Nichowilliam

KEY COUNSELING POINTERS FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT DURING LATE ADULTHOOD

Counselors can support older adults’ social development by being familiar with various community resources for this population, as well as state and national resources and service agencies, and direct older adults to these services. It is equally important to connect them socially in places such as senior and community centers and faith-based organizations, which can also help them find meaning and purpose, as well as support. Gladding (2013) suggested that older adults participate in remotivation, reminiscence, and reorientation groups. Reorientation groups help members establish daily routines and orient them to time and place. Reminiscence and remotivation groups remind older adults about what was meaningful in their lives and how they can realign their current lives to new purposes and meanings. Social relationships develop through the group experience. Counselors working with older adults can collaborate with local school counselors to address unmet needs of young students. Older adults could be matched with youth to provide tutoring and mentoring. The youth will benefit from this guidance and positive attention, and this may provide meaning and mattering to the older adults.

Capuzzi, M.D.S. D. (2016). Human Growth and Development Across the Lifespan: Applications for Counselors. [VitalSource Bookshelf]. Retrieved from https://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781118984758/