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CNL 530 GCU Counselor Awareness: Working with the Aging Paper

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Grand Canyon University

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CNL 530

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Running head: COUNSELOR AWARENESS 1

Counselor Awareness: Working with the Aging

Grand Canyon University

CNL-530: Human Sexuality and Aging

January 3, 2020

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COUNSELOR AWARENESS

Counselor Awareness: Working with the Aging

As with any age group or social group, society has stereotypes about each. Aging adults,

also known as the elderly population, harbors their own set of stereotypes designated by society

that provides positive and negative impact to the individuals. Some believe that aging is a

process to avoid or slow down with exercise, and facial creams as the elderly are either seen as

physically unappealing, incompetent, and slow individuals. On the other hand, some view the

aging process as a blessing, retirement stage where the elderly are viewed as vaults of wisdom,

highly respected and pillars of spiritual growth. Stereotypes or worldviews that impacts the idea

of the elderly is important to note as a therapist when addressing a variety of issues with the

elderly population.

Stereotypes about the Elderly

Many societal variables play a role in the stereotypes others have about the elderly which

can be either positive, or negative. For example, some cultures believe that men are smarter, and

stronger than women and that even elderly males are perceived as more competent, less

dependent and higher in autonomy, then aging women (Koenig, 2018). Another large assumption

about the elderly population is that they all experience a significant decrease in cognitive

function, known as Alzheimer’s. North American cultures have a common belief that the elderly

experience dementia, become ill, lonely and dependent on routine, twenty-four hour care, often

by a family member or in an “Old Folks Home”. However, other cultures strongly value their

elders, such as the Native Americans, and hold the belief that the elderly are resilient, and both

physically and mentally healthy individuals who are an asset to their family and community

(Grandbois & Sanders, 2009). Others also believe that the aging individual is wiser, wealthy and

living a life of relaxation (Dionigi, 2015).

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Running head: COUNSELOR AWARENESS Counselor Awareness: Working with the Aging Grand Canyon University CNL-530: Human Sexuality and Aging January 3, 2020 1 COUNSELOR AWARENESS 2 Counselor Awareness: Working with the Aging As with any age group or social group, society has stereotypes about each. Aging adults, also known as the elderly population, harbors their own set of stereotypes designated by society that provides positive and negative impact to the individuals. Some believe that aging is a process to avoid or slow down with exercise, and facial creams as the elderly are either seen as physically unappealing, incompetent, and slow individuals. On the other hand, some view the aging process as a blessing, retirement stage where the elderly are viewed as vaults of wisdom, highly respected and pillars of spiritual growth. Stereotypes or worldviews that impacts the idea of the elderly is important to note as a therapist when addressing a variety of issues with the elderly population. Stereotypes about the Elderly Many societal variables play a role in the stereotypes others have about the elderly which can be either positive, or negative. For example, some cultures believe that men are smarter, and stronger than women and that even elderly males are perceived as more competent, less dependent and higher in autonomy, then aging women (Koenig, 2018). Another large assumption about the elderly population is that they all experience a significant decrease in cognitive functi ...
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Tags: Human Sexuality and Aging social group aging adults Elderly Population Stereotypes about the Elderly