Psychology is a field dealing with the study of behaviors and mental functioning of people. The important goal of psychology is understanding people. Aging occurs when as time passes by a person starts to change physically, and all human beings have to go through aging. Psychologists who deal with older adults are referred to as geropsychologists. They assess the behaviors and mental functions or any other issue of aging people. People should do some things as they age such things are protecting one’s brain, manage depression in old age, and create retirement plans.
As people are aging, they should protect their brains to prevent conditions such as Alzheimer’s. The person is likely to have better intellectual abilities and memory as they age if they believe that they have control over their cognitive and physical health. When an old person gets the feeling that he/she is not in control of their life they may be in distress or anxious and this interferes with their performance (Costa, Campos, Carvalho, and Fernandes; Sindi et al.). The brain can be given a workout by engaging in cognitive problems that require cognitive reasoning. Activities such as reading can help in improving a person’s cognitive functioning. Exercise is beneficial to the bodies of the aging people and produces things that prevent decline in memory in the aging process (Costa, Campos, Carvalho, and Fernandes; Flöel et al.).
One of the psychological issues that old people may deal with is depression. It is because it is at this stage of life that their past and present events start to fill their thoughts. They can be depressed on their medical conditions that they are battling with, loss of their family members and friends, and the fact they are not as active as they would wish to be (Timmermann). Such thoughts usually give rise to emotions such as anxiety, loneliness, and sadness and this may in turn lead to depression. When old people are in a depression, they may get diseases caused by depression, suicidal thoughts, and bad habits such as overeating or failing to eat both of which can lead to serious conditions that affect their health negatively such as obesity. Depression in old people can also lead to loss of memory and lack of enough sleep (Costa, Campos, Carvalho, and Fernandes). Old people should seek the help of psychologists regularly if they are in a depression because psychologists are usually in a position to help tailor an old person’s strategy that in individualized to his/ her needs (Costa, Campos, Carvalho, and Fernandes). Psychologist can also help the family of the old person to be equipped with good tactics of dealing with the issues that the old person is facing.
Although it is important to save for retirement, psychologists argue that money is not all that is important for having a happy life after retirement. People should come up with new plans for when they stop working. Psychologists advise the old people to retire gradually or to engage in other services such as consultancy before they retire completely (Timmermann). After retirement, the aging groups usually have much free time, and it is good if they participate in new activities and hobbies.
Psychology is a field dealing with the study of behavior and mental functioning of people. Aging usually incorporate psychology in the sense that psychologists usually advise the aging people on what they should do to prevent memory loss or to protect their brains. They also deal with depression in old people, and they can advise retiring people on the best way of planning their retirement.
- Costa, Inês Campos, Hugo Nogueira Carvalho, and Lia Fernandes. “Aging, Circadian Rhythms and Depressive Disorders: A Review.” American Journal Of Neurodegenerative Disease 2.4 (2013): 228-246. Academic Search Complete. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.
- Flöel, Agnes, et al. “Lifestyle and Memory in the Elderly.” Neuroepidemiology 31.1 (2008): 39-47. MEDLINE with Full Text. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.
- Sindi, S., et al. “Depressive Symptoms, Cortisol, and Cognition During Human Aging: The Role of Negative Aging Perceptions.” Stress: The International Journal On The Biology Of Stress 15.2 (2012): 130-137. Academic Search Complete. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.
- Timmermann, Sandra. “Out of the Shadows: Facing Up to Aging.” Journal Of Financial Service Professionals 61.5 (2007): 30-32. Business Source Complete. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.
