CODE | GER2009 | ||||||||||||
TITLE | Mental Health Issues in Later Life | ||||||||||||
UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||
ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||
DEPARTMENT | Gerontology and Dementia Studies | ||||||||||||
DESCRIPTION | This study-unit examines the theoretical issues and research findings in the psychology of ageing and rehabilitation. It provides a critical analysis of the process of ageing and how it affects psychological processes, with a focus on the study of normal ageing. It also examines the psychology of rehabilitation, with particular reference to conditions and disorders common among older adults such as dementias and chronic medical and physical conditions. Students will be able to describe, understand and evaluate substantive material on theoretical perspectives, concepts and issues on ageing, physical and health changes, cognitive functioning, relationships, personality and ageing, mental health problems in later life, problems with testing older people, and rehabilitation as applied to various conditions and disorders amongst older adults; apply knowledge of psychological ageing and rehabilitation to different social and cultural contexts; and analyse problems in the psychological study of ageing and of rehabilitation and consider possible solutions. Study-unit Aims: The study-unit aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the mental health challenges faced by older individuals. Focusing on both theoretical and practical aspects, the unit seeks to equip students with the knowledge to recognize, assess, and address mental health issues specific to the elderly. Emphasizing evidence-based approaches, the aim is to foster sensitivity, empathy, and effective communication in dealing with mental health concerns in the aging population. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to describe, discuss and report upon the following areas: - Demographics and definitions of ageing; - Models of ageing change; - Biopsychosocial perspective; physical, sensory, and health changes; - Cognitive functioning; - Creativity and ageing; - Memory and ageing; performance of older adults on tests and problems with testing older people; - Personality and ageing; relationships in late adulthood, disengagement and activity theory; mental health in later life; physical and mental health problems and disability in late adulthood, including dementias and chronic illness, rehabilitation of physical, medical, neurological and psychiatric conditions. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - demonstrate the way the topics are integrated and assemble a formulation to support the elderly in unison with other professionals and establishments; - review as well as criticise constructively established works on the subject; - evaluate and prioritize immediate needs of the elderly and judge risk; and - review and critique their own progress and help others become competent in the field through effective communication and management. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main text: - Schaie, K. Warner, and Sherry Willis. Handbook of the Psychology of Aging. 9th ed. Elsevier, 2021. Supplementary reading: - Peel, Elizabeth, Carol Holland, and Michael Murray. Psychologies of Ageing. Cham: Springer International AG, 2018. |
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ADDITIONAL NOTES | This study-unit is only offered to students following the Higher Diploma in Gerontology and Geriatrics course. | ||||||||||||
STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Independent Study and Online Learning | ||||||||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |