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Why It Is Necessary as A Counselor to Have a Working Knowledge of Cognitive and
Physical Development Among the Elderly.
To begin with, cognitive development represents the focus on the developments in
language learning, processing of information, conceptual and perceptual skills and different
aspects supporting the development of the brain.
Therefore, as a counselor there is increased need for having the knowledge in regard to
brain development. It is the case as they are in a position to guide the elderly in solving
problems, making decisions, and guiding in remembering. The elderly have a tendency of
forgetting which high affects their decision making and problem solving aspects. Thus, a
counselor among the elderly, should have a working knowledge for cognitive development to
guide the elderly in remembering things (Fisher et al.,2017).
It is necessary for counselors to have a working knowledge of the physical and mental
development of older adults. Due to chronic illnesses and increased health risks, older adults
can present these concerns that can significantly interfere with their physical and mental wellbeing. During the process of aging, individuals will endure three distinct stages including
primary, secondary, and tertiary aging. The first stage includes the normal changes within the
developmental process, the second stage refers to the developmental changes that are related
or associated to lifestyle and or environmental induced changes that are not inevitable, whereas
the territory aging stage refers to a rapid loss that occurs shortly before death. (Cavanaugh &
Blanchard-Fields, 2015) Understanding the distinct stages in the development process within
older adults is critical in understanding how these specific factors affect treatment and its
outcome. The various stages may reflect multiple needs that must be addressed. For instance,
if an individual is presenting signs of the secondary age stage such as, Alzheimer's or dementia,
the approach a counselor will need to take will vary from someone who may have lost their
friends or family during the primary aging stage.
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Physical and cognitive changes will vary among individuals. Some of the physical
changes in older adults include changes in skin, hair, voice, mobility, hearing, vision, balance,
as well as changes in their body functions and systems. In addition to physical changes,
cognitive changes within older adults are also present. “Changes in the brain occur mainly at
the level of individual brain cells, called neurons” (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2015).
Abnormal brain aging as well as changes within the brain can lead to issues in cognitive
development. This may lead to specific concerns regarding Alzheimer's disease and or
dementia. Aging declines and disrupts the number of neurotransmitters as well as their function
and role. By understanding the cognitive and physical development within older adults,
counselors can appropriately treat clients and meet specific needs without the concern of
misdiagnosing. If a counselor fails to understand the specifics within the distinct developments,
issues and concerns can disrupt a therapeutic treatment and affect the outcome for the client.
Counselors can enhance their understanding by seeking out information and staying consistent
with ongoing issues within this population.
When dealing with the cognitive problems, a Counsellor must be aware of the cognitive
problems of aged people. If a counsellor understands the problem easily, he can help according
to the issue. He must be familiar with which therapy can benefit elderly people who may have
problem with the evolutions of ageing to organize their feelings, find different sources of
satisfaction and meaning, and discover new assistance techniques. It can assist to stop people
encounter their suspicions of death if they have such anxiety and deal with sadness as friends
and family members pass on. It may be hard for some elderly to encounter the shift to
retirement, deal with different weakness or medical circumstances (Laidlaw, 2021).
The common problem which is found in elderly people areVisual-spatial abilities
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According to Palmiero et al., (2017), visual disorders become further common in aged
people. Some aspects a counsellor can perform to help organize the problems affected by visual
deficits are developed to assist a counselor. With working knowledge Of Cognitive and
Physical Development a counsellor is able to ensure there is sufficient lighting, containing
adequate light on your face and minimize flash. If a patient has difficulty reading, the
counsellor is able to assess choices such as recording instructions, giving huge images or
illustrations, or utilizing aids such as specially configured pillboxes. When utilizing published
materials, he or she is able to make clear the category is big enough and the typeface is
manageable to read.
Hearing and vision
Mostly aged people enduring age-related hearing loss - Make clear that your patient can
listen to you. In this situation, a counsellor must remember to speak deliberately and simply in
a natural tone. Screaming or speaking in an increased voice distorts speech sounds and can
convey the feeling of anger. Keep a notepad handy so you can communicate what you are
explaining. Write out diagnoses and other significant phrases (Wildenbos et al., 2018).
Physical strength
Significant actions if they perform experience bodily challenges that restrict their
mobility. Hence a Counsellor must have understood this to deal with the patient accordingly
(Krampe et al., 2018).
Appetite and energy level
According to Hertel et al (2018), appetite declines with age due to physiological
processes in the body and way of life, such as slower metabolism, less responsive taste buds,
and decreased activity levels. As a consequence, the energy level goes down and the body of
an elderly becomes weak.
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Grief due to death of a spouse
In many scenarios, these elderlies have a "biological" age that is older than their
sequential age. Counsellors should be aware of these differences and watch for the depression
and anxiety that habitually accompany a loss of ability. This has greatest impact especially
when an elderly loses a spouse.
In addition, Counsellor can assist aged people with becoming familiarized with these
types of differences and discern them this severe health. He must conscious of this kind of
difficulty. Counsellors require to remain knowledgeable of how much pressure these caregivers
are under and mediate by assisting them to learn techniques to cope. When evaluating the
elderly, counsellors require to know that they are not one homogenous people. Counsellors
must moreover remember in the sense that context is significant, particularly with aged clients
from different communities. Counsellors should be conscious of indigenous treatments
methods and their effect on their client's culture and morality (Smith et al., 2020).
In conclusion, everyone is a learner who must experience different developmental
challenges. Even counsellors, from entry-level to advanced professionals, will face various
challenges and development tasks on a regular basis. These learning opportunities, whether in
the form of a new and complex patient, keep counselling alive and exciting.
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Reference:
Cavanaugh, J. C., & Blanchard-Fields, F. (2018). Adult development and aging. Cengage
Learning.
Fisher, G. G., Chaffee, D. S., Tetrick, L. E., Davalos, D. B., & Potter, G. G. (2017). Cognitive
functioning, aging, and work: A review and recommendations for research and
practice. Journal of occupational health psychology, 22(3), 314.
Hertel, G., & Zacher, H. (2018). Managing the aging workforce. The SAGE handbook of
industrial, work and organization psychology, 3, 396-428.
Krampe, R. T., & Charness, N. (2018). Aging and expertise.
Laidlaw, K. (2021). Cognitive behavioral therapy with older people. American Psychological
Association.
Palmiero, M., Nori, R., & Piccardi, L. (2017). Verbal and visual divergent thinking in
aging. Experimental Brain Research, 235(4), 1021-1029.
Smith, J. M., Lee, A. C., Zeleznik, H., Coffey Scott, J. P., Fatima, A., Needham, D. M., &
Ohtake, P. J. (2020). Home and community-based physical therapist management of
adults with post–intensive care syndrome. Physical Therapy, 100(7), 1062-1073.
Wildenbos, G. A., Peute, L., & Jaspers, M. (2018). Aging barriers influencing mobile health
usability for older adults: A literature based framework (MOLD-US). International
journal of medical informatics, 114, 66-75.