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“True belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.”
—Brené Brown
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LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this chapter, readers will be able to:
5-1. Discuss the importance of social relationships, social networks, and social support in the lives of older adults.
5-2. Understand the impact of gender identity and gender-based attitudes and expectations on aging, relationships, and life satisfaction.
5-3. Examine the effects of social isolation, loneliness, and touch deprivation in older adulthood.
5-4. Identify how gender identity, sexuality, and relationships effect health status and healthcare delivery in older adults.
5-5. Examine the impact of the environment in which one lives on sexual expression.
5-6. Develop strategies for use in therapeutic interactions with older adults and families.
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Mini Case Study
Esther Rose is a 74-year-old African American, cisgender woman who recently retired as a grocery store manager. Ms. Rose has a medical history that includes hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, diabetic retinopathy with vision loss, and osteoarthritis in her spine, hands, and knees. She currently lives in a senior apartment complex in a large Southern U.S. city and reports that she is having difficulty cooking and cleaning due to vision loss and pain in her hands and knees. Ms. Rose moved into the apartment complex after the death of her second husband, Marcus, approximately 1 year ago. Ms. Rose was married to her first husband, George, for 30 years and had three children with him. After his death, she married a friend from church. She and her second husband Marcus were married for 2 years before he suddenly died from complications due to COVID-19. Ms. Rose now spends most of her time watching television. She used to enjoy going to the library, Bible study, and church services but has recently stopped driving because of her vision loss. She served as a Sunday school teacher and helped at the church’s food pantry in the past. She has not made many friends at the apartment complex yet but hopes to reach out to her neighbors soon. Of her three children, one lives in the same city but does not stop by to visit very often; the other two live across the country. She has four teenage grandchildren living with their parents 1,200 miles away. When asked by the occupational therapist to identify important activities that she is unable to do and would like to do in the future, she states that she would like to resume valued social activities such as going to church, teaching Sunday school, and working in the food pantry, all of which she is unable to because she can no longer drive.
Provocative Questions
What strengths do you see in Ms. Rose’s social network? What weaknesses do you see in Ms. Rose’s social network?
Who can Ms. Rose reach out to for social ...