Understanding older adults and their needs

Susan Salach-Cutler

Although I have a strong understanding of older adults and their needs through my 25
years of working in the geriatric health care field, this program has amplified my awareness of
just how much more work needs to be done. Gerontology is still a young area of investigation
which creates a multitude of opportunities for research and growth in that will bring insight into
the current and future needs of this demographic.
Frank (1946) was astute in his observation that gerontology reflects the recognition of a
new kind of problem that will increasingly command the interest and devotion of a variety of
professionals, all of whom are needed to study such problems as human growth, development
and aging, ecology and regional planning, mental hygiene, human conservation, or cultural
change. There is an increasing need for professionals from a number of disciplines to better
comprehend the needs of the elderly in order to enhance support of their clients and their
families. It is our responsibility as professionals in the field of Gerontology to inform the
conversations in the areas of bio-medical, psychology, sociology, policy, as well as cultural
concepts of aging.
Incorporating my learning with future goals
I believe that I have engaged in effective gerontological practices throughout my career.
I concur with Pavalko et al, (1993) that we have an important role to play in preparing
individuals and communities for the emerging challenges associated with care and assessing
ways that care work can most effectively be balanced with other work and family roles. Just as
the field has grown and adapted to the growth of the aging population, I believe that, as
gerontologist, there will be a need to continue to grow and adapt to the needs of the Baby

Boomers as they age. There will be an increased need for programs and technology that will
keep them engaged and connected with their peers.
Most pressing for me is the lack of interdisciplinary application in the field of
gerontology. Which is an irony as gerontology is such a multidisciplinary field of study. I aspire
to create methods that will unite gerontologists from different disciplines in order to generate
educational applications that will assist current and future generations of aged men and women
in constructing a comprehensive strategy for their future.
Commitment to improve the lives of older adults.
I have spent a good part of my career endeavoring to educate and empower both the
elderly and their family caregivers on the significance of becoming invested in evaluating and
creating a pro-active plan for their future. It is vital to my mission as a gerontologist to educate
and empower family caregivers to be advocates for their loved ones. In a society focused on
immediate gratification and discerning only what is pertinent for today the thought of
constructing a future focused life plan is almost non-existent. When one considers that with
retirement the focus tends to become will I have enough money and not who do I want to be
when I retire, one observes how narrow and perhaps superficial life can become.
Having been a family caregiver myself, I understand the challenges, concerns and chaos
that accompany family members trying to make important decisions for those for whom they
care, many times in emotionally charged time-sensitive conditions. When the adult children have
the tools they need to pro-actively make a positive impact on the lives of their loved ones it has a
positive ripple effect on the entire family.
Pursuing a Masters degree in Gerontology has been a goal of mine for the last 20 years.
Having worked in the geriatric health care field throughout my career I find it imperative to grow

in my understanding of the needs of older adults, as well as have a working knowledge of

research being done to support individuals as they age giving me more tools to empower family
caregivers.
It is my duty as a gerontologist to inform the discussion in many different areas of social
and public policy to support and encourage the resilient older adults. The majority of politicians
that I have met construct policy within a framework of crisis. Policy constructed within this
framework is reactionary in nature. In my opinion there needs to be more pro-active policy
discussion involving the future potential outcomes of reactionary policymaking. If we, as
Gerontologists, do not involve ourselves in changing the construction of future policy, then I
think we are doing a disservice to our fellow Americans. There is a definite need for those who
study aging to have a seat at the political table. I have advised several local politicians regarding
policies affecting the elderly and found that many are not as informed on aging issues as one
would expect.
Artifacts
The artifacts I have included in this section of the portfolio are a sampling of the way in
which as a gerontologist I can further understand older adults and create opportunities to support
them as they age. First and foremost is the importance of understanding how to create initiatives
that promote resiliency. Resiliency research clearly shows that how one responds to negative
events throughout the life course has a substantial impact on how resilient a person is later in life.
Resilience as it relates to aging is something of a paradox. Resilience researchers have been
struggling with different definitions and diverse approaches (Lavretsky, 2014). To critically
examine resilience as it relates to aging we need to acknowledge that conceptually resilience is

both a collective and distinctive quality. Rubinstein and de Medeiros (2014) point out that it is
individual action that determines ones future as a successful older person.
Resiliency is the umbrella under which other factors support the positive aging of an
individual as well as a cohort. Therefor it is only logical that spirituality be among the artifacts I
present. Spirituality is an inherent component of being human, and is subjective, intangible, and
multidimensional (Tanyi, 2002). As one draws nearer to the last stages of their life, there often is
a desire to seek a deeper meaning through spirituality.
Along those same lines, elders who stay in the workplace beyond the standard retirement
age of 65 would support resilient aging. The workplace has potential to provide an arena for
intergenerational interactions that under certain conditions can stimulate personality growth
(Bowen, Noack & Staudinger, 2011). Therefore, the occurrence of a life transition, such as
retirement, can produce an identity crisis or crisis of meaning and purpose. Circling the
conversation back to the creation of purpose and meaning playing a role in understanding older
adults and their needs as it applies to supporting resilient aging.
References
Frank, L. (1946). Gerontology. Journal of Gerontology, 1: 1-11.
Pavalko, E. K., Elder Jr, G. H., & Clipp, E. C. (1993). Worklives and longevity: Insights
from a life course perspective. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 363-380.
Lavretsky, H. (2014). Resilience and aging: research and practice. JHU Press.
Rubinstein, R. L., & de Medeiros, K. (2014). Successful aging, gerontological theory
and neoliberalism: A qualitative critique. The Gerontologist, gnu080.
Tanyi, R. A. (2002). Towards clarification of the meaning of spirituality. Journal of
advanced nursing, 39(5), 500-509.

Bowen, C., Noack, C., & Staudinger, U. (2011). Aging in the Work Context. In K.
Warner Schaie & Willis, S. (Eds.), Handbook of the Psychology of Aging, (pages 263-278).
Burlington, MA. Elsevier Inc.