How to overcome the old age crisis: simple tips

From this article you will learn:

• What is an old age crisis?
• What causes the psychological crisis of old age?
• What are the differences between the old age crisis in women and men?
• What principles must be followed to overcome the crisis of old age?
• How proper organization of leisure time helps to overcome the crisis of old age

Under the photo is the caption “When old age is a joy.” Question: what is shown on it? If you find it difficult to quickly answer the question, it means that you also believe that old age is a period of loneliness, helplessness and illness. But aren’t there problems and difficulties at any age, be it adolescence or adulthood? Yes, of course, only in old age there are more of them. How to overcome the crisis of old age? How can you help your elderly loved ones enjoy a calm and happy old age?

What does old age crisis mean?

Everything in the world is changing. So life, from the point of view of psychology, is a continuous series of eras. Childhood gives way to youth, maturity to old age... We look forward to some transitions, and to others with sadness, trying to stop time. In any case, this is a shake-up for the body, an age crisis.

The very meaning of the word “crisis” already explains a lot; it is a “sharp turn”, a “turning point” leading either to improvement or to deterioration. The transition from middle age to old age does not pass without a trace and smoothly; it causes many difficulties in the adaptation of an elderly person. A new age role does not pass without a crisis of old age, without unpleasant changes and negativity.

Nowadays the word “crisis” is used more than we would like, ranging from economic to the crisis of adolescence. It is rare that someone has not encountered the rebellious behavior of their 14-year-old children or grandchildren. From friends, neighbors, and from the press, we hear stories about the strange behavior of 40-45 year olds: he has everything, family, work, what else is he missing? In any case, a person’s life during the transition from one stage to another is subject to harsh self-criticism. What we were striving for is no longer satisfactory and is being questioned and re-evaluated. There is less talk about the midlife crisis; many people hide their mental turmoil and rethink the life they lived alone. And the “crisis of old age” is not voiced at all, although this is a strong psychological shock that accompanies the transition from middle age to old age.

With old age, and this is a special psychological age, comes a change in the social status of an elderly person, a rethinking of the entire “I”. Isn't this a crisis? The aging process, which cannot be stopped, is inherent in nature, and occurs in old age. Next comes old age and longevity; all these periods constitute old age. They will be beneficial for an elderly person only if they successfully adapt the transition from maturity to old age precisely in old age.

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There are many more age-related crises in our lives than we know. The baby realizes that he is “he” and not “me and mom”; this is a crisis at the age of three. A 45-year-old draws a line under what has been achieved and says goodbye to the dreams of youth - this is a midlife crisis. Such stages of development accompany us throughout our lives. Since childhood, these periods occur more often, brighter, more noticeable, but in old age they do not disappear, although they do not manifest themselves violently. This makes the crisis of old age more difficult for the person himself. The nature of the activity and environment of an elderly person changes, a rethinking of values ​​occurs, and numerous problems that were not visible in the rapid pace of life come to the fore. It is important not to leave an elderly person alone on the threshold of old age during this crisis period.

How many such periods are there? Psychologist I.G. Malkina-Pykh in his book “Crises of Old Age” designates eight life crises, the last one representing the transition to old age. Successfully overcoming the crisis of old age depends on taking stock of the entire life journey. Inner harmony, awareness of the correctness of making life decisions - all this allows you to calmly put the “puzzles” of your life into a single whole. A calm outcome allows you to live on, enjoy the allotted years, without reproaching yourself for anything. If the mistakes of the past, moral failures and remorse do not allow us to glue everything into a single picture, fear of the end of life and despair from the worthlessness of existence without the right to correct these mistakes appear. The adaptation process is delayed, the crisis of old age drives a person into a dead end.

Obvious psychological manifestations

The transition from middle age to old age is accompanied by a change in social status and personal relationships. It is during this period that a person begins to realize that most of his life is behind him and it is necessary to take stock of the first results. These changes can lead to the development of socio-psychological problems, one of which is the drama of lack of demand. Its cause is a feeling of unfulfillment and uselessness.

The drama of lack of demand develops against the backdrop of the inability to realize one’s capabilities, creative and intellectual potential. The feeling of one’s own uselessness and belittling of existing achievements is fueled by the discrepancy between the mentality of young people and the elderly. To mitigate or overcome the drama, it is important to help the elderly person maintain a sense of being needed, which guarantees a certain stability and a sense of bright prospects. This makes it easier for him to come to terms with existing realities and achieve harmony in the status of a pensioner.

