The complications associated with the old age are manageable. Therefore, the death rate of the older people in the society has risen to alarming levels due lack of proper clinical intervention. Old age can be explained using the narrative theory which assesses the impact associated with the loss of attachment figures among the elderly. The paper will address how the elderly adapt to the separation from their care givers or attachment figures. The incorporation of the attachment and narrative theories establishes an integrated model that can assist in evaluating the needs that come with old age.
The integrated model provides the best framework in dealing with the effects associated with separation from the attachment figure. The model assesses how best the social workers can intervene to prevent the complications associated with loss of close care givers. The research also addresses the assumptions, strengths and limitations associated with the integrated model. The narrative and the attachment theories are also well described. This provides the key elements in building the integrated model of research. In the research, the impact of the narrative and attachment theories on the improvement of the life of the elderly is properly evaluated.
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This paper will address how best the attachment and narrative theories can be used to improve the life of the geriatric population. The geriatric population consists of all people above 60 years of age. These individuals make up about 10% of the whole world population ( Reamer, 2013) . The health risks associated with aging is a critical issue that needs proper clinical intervention. In order to understand the elderly, there is need to integrate the narrative and attachment theories that best describe their predicaments. The attachment theory bases its description on the emotional events associated with the separation of an infant from the primary care giver. The theory proposes that the relationships among the elderly are similarly to the adaptive features exhibited by the infants. On the other hand, the narrative theory draws experiences in life variables such as time and change. This paper will focus on integrating the two theories so as improve the lives of the elderly.
Theoretical framework
The attachment theory was originally developed between 1907 and 1990 by John Bowlby ( Bowlby & Ainsworth, 2013) . This theory originated from a psychoanalyst’s urge to understand the distress experienced by infants in the event they are separated from their parents. The research established that infants normally adapt to features such as crying and clinging to their parents to avoid being separated. The theory further describes that the adapted features such crying and clinging, best describe the attachment behaviors associated with this theory. Although, the theory focuses on the infants, there are some traits among the infants that are very common among the geriatric population. This theory also describes that the elderly partners tend to have the same emotional relationship similar to that of infants and their care givers. The elderly partners will engage in close intimate body contact as an emotional response to avoid separation. Understanding this theory and carefully applying it to the geriatric population can help in improving their health and life standards.
The narrative theory has a worldwide application especially in Canada, France, Germany and Belgium ( Payne, 2015) . This theory bases its evaluation on the past experiences. This is given in a narrative form so as to change certain behaviors in people. Although most individuals in the geriatric population have lots of experiences, reviewing of these old experiences can help the client to identify one-self. Experience is a very important tool in dealing with the emotional behavior of the elderly. The narrative therapy is very important in exploring the significant life experiences of the client to facilitate his or her understanding of some situations in life.
Critical analysis
In this paper, the critical analysis focuses on the key elements towards an integration model. In this case, the fundamental ideas from both theories are intertwined to improve the life of the elderly. The attachment theory will identify the core elements that suit a given intimate relationship among the elderly then the narrative theory asses the best way to deal with the needs and risks that erupt ( Daniel, 2014) . According to these theories, greater focus should be concentrated on the insecurities associated with aging. It is important to recognize all the core variables in relationships among the elderly. For example the anxiety and anger associated with some insecure clients. Identification of these key elements in a relationship paves way for the narrative therapy to exploit those areas. The narrative theory can then be utilized in exploring the experiences related to the kind of relationship the elderly partners have. This will help in uncovering the good memories experienced in the past in modeling good behavioral change in the patient. Identification of the associated separation emotions can help in analyzing the best treatment method. This will provide an opportunity to formulate the best narrative therapy that can heal the patient from the traumas associated with separation. It’s very evident that some post separation adaptations can be adverse thus deteriorating the health of the elderly. In order to come up with the best treatment, then a better narrative therapy can be formulated to reduce the dangers of post separation effects.
