Senior Citizens, Culture, and Substance Abuse

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Recommended: Effects of depression on the elderly

The process of aging according to Erik Erickson is better explained through ego integrity verse despair. When understanding the stages it is a bit easier to understand why one would turn to substance abuse rather than processing and becoming confident in the life you have lived. Often times those who are at the despair stage experience panic that their life is coming to an end and they may possibly be unhappy with the life they lived. Others who are in the area of integrity are at good terms with the life they are living and often times do not regret what they have or have not done. This is a healthier outlook on life and those who are at this stage according to Erikson are typically healthier and happier individuals.
For the individual who is experiencing despair they may feel as death is fearsome, hypercritical of others, and disengages. They often feel as if their life has been wasted and have an extremely negative outlook. When an individual has ego integrity the person may appear wise and happy with their self this is often the ideal outcome. Another factor to be evaluated is the stress of living arrangements and possibly having your children as your primary care givers. With the cost of retirement homes along with how the economy is currently going it is more prevalent for the primary caregiver of the elderly to be the children.
Marks, Lambert, and Choi (2002) summarized, “most studies have concluded that caregiving is associated with an increased sense of burden and psychological distress.” This idea comes from the workload of which the caregivers experience for instance, buying extra groceries, bathing, and perhaps trips to the doctor office. This leaves the elder feeling as if they are a burden to society or even overwhe...

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...adsworth.

Levin, S., & Kruger, J.D. (2004). Substance abuse among older adults: physicians guide. (DHHS Publication No. (SMA) (04-3937). Substance Abuse and mental Health Service Administration. Rockville, MD.

Marks, N. F., Lambert, J.D., & Chaoi,. H. (2002). Transitions to caregiving, gender, and psychological well-being: A prospective U.S. national study. Journal of marriage and family, 64. 657-667.

Menninger, J.A. (2002) Assessment and treatment of alcoholism and substance related disorders in the elderly. Bulletin of the Menninger clinic, 66, 166-183.

Oscar-Berman, M., & Marinkovic, K. (2003). Alcoholism and the brain: an overview. Alcohol Research and Health, 27(2), 125-123

United Nations. 2002. International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002. Document adopted at the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, Apr. 2002. http://www.globalaging.org/resources

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