Another significant problem is loneliness. In a social sense, it is manifested by living separately from children and their families. Also during this period, many friendships with peers are lost. This problem also has a psychological side. Deteriorating health and changes in social status lead to self-isolation or rejection from others. The feeling of abandonment is aggravated by the duality of the situation. On the one hand, a person strives to isolate himself from reality, to protect his existing stable little world, on the other hand, he is aware of the growing gap with his environment and is afraid of a lonely old age.

The problem of limited life activity is no less acute. It is caused by a partial or complete loss of the ability or ability to:

• self-care and self-control;
• communication;
• movement and orientation;
• labor activity.

This problem directly depends on financial solvency. Many people are concerned about the size of their pension, rising prices, rising costs of treating existing diseases, and decreasing solvency. Taking this into account, improving social support for low-income segments of society is a priority.

The crisis of old age in Erikson's theory

According to Erikson’s theory (according to the book “Childhood and Society” by Erik Erikson, an American psychologist), the crisis of old age is always expressed in an acute psychosocial conflict. The eighth age crisis for an elderly person means a transition to the final stage of life. During this period, a person rethinks his life.

There are 3 types of adaptation to old age :

1. "Happy" old age. It happens to people who easily overcome the crisis of old age because they are strong in spirit and have a balanced type of higher nervous system. They represent a harmonious personality; they are not alien to intellectual work. These elderly people are calm about what is happening, their psychological state is close to vital asthenia. They contemplate the world, remembering the pleasant moments of their lives, love their age, and treat many things philosophically, peacefully and with wisdom, including death.
2. "Unhappy old age." It happens in people with chronic diseases that bring suffering to an elderly person. They are constantly anxious, unsure of themselves, touchy and vulnerable. Such elderly people have lost the meaning of life, they often have thoughts of suicide, and attempts or appeals to euthanasia are possible. They, as a rule, are lonely, helpless, remember old grievances, unpleasant moments of their past, and the crisis drags on.
3. "Psychopathological old age." It is difficult for older people to endure; the age crisis lasts endlessly. It happens in older people with age-related organic disorders: depression, hypochondria. They suffer from neuroses and senile dementia. Older people invent problems and conflicts for themselves and those around them. They are very afraid of going to a nursing home, they hate their age.

Read the material on the topic: Loneliness of older people

How to deal with problems

Taking into account the peculiarities of the crisis of old age, it is important to create comfortable conditions for a loved one and help him find himself in a new status. The opportunity to continue to share your knowledge and skills allows you to increase self-esteem, feel reliable “soil under your feet,” and look confidently into the future.

Psychologists working with the elderly suggest relying on 5 principles that will help overcome crisis manifestations:

1. The golden time is not a reason to break off friendships and family ties. Don't withdraw from communication.
2. Don't isolate yourself. Share your knowledge, thoughts, feelings.
3. Take a look around. There is so much new and interesting in the world. Find yourself another interesting hobby, plan a trip, do something meaningful.
4. Learn not only to help, but also to gratefully accept care and guardianship.
5. Showing your dissatisfaction and irritability is not a great skill. Look for positivity and share it with others.

Unfortunately, many people cannot overcome the latest age crisis alone. Social services come to their aid. More and more programs are being developed for the social adaptation of old people. They are aimed at attracting pensioners to various initiatives:

• improvement of house and park areas;
• providing assistance to those in need;
• mentoring youth, etc.

Clubs and courses are also being opened where the elderly can realize their creative skills, communicate, gain new knowledge, improve computer literacy, etc.

Aging is a natural process that cannot be stopped or reversed. It is associated not only with a deterioration in physical fitness, but also with overcoming a psychological barrier. After all, you have to rebuild, find the meaning of existence without your favorite job, change the established rules. To overcome oneself and let go of the past, to start the next stage with a clean slate, one does not always have enough one’s own strength and requires the support of relatives and special services.

When the old age crisis comes

The crisis of old age does not occur after a person retires. Even age is not a prerequisite; some older people work until they are 80-90 years old. For every older person, the age crisis manifests itself differently; this is a turning point period of rethinking oneself, often accompanied by a change in behavior. Statistics with long-term analysis give an approximate time of transition to old age, it is 60-74 years. Everything that will be said below can be titled with a phrase from the English critic and poet of the second half of the 18th century, Jones Samuel: there are people who cannot get rid of youth all their lives. It’s true that for some, fifty years is a long time, while others, even at eighty, will “give a head start” to the young. There are no specific boundaries for designating old age.

Sometimes all three age determination indicators do not coincide. How is this possible? An elderly man, let's call him Ivan Petrovich, feels his age to be 70 years old. He is active, participates in sports competitions for veterans, and does exercises in the fresh air every day. Neighbors, seeing a fit, cheerful neighbor in a bright tracksuit, who always responds to all community events, be it painting a swing or planting trees, give him no more than 60 years. What's in the ID? Our Ivan Petrovich is 82 years old. The crisis of old age is not scary for such people.

Aging is not only biological changes in the body, it is a mood, an attitude towards life.

What social role did he take after his retirement? Still working, feeling great? What kind of old age is this? Have you finally found time to spend time with your grandchildren and are feeling rejuvenated by their irrepressible energy and every minute questions? Also an option! Expands his horizons by going to his small homeland, and then traveling throughout the country? How to call him an old man? It’s great when you have the strength, interest and means! Let this period last as long as possible, and let the time of old age move past the crisis.

Old age as a crisis age period

This article discusses the concepts of age and crisis of age-related development; psychophysiological, age-related and psychosocial characteristics of old age are given; the features of the development of motivational-need, value, emotional-volitional and cognitive spheres in old age are analyzed; family and social-production relations of older people are characterized. The characteristics of the old age crisis are given in the context of E. Erikson's theory. Various typologies of personality in old age are considered.

Key words:
age, crisis of age development, old age, crisis of old age, integrativeness, hopelessness, meaning, personality types in old age, gerontopsychology.
First, let us consider such concepts of developmental psychology and acmeology as “age” and “crisis of age-related development.”

Age

(in psychology) is a conceptual content category that serves to designate the temporary characteristics of individual development. Age (in the most general sense) is the period of time from the birth of an individual to this specific moment in life (chronological age). The chronological framework and characteristics of each age are not static, but dynamic; they are determined by the action of socio-historical factors, the needs of society, i.e., the so-called social order of society. In contrast to chronological age, which expresses the duration of an individual’s existence from the moment of his birth, the concept of psychological age denotes a certain, qualitatively unique stage of ontogenetic development, determined by the laws of organism formation, living conditions, training and education, and having cultural and historical origin and significance. Any age is characterized by those specific tasks of mastering forms of culture that are solved by a developing person, as well as qualitatively new types of activity and corresponding psychological new formations that arise at a given stage of development and determine a person’s consciousness, his attitude towards himself and the world around him as a whole. Each age period is studied taking into account general development trends, taking into account the characteristics of the previous and subsequent ages. Each age has psychological personal development reserves that can be activated by the individual himself at all adult ages (according to David Iosifovich Feldstein) [4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14].

Developmental crisis

is defined in developmental psychology and developmental psychology, acmeology as a relatively short period of a person’s personal development, characterizing a spasmodic (L. S. Vygotsky’s term) transition from (from) one stage of individual mental development to another. Crises of age-related development, despite the differentiated forms of their expression, have a psychophylogenetic and socio-cultural nature common to all people. Crises of age-related development also have very clear timing for the vast majority of people during psychoontogenesis. According to L. S. Vygotsky, an age crisis from a psychological point of view is always an exacerbation of subjective internal contradictions between already formed experience and mental functions and the qualities of motivation, abilities, self-awareness, emotions, etc. that arise again in a person under the influence of personal changes and social influences. All age-related crises are psychosocially normative. A non-normative crisis is everything mental and psychological in a person’s life that goes beyond the age-related and psychosocial personality changes common to all people [4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14].

Now let's move on to considering the crisis of old age.

In the life cycle system, the final period of a person’s life—old age—has special significance. In old age, such basic age-related and psychosocial aspects as :

summing up a person’s life journey, the attitude towards old people from the family and society, and much more [1, 2, 3, 5, 12, 13, 15].

The phenomenon of old age is multifaceted:

it can be considered both from the perspective of changes in the biological order and from the perspective of changes in the status of a person in society. This phenomenon is understood by researchers from the perspective of the person and his environment understanding the meaning of old age, through the analysis of its negative and positive aspects. Here, scientists psychologically and socially highlight such parameters as reconciliation with people’s inevitable decay and extinction, including the calm expectation of death, and the elevation of old age with its inherent wisdom and cultural message through generations into the future [1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15].