Model Application
In most cases, at the age of 65, 50% of women and 10% of elderly men lose either their spouses or thee family members. These figures normally rise with ages beyond 85. This integrated model will assess the effects associated with cumulative loss of the spouses or any form of separation from the attachment figures. Most of the elderly patients undergo a transitional period of distress which is very important to exploit. The social work professionals can assess the emotional stability of the patient and apply the attachment and narrative theories in evaluating the best treatment method. Researchers have established that 10% of these elderly clients show some signs of improvement after six, months of depression ( Reamer, 2013) . It is therefore important to use this integrated model in identifying the best period to intervene with therapy. However, studies on this integrated model have also established that 14% of the elderly are normally depressed before the loss of the attachment figure and this is thought to elevate by a small margin after the separation. This provides the social worker with the best technique in analyzing the situation and coming up with the best prevention mechanism. The integrated model makes clinical assessment easy since most behavioral changes are actually predictable.
The national association of social workers (NASW) established ethical codes in streamlining the competence and practicing skills of the professionals ( Reamer, 2013) . The NASW code of ethics supports the integrated model in handling of the elderly. This code supports the evaluation structures associated with the integrated models. It further stipulates the underlining events that need to be met before the intervention of clinical prevention measures. The utilization of both narrative and attachment theories enables easy and efficient way to handle the needs associated with aging.
Strength and Limitations
The model is able to identify suitable treatment criteria and targets of intervention. This is very important in managing of the implications associated with aging. The trauma associated with loss of attachment figures can be monitored with the help of the integrated model ( Goldberg, 2014) . This provides the best means of selecting the treatment strategy. The incorporation of integrated model with the NSAW code of ethics can help in revolutionizing the social work discipline. The integrated model also permits evaluation of the client’s progress. With the help of some sophisticated instruments, the emotional behavior of the patient can be monitored and the probable recommendations given. In this approach, the attachment and narrative theories are very important in coming up with these core elements of the integrated model.
The application of this model focuses only on the elderly. The model is limited by its capabilities to monitor other classes of age like the youth. It only depends on the behavioral traits associated with old age. The use of narrative therapy is limited by the patient’s ability to forget so easily ( Habermas, 2015) . Even though integrating the attachment and narrative theories into a model is effective, it is limited in situations where the client is not able to remember his or her early life experiences. This poses the major challenge in the credibility of this model.
Also, the client may be unable to benefit from the deep sense associated with the narrative therapy. This model is also limited by the effectiveness of its data collection methods. The results obtained from this model depend on the credibility of the method used to collect data. Therefore, this model should not be relied upon in some situations. It assumes that all patients are associated with the memory loss that comes with aging. This assumption is baseless since different people have great variations in memory losses. Even though the model has shortcomings, it provides the best way to handle the geriatric population
Conclusion
In summary, the integration of the narrative and attachment theories can help in handling the needs associated with old age. The integration of these two theories can help in improving the competence of social workers and other associated therapists. The timely intervention in situations where the client loses the attachment figure, offers the best technique in reducing the associated consequential effects. Old age come with some many complications that need a sober and best strategy of management. Therefore, the integrated model can improve lives of many individuals in the geriatric population. However, this model needs a critical evaluation of some of its core elements to enhance the credibility of its results.
References
Bowlby, J., & Ainsworth, M. (2013). The origins of attachment theory. Attachment Theory: Social, Developmental, and Clinical Perspectives , 45 .
Daniel, S. (2014). Adult attachment patterns in a treatment context: Relationship and narrative . Routledge.
Goldberg, S. (2014). Attachment and development . Routledge.
Habermas, T. (2015). A model of psychopathological distortions of autobiographical memory narratives: An emotion narrative view. Clinical perspectives on autobiographical memory , 267-290.
Payne, M. (2015). Modern social work theory . Oxford University Press.
Reamer, F. G. (2013). Social work in a digital age: Ethical and risk management challenges. Social work , 58 (2), 163-172.
