Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-x24gv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-30T22:31:39.232Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 1 - Psychological Well-Being in Later Life

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 April 2024

By
Andrew Papadopoulos
Edited by
George Tadros  and
George Crowther
George Tadros
Affiliation:
Aston University, Birmingham
George Crowther
Affiliation:
Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Leeds
Get access

Summary

This chapter seeks to promote both awareness and understanding of evidence-based psychosocial factors that enhance well-being, adjustment, and recovery in older people admitted to hospital.

The chapter begins by exploring ageing from biological, psychosocial, and existential perspectives. It then focusses upon the psychological sequel of illness and disability in this population and goes on to identify components of psychological well-being drawn from both qualitative and quantitative research studies that promote recovery in older people who have been admitted to hospital.

The chapter also explores the role of culture, faith, and ethnicity in the well-being of hospitalised older people and concludes by highlighting essential components in the development of a positive, recovery-focused culture of care.

Keywords

elderlyhospitalisedolder adultspositive culture of care psychologicalrecoverywell-being
Type
Chapter
Information
Handbook of Old Age Liaison Psychiatry , pp. 9 - 23
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Payne, R.A., Abel, G.A., Guthrie, B., and Mercer, S.W. The effect of physical multimorbidity, mental health conditions and socioeconomic deprivation on unplanned admissions to hospital: a retrospective cohort study. CMAJ 2013, 185(5): 221–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Knight, B.G., and Lee, L.O. Contextual adult lifespan theory for adapting psychotherapy. In Laidlaw, K., and Knight, B. (eds), Handbook of Emotional Disorders in Later Life: Assessment and Treatment. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008, pp. 59–88.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Erickson, E.H. Identity and the Life Cycle. New York: Norton, 1980.Google Scholar
Harlow, L.L., Newcomb, M.D., and Bentler, P.M. Depression, self- derogation, substance use, and suicide ideation: lack of purpose in life as a mediational factor. Journal of Clinical Psychology 1986, 42(1): 5–21.3.0.CO;2-9>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stillion, J.M., and McDowell, E.E. Suicide across the Lifespan. Bristol: Taylor Francis, 1996.Google Scholar
King, K.B., Porter, L.A., Norsen, L.H., and Reis, H.T. Patient perceptions of quality of life after coronary heart surgery: Was it worth it? Research in Nursing and Health 1992, 15(5): 327–34.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rowe, J.W., and Kahn, R.L. Human aging: Usual and successful. Science 1987, 237: 143–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rowe, J.W., and Kahn, R.L. Successful aging. Gerontologist 1997, 37: 433–40.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Baltes, P.B., and Baltes, M.M. Successful Aging: Perspectives from the Behavioral Sciences. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993.Google Scholar
Summary report: The state of ageing in 2020. Centre for Ageing Better, 19n November 2020. https://ageing-better.org.uk/publications/state-of-ageing-2020.Google Scholar
Living well in older years. National Mental Health Intelligence Network, Gov.UK. www.gov.uk/government/publications/better-mental-health-jsna-toolkit/7-living-well-in-older-years.Google Scholar
Papadopoulos, A., Biggs, S., and Tinker, A. Well-being in later life: A proposed eco-systemic framework. British Journal of Well-Being 2011, 2(6): 22–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bond, J., and Corner, L. The future of well-being: Quality of life of older people in the twenty-first century. In Vincent, J.A., Phillipson, C.R., and Downs, M. (eds), The Futures of Old Age. London: Sage, 2006, pp. 147–53.Google Scholar
Gabriel, Z., and Bowling, A. Quality of life in old age from the perspectives of older people. In Walker, A., and Hennessy, C.A. (eds), Growing Older: Quality of Life in Old Age. Maidenhead: Open University Press, 2004, pp. 14–34.Google Scholar
Green, M., Iparraguirre, J., Davidson, S., Rossall, P., and Zaidi, A. Index of wellbeing in later life. Age UK, 2017. www.ageuk.org.uk/our-impact/policy-research/wellbeing-research/index-of-wellbeing.Google Scholar
Dittman-Kohli, F.D., and Westerhof, G.J. The SELE Sentence Completion Questionnaire: A new instrument for the assessment of personal meaning in research on aging. Anuario de Psichologia 1997, 73: 7–18.Google Scholar
Baker, F.M. Suicide among ethnic elders. In Kennedy, G.J. (ed.), Suicide and Depression in Late Life: Critical Issues in Treatment, Research, and Public Policy. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1996, pp. 51–79.Google Scholar
Berko, P. Make do and mend: An evaluation of an intervention for pain management within limited resources. Clinical Psychology Forum 2017, 296: 28–33CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Weiten, W., Dunn, D.S., and Hammer, E.Y. Psychology Applied to Modern Life: Adjustment in the 21st Century (11th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing, 2014.Google Scholar
McGraw, A.P., and Warren, C. Benign violation theory. In Attardo, S. (ed.), Encyclopedia of Humor Studies, vol. 1. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2014, pp. 75–7.Google Scholar
Papadopoulos, A., and La Fontaine, J.H. Elder Abuse: Therapeutic Perspectives in Practise. Chipping Norton: Winslow Press, 2000.Google Scholar