In the physiological aspect, old age is associated with the gradual destruction and death of body functions, organ systems, nerve cells and brain cells. In the social aspect, there is a decrease in vital activity and partial oblivion of the profession. At the same time, when considering old age from the analytical positions of developmental psychology, acmeology and gerontology, in old age it is fundamental that people have a qualitatively new understanding of existence and their psychological adaptation to their age-related changes [4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14].

Let us point out that the names of old age crises largely speak for themselves. For example, a psychological crisis that occurs at the end of adulthood is called by some researchers pre-retirement, which indicates the leading role in its formation of the socio-professional factor associated with people reaching retirement age and their retirement. Often, retirement is a tough psychosocial test for a person. This test changes the usual way of life, introduces a deterioration in the financial situation, loss of a significant social role, and loss of social connections. In this case, a stressful state and negative emotional experiences occur against the background of changes in the structure of a person’s psychological time [1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15].

Along with all this, the psychosocial content indicated above is experienced by people subjectively, since the attitude towards everything is individualized through the value-motivational sphere of the individual, professional culture, personal characteristics, the degree of psychological preparedness for old age [1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 15].

A person’s assessment of the meaning of his life for himself and for other people, as well as the presence of a life goal and a time perspective connecting the present, past and future are intertwined with the emotional experience of satisfaction with life. Dissatisfaction with life as a total experience is associated with an assessment of external and internal living conditions and consists of preoccupation with one’s deteriorating health, appearance, insufficient material resources, lack of physical and moral support, and social isolation. All this manifests itself together with life wisdom as the central psychological new formation of old age [1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 15].

The difficulty of studying the phenomenon of old age is also due to the fact that it is difficult to accurately determine the chronological boundaries of its beginning, and theoretical understanding gives many options for age frameworks, and this despite the fact that each person is unique in the manifestations of signs of aging, and the number of signs of aging themselves is large. Despite this, old age, like any other age period, has its own developmental tasks and its own, “internal” age-related crises [4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14].

E. Erikson, in his periodization of personality development, points out that late maturity (the first half of old age) is the time of the final form of identity crisis, the time of choice between personal integrity (integrativeness) and hopelessness (despair in the face of death) [4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14].

Favorable conditions, according to the views of E. Erikson, allow an elderly person to achieve personal integrity, which implies:

orderliness and significance of the “I”; trust in the past, acceptance of the present; acceptance of your life path and the people included in it, in particular - complete acceptance of your parents and the emergence of new love for them; perception of life as personal responsibility; sense of community; willingness to defend your life style without blaming the lifestyle of other people; awareness of the coincidence of one’s life cycle with a period of historical time; awareness of the connection between the integrity of the individual and culture and civilization; the achievement of wisdom as an individual power; "increment" of identity. A wise old man rejoices at the successes of subsequent generations and does not interfere with them, partly giving up his positions [4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14].

Under unfavorable conditions, according to E. Erikson, the integrity of the individual is not achieved or is lost, which leads to a feeling of despair or hopelessness. Despair is caused, first of all, by dissatisfaction with one’s life and understanding of its limitations, awareness of the impossibility of changing a negative life path. This general mental state is manifested in the demonstration by elderly people of non-acceptance and dissatisfaction with the people around them and the social institutions of society [4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14].

The aging crisis is associated with the problem of loneliness and the problem of the end of life. The perception and experience of the end of life is often called a premonition of an imminent death; it is associated with an exacerbation of existential problems. [4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14] So, according to E. Erikson, the crisis of old age is associated with the so-called identity crisis, an intrapersonal crisis. From the point of view of E. Erikson, the crisis of old age lies in achieving the integrity of the “Ego,” which is associated with summing up the results of one’s entire life and recognizing it as a holistic phenomenon. According to E. Erikson, this occurs effectively when a person emerges positively from previous age-related crises. According to E. Erikson, the crisis of old age is marked by the expression of life wisdom as the highest achievement of a given age period, while internal psychological work is a condition for a positive way out of the crisis of old age. A person’s acceptance of life changes contributes to a favorable resolution. A person’s denial of his age-related changes leads to despair, hopelessness, and fear of death [7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14].

