Psychogerontology: what is it, characteristics, functions and areas of work?

Let's take a look at what psychogerontology is and how it helps the elderly.

In the present era, life expectancy has increased considerably with respect to past times and is expected to continue to increase considerably in the coming decades thanks to advances in the field of medicine and other health specialties, in the area of education, technology and science.

On the other hand, the high prevalence of elderly people poses new challenges for health professionals as there is a greater number of cases with different pathologies, among which are those of mental health.

Within this framework, psychogerontology and psychogeriatrics have become increasingly relevant. because of its great importance in helping from the field of psychology to promote the welfare and improve the quality of life of the elderly. It is for that reason that in the present article it will be explained briefly in what consists this specialty of the field of the psychology.

What is psychogerontology?

Psychogerontology is a specialty in the field of psychology and psychiatry that has been gaining importance in the 21st century so that psychologists can meet the demands of a population with an increasing prevalence of elderly people. increasing prevalence of elderly people.

This discipline is focused on the research and study of the aging of people and to employ methods of intervention and treatment that help prevent and/or delay cognitive deterioration and also to promote good mental health and well-being of people of an advanced age, as well as their families.

When it comes to intervention in these cases, it is best that it is carried out in a family, social and community context. in a family, social and community context that is as close as possible to their daily lives..

This specialty of psychology is normally carried out by a multidisciplinary team composed of psychologists, geriatric physicians and psychiatrists, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and health assistants, all of them specialized in the field of gerontology, who work with a biopsychosocial model adapted to the needs of each patient.

Functions of psychogerontology professionals.

A psychogerontologist has the fundamental objective of promote good mental health, as far as possible, during the aging process of the people he or she cares for..

It is important to note that it is now known that the human brain has a plasticity that allows people to learn throughout their lives, so that as they age they are still able to optimize their physical and cognitive abilities and, by adapting their environment according to their needs, they can compensate for those faculties that are in decline.

In addition, treatments in the field of psychogerontology aimed at promoting physical activity (through regular light physical exercise), mental activity (through tasks that require the use of cognitive faculties, such as memory) and emotional activity (through psychological support and promoting their own emotional regulation abilities) have been shown to be highly effective in improving the biopsychosocial functioning of elderly people. in improving the biopsychosocial functioning of elderly people..

Among the functions of psychogerontology professionals are the following:

• Assessment, treatment and accompaniment of elderly persons.
• Assistance to family members and caregivers of the elderly.
• Psychoeducational programs for the prevention of pathologies and promotion of an active old age.
• Family mediation.
• Teaching through courses and postgraduate courses for future professionals in psychogerontology.
• Promote active learning throughout life in order to prevent cognitive deterioration.
• Programs of preparation and adaptation to retirement for people who are close to that stage.

Who is helped in the field of psychogerontology?

In the field of psychogerontology it works mainly with people of an advanced age, although it also usually facilitates a better evolution in the process when working with their caregivers and/or relatives..

It is also important to adapt the context in which the elderly with whom the intervention is carried out live and carry out their daily activities, so that they can develop in a facilitating environment that helps them to have at their disposal the necessary resources in their environment so that they can face their daily life in the best possible way. All with the help of family members and/or caregivers.

1. Elderly people

The population on which psychogerontology is primarily focused is the elderly and the approach varies according to the degree of autonomy of the person, which is usually related to their physical and mental health.

1.1 Primary: normative aging

People who are undergoing a process of normative aging, the changes undergone are usually progressive and very common, since they occur in any person after a certain age, even if he or she is in good health.even if they are in good health, due to the passing of the years. In these cases they usually have levels of psychological, physical and social functioning adjusted to their age.

In these cases, the role of psychogerontologists is oriented to primary prevention.Neuropsychology, which consists of promoting active aging by providing these people with a series of exercises and tasks to keep their brain and body active in order to keep them as independent as possible and to prevent possible physical and cognitive deterioration.

1.2 Secondary or tertiary: non-normative or pathological aging

This aging process is the one suffered by those people of an advanced and sometimes not so advanced age, by which their psychological, physical and social capacities are deteriorated to the point of being inadequate for their age, so that their autonomy is limited.and thus limit their autonomy. For example, this occurs in elderly people who develop Alzheimer's disease.

In these cases, the objective of psychogerontology professionals would be focused on a secondary or tertiary type of prevention, depending on the level of deterioration of the person to be treated, with the aim of promoting the greatest possible well-being by prescribing a series of tasks, both in the office or center and at home, to prevent further physical and cognitive deterioration, and to improve their quality of life.

2. Caregivers and/or family members of the elderly.

In the field of psychogerontology, it is also important to work with caregivers and family members who live with or are in charge of an elderly person. Especially if that person is suffering from a pathological physical and cognitive deterioration that prevents him/her from having an autonomy in accordance with his/her age.

With caregivers of the elderly, it is very helpful for them to undergo continuing education with professionals simultaneously with the treatment of the person being cared for. This training should ensure that the caregivers learn a series of guidelines that facilitate the performance of the tasks entrusted by the professionals to the elderly person, in order to promote their autonomy and prevent a deterioration of their physical and mental capacities.

These guidelines should be adapted according to whether the elderly person is cared for at home or in an institutional center, such as a nursing home, where the resources and assistance available are different.

In addition, it is important to provide psychoeducation, it is important to provide psychoeducation to both family members and caregivers of the elderly.In the case of a family member or caregiver who is suffering from pathological aging, it would be necessary to explain to them in a comprehensive manner the way in which normative and pathological aging should be developed. Likewise, in the event that their relative or the person they care for is suffering from pathological aging, it would be necessary to explain to them what the pathologies they are suffering from consist of and how to treat and delay their evolution, teaching them the guidelines they should follow to help in the process.

It is also essential to to provide psychological support to all the people with whom the treatment process is being carried out (elderly people with or without (elderly people with or without pathologies, family members and caregivers).

Areas of professional performance

Intervention in the field of psychogerontology can be carried out in various contexts.These are the most common ones:

• Private clinics.
• Health centers and hospitals.
• Residences for the elderly.
• Address of the person with whom the intervention and support is provided.
• Centers subsidized by the municipality of the locality.
• Centers of associations of psychogerontology.
• Centers of associations for retired people.
• Universities of experience for the elderly.
• Research centers oriented to the field of psychogerontology.

Finally, it is important to note that there are other names to refer to the area of mental health professionals specializing in the treatment of the elderly (psychogeriatrics, psychiatry or geriatric psychology and gerontopsychiatry) and that, at present, the differences between them have not yet been highlighted, giving rise to possible confusion, so that they are often used interchangeably.