to the older generation who often gets lost in the background.
Audience: This book was written for anyone who may be going through aging or dealing with those in later years. Author Dr. Brier is a psychologist who has mentored many healthcare professionals. He has taught many patient-doctor communication classes and advocates for the well-being of older adults.
Features: The book does a great job breaking down aging milestones. It gives examples and shares the major concerns, such as how the chance of losing loved ones increases in old age, feeling like one may or may not matter, and life regrets. It discusses threats such as loneliness, loss of purpose, and decline in health and well-being.
Assessment: This book is easy to read and understand. It offers useful insight and case scenarios, painting a clear picture of the challenges one encounters as they age.

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