Psychological aging has an internally contradictory nature, which is expressed in clearly manifested individual variations, represented by personality typologies in old and senile age. There are distinctive features of constructing a personality typology in old and senile age. These signs are facts confirmed by foreign longitudinal studies that psychologically and scientifically substantiate the fact that the fundamental characteristics of personality remain unchanged in this age era and only their sharpening is possible. Foreign experts have obtained significant results, on the basis of which they have identified five main personality types in old age :
1)
a constructive type, which is distinguished by internal balance, a positive emotional attitude, a critical attitude towards oneself and tolerance towards others;
the end of professional activity does not affect the optimistic life attitude; high self-esteem, plans for the future and expectation of support from others; 2)
dependent type, which is characterized by productive adaptation and is socially acceptable;
does not have ambitious professional and life plans; in the family he is inclined to submit, is integrated into the family community and hopes for the help of others; 3)
defensive type - characterized by excessive emotional restraint, some straightforwardness in actions and habits, the desire to provide for oneself through one’s own efforts, and has difficulty accepting help;
4)
aggressive-accusatory type - characterized by the desire to place responsibility and blame for one’s own failures on other people;
there is impulsiveness and suspicion; aging is not accepted; acute negative experiences associated with loss of strength and fear of death are characteristic; hostile attitude towards others; ideas about yourself and the world around you do not correspond to reality; 5)
self-accusatory type - characterized by passivity, failure to overcome difficulties, a tendency to depression and fatalism, and lack of initiative; representatives of this type experience a feeling of loneliness and are pessimistic about life in general; death for them is liberation from a burdensome existence [4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14].

In the analyzed context, foreign psychologists consider how old people overcome three types of intrapersonal conflicts, which, with a positive outcome, leads to a sense of personal integrity. These are types of motivational conflicts such as :

1) revaluation of one’s own “I” from the point of view of acquiring new life roles; 2) accepting the fact of aging and deterioration of health, searching for some new activity; 3) acceptance of thoughts about death and manifestation of social interest through participation in the affairs of younger generations [4, 6, 9, 10, 11].

Negative types of personality development in old age include the so-called aggressive grumblers and people who are disappointed in their own lives, in themselves - they are sad and lonely, they are deeply unhappy. K. Rogers believed that the experience of loneliness arises due to the discrepancy between the individual perception of his “I” and how others see this “I”. Older people blame themselves for the fact that the experience of loneliness has become a constant in their lives. Self-blame contributes to depression. If an elderly person evaluates his behavior as somewhat inadequate, his anxiety intensifies, the situation begins to seem uncontrollable, which leads to a feeling of hopelessness and helplessness [4, 6, 9, 10, 11].

The goal of preserving oneself as an individual implies maintaining a system of social connections; It is interesting and important for them to share their life experiences. Finding new meanings, according to V. Frankl, contributes to the emergence of a structure of emotional experiences, since the meaning of such a life is experienced as participation in life, these experiences are relatively independent of internal and external circumstances [4, 6, 9, 10, 11].

S. Moscoveci in his typology identifies three psychosocial variants of the personality of old people and the course of old age:

1) old negative people tend to deny the signs of old age; 2) extroverted old people believe that the onset of old age is associated with external influences, with social changes in the world around them; 3) introverted old people experience the aging process especially acutely [4, 6, 9, 10, 11].

Psychologists associate the experience of an old age crisis with certain personal manifestations. Thus, domestic researchers distinguish two main personality types of older people. People of the first type are characterized by the so-called stoic version of experiencing the situation of retirement: they direct their attention and interest to a new entertaining activity, are capable of establishing friendly connections, and do not lose control over their environment. This helps maintain a sense of satisfaction with life and prolongs it socially. The second type of elderly people, on the contrary, have a very passive, negative attitude towards life, and naturally experience alienation from those around them. The interests of older people of this type are narrowed and impoverished, and their intelligence decreases [1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 15].

Domestic psychologists cite the following basic characteristics of the motivational-need and cognitive spheres and life position of older people who consider their aging successful, successful, favorable and even happy : a)

orientation towards the present, full acceptance of one’s aging processes and adequate goal setting;
b)
a tendency to revise and change active goals, rules and beliefs to a new contemplative, calm and self-sufficient life position;
c)
the emergence of new cognitive interests associated with acquired forms of intrapersonal activity and social motivation;
d)
sustainable mental work aimed at rethinking one’s past life experience, past activities [1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15].

Experiencing the crisis of old age largely determines a person’s physical condition. Thus, painful experiences associated with pronounced forms of physical aging and decrepitude aggravate an unimportant physical condition. Constant physical illness leaves its mark on the life processes of an old person and leads to dissatisfaction with life at this age [1, 7, 8, 12, 13, 15].

