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“It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers.”
—James Thurber
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LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this chapter, readers will be able to:
3-1. Discuss the importance of understanding various theories of aging.
3-2. Compare and contrast biological theories of aging.
3-3. Differentiate among psychological theories of aging.
3-4. Apply environmental theories of aging to practice with older adults.
3-5. Evaluate sociological theories of aging in relation to older adults.
3-6. Create approaches using theory as guiding practice with older adults.
3-7. Apply principles of population health in practice with older adults.
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Mini Case Study
Ms. Estelle Arthur is a 73-year-old widow. Because of her long history of arthritis and a fear of falling, she walks slowly with feet wide apart. She spends most of her time in her urban apartment alone. The local Meals on Wheels program brings her three meals per week, as she is no longer able to cook due to arthritis in her hands. Her children live a few states away and visit when they can.
Mr. Bernard Morris is an 83-year-old married Black man living in a midsized rural community. He is active in his church Sunday School programs, makes community meals for his church members, and is considered an elder to the community beyond his church. He and his eldest son run a small machine shop, where Mr. Brown spends most of his time transporting materials to customers via the company truck. He had some back problems in the past but has no current back pain.
Provocative Questions
What makes these two stories so different?
How is occupation relevant to these individuals’ daily lives?
What factors influence aging in relation to functional performance in daily activities?
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The questions posed in the mini-case study raise fundamental issues about the life course. Why do we age? What is the nature of senescence, and can its process be altered? How can quality of life and health be maintained throughout older adulthood? What characteristics influence why some people age in a positive way and others do not? How can we better address the needs of older adults through occupation to facilitate and maximize their potentialities? These are important questions, and scientific theory is required to answer them. Theory is an attempt to explain what we observe in empirical research or practice. To develop theories, scientists most often start with definitions of concepts and put forward ordered propositions about the relationships among concepts. Concepts are linked to empirical phenomena through operational definitions, from which hypotheses are derived and then tested against empirical observations. Theories may incorporate knowledge from multiple disciplines, and can, likewise, inform intervention as framed by many professions, including rehabilitation science and occupational therapy (Bukhave & Creek, 2021). Theoretical frameworks are considered essential for designing evidence-based occupational therapy interventions.
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Theories of aging go beyond the what of experiences ...