Sahu, S., Gupta, P., and Chatterjee, B. Depression is more than just sadness: A case of excessive anger and its management in depression. Indian J Psychol Med. 2014, 36(1): 77–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Parkinson, S., Chester, A., Cratchley, S., and Rowbottom, J. Application of the Model of Human Occupation Screening Tool (MOHOST Assessment) in an acute psychiatric setting. Occup Ther Health Care 2009; 22(2–3): 63–75.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clarke, C., Stack, C., and Martin, M. Lack of meaningful activity on acute physical hospital wards: Older people’s experiences. British Journal of Occupational Therapy 2017, 81(1): 15–23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Young, J.E., Klosko, J.S., and Weishaar, M.E. Schema Therapy: A Practitioner’s Guide. New York: Guilford Press, 2003.Google Scholar
Ethnicity and health. POSTnote 276. British Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, 2007. https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/POST-PN-276/POST-PN-276.pdf.Google Scholar
Nazroo, J., Bajekal, M., Blane, D., and Grewal, I. Ethnic inequalities. In:Walker, A., and Hennessy, C.H. (eds), Growing Older: Quality of Life in Old Age. Maidenhead: Open University Press, 2004, pp. 35–59.Google Scholar
Burke, A. Racism, prejudice and mental illness. In Cox, J. (ed.), Transcultural Psychiatry. London: Croom Helm, 1986, 139–57.Google Scholar
Littlewood, R., and Lipsedge, M. Aliens and Alienists: Ethnic Minorities and Psychiatry (3rd ed.). London: Unwin Hyman, 1997.Google Scholar
Drew, L.M., and Silverstein, M. Intergenerational role investments of great grandparents: Consequences for psychological wellbeing. Ageing and Society 2004, 24(1): 95–111.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Butt, J., and Moriarty, J. Social support and ethnicity in old age. In Walker, A., and Hennessy, C.H. (eds), Growing Older: Quality of life in Old Age. Maidenhead: Open University Press, 2004, pp. 167–88.Google Scholar
Katz, R. Intergenerational family relations and subjective well-being in old age: A cross-national study. European Journal of Ageing 2009, 6(2): 79–90.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kraus, N. Religious meaning and subjective wellbeing in late life. Journal of Gerontology, Social Sciences, 58B 2003, 3: 160–70.Google Scholar
Kirby, S.E., Coleman, P.G., and Daley, D. Spirituality and well-being in frail and non-frail older adults. Journal of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 2004, 59(3): 123–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Keyes, C.L., and Reitzez, D.C. The role of religious identity in the mental health of older working and retired adults. Aging and Mental Health 2007, 11(4): 434–43.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
MacKinlay, E. The Spiritual Dimension of Ageing. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers Ltd, 2001.Google Scholar
Marcoen, A. Spirituality and personal well-being in old age. Ageing and Society 1987, 14: 537–73.Google Scholar
Day, J., and Higgins, I. Existential absence: The lived experience of family members during their older loved one’s delirium. Qual Health Res 2015, 25(12): 1700–18.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jurgens, F.J., Clissett, P., Gladman, J.R.F., and Harwood, R.H. Why are family carers of people with dementia dissatisfied with general hospital care? A qualitative study. BMC Geriatrics 2012, 12(57): 1–10.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dewing, J., and Dijk, S. What is the current state of care for older people with dementia in general hospitals? A literature review. Dementia 2016, 15(1): 106–24.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bridges, J., Flatley, M., and Meyer, J. Older people’s and relatives’ experiences in acute care settings: Systematic review and synthesis of qualitative studies. International Journal of Nursing Studies 2010, 47(1): 89–107.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kitwood, T. Dementia Reconsidered: The Person Comes First. Buckingham: Open University Press, 2010.Google Scholar
Majeed, N., and Williams, E. Improving mental and physical health care for older adults: An inpatient service development project by frontline staff. FPOP Bulletin 2016, 133: 72–77.Google Scholar
Baillie, L., Gallini, A., Corser, R., Elworthy, G., Scotcher, A., and Barrand, A. Care transitions for frail, older people from acute hospital wards within an integrated healthcare system in England: A qualitative case study. International Journal of Integrated Care 2014, 14(1). DOI: http://doi.org/10.5334/ijic.1175.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brooker, D., and Latham, I. Person Centred Dementia Care: Making Services Better with the VIPS Framework (2nd ed.). London: Jessica Kingsley, 2016.Google Scholar
Røsvik, J., and Rokstad, A.M.M. What are the needs of people with dementia in acute hospital settings, and what interventions are made to meet these needs? A systematic integrative review of the literature. BMC Health Services Research 2020, 20(1), 723. doi: 10.1186/s12913-020-05618-3.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fossey, J., and James, I. (eds). Evidence-Based Approaches for Improving Dementia Care in Care Homes. London: Alzheimer Society, 2007.Google Scholar
Carpenter, C., Banerjee, J., and Conroy, S. Silver book II: Quality care for older people with urgent care needs. British Geriatrics Society, 2021. www.bgs.org.uk/resources/resource-series/silver-book-ii.Google Scholar
Waller, S., Masterson, A., and Finn, H. Improving the patient experience: Developing supportive design for people with dementia: The King’s Fund’s enhancing the healing environment programme, 2009–12. The King’s Fund, London, 2013. www.kingsfund.org.uk/sites/default/files/field/field_publication_file/developing-supportive-design-for-people-with-dementia-kingsfund-jan13_0.pdf.Google Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×