The process of an old person becoming aware of his own age-related changes and developing a calm attitude towards these changes contributes to a new understanding of the world. The fact of acceptance or non-acceptance of aging, the degree of this acceptance/non-acceptance reflects a person’s emotional and cognitive attitude towards his aging [2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 15].

The favorable course of the old age period is experienced by positive, psychologically successful personality types, identified by the famous domestic researcher I. S. Kon:

1) after retirement, social activity and a creative attitude to life remain; 2) there is a hobby, a desire for self-education, social and psychological adaptability; 3) efforts are invested in the family, in work for the benefit of family members, the attitude is generally positive, but life satisfaction is lower than that of the first two types; 4) there is an expressed desire to improve one’s health, which, on the one hand, brings moral satisfaction in old age, and on the other hand, excessive anxiety and suspiciousness are possible, while the lowest satisfaction with life is observed [6, 9, 10, 11]. Let us note that these positive personality types also have their own gradation of the severity of positivity.

The well-known domestic researcher A. G. Leaders put forward the point of view that “... there is an aging crisis in the narrow sense of the word - the transition from the second mature age to old age, and there is a more often used broader concept - the aging crisis as old age itself, where many psychological characteristics of maturity “shine through” through the no less visible characteristics of advancing old age” [9, p. 132].

A criterion for the degree to which a person accepts or does not accept the processes occurring to him due to aging can be the use of coping strategies, according to modern domestic researchers. Thus, active coping with circumstances manifests itself in the conscious attitude of an aging person to what is happening to him. On the contrary, passive coping behavior, focused on avoidance, avoiding solving problems, aggravates the situation of crisis experiences and leads to isolation of a person [1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13].

In conclusion, in order to emphasize the objective historical significance of old age and the great importance of its scientific study, we present a definition of gerontopsychology from the Great Soviet Encyclopedia (TSE). “Gerontology is a branch of gerontology and developmental psychology that uses general psychological tools and techniques to study the characteristics of the psyche and behavior of elderly and elderly people. Although interest in the problems of mental characteristics and changes during aging has existed for a long time, gerontopsychology as a special discipline begins to take shape only in the 2nd half of the 20th century. Its appearance is primarily due to social and economic reasons: an increase (absolute and relative) in the number of elderly people, problems with their working capacity, work activity and life structure. Gerontopsychology studies the relationship between general physiological and psychophysical characteristics and psychological characteristics of behavior during aging, as well as personal changes generated by changes in the nature of activity and value orientations. The general goal of gerontopsychology is to find means of prolonging the active and full-blooded life of a person” [11, P. 185].

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Why does the old age crisis occur?

Any age crisis implies the inability to follow the same path, because... Not only life priorities and values ​​change, but the leading motivation changes. Personality undergoes both physical and mental changes, which are formed under the influence of specific reasons. What are the causes of the old age crisis?

The usual way of life has changed a lot, namely:

• From a respected and invaluable employee, breadwinner and authoritative worker, an elderly person turns into an ordinary, often powerless member of society with a low income;
• Change in social status due to retirement;
• Active labor and intellectual activity is replaced by inaction;
• The world that revolved around the elderly man suddenly collapsed, and society decided that his potential had been exhausted;
• An elderly person has a huge amount of free time, running around a clearly defined circle of life has stopped;
• The environment is melting before our eyes: children have fluttered out of their parents’ nest, colleagues have forgotten, friends are leaving this world;
• Preoccupation with one’s own unhappy thoughts drives one into a dead end;
• With age, diseases worsen, new ones appear;
• An elderly person realizes with horror that he is becoming dependent on others in his helplessness, and his self-doubt is growing.

Old age crisis, i.e. entry into old age appears, according to E. Erikson, due to a contradiction, a discrepancy between the satisfaction of the years lived and disappointment in life. This is the time to take stock, to “gather the scattered stones.” Entering the period of crisis of old age, people, before “crossing the threshold of old age,” analyze their lives, compare achievements and failures, pros and cons, as if on a scale. This is very important for the psychological state of an older person, because... from now on, the center of his concerns and attention will be shifted from the future to the past. Having rethought his past years and remaining confused by the inability to correct anything, the elderly person suffers from negative emotions, loneliness and uselessness. This is the crisis of old age. Unfortunately, as we age, our hearing, vision, and touch do not improve. The surrounding world, narrowed to the size of a room, retreats even further into the nebula. An elderly man is conjecturing something, trying to guess, changing the essence according to his conviction. This imaginary world is highly dependent on his fears and prejudices.

All these mental changes inherent in old age also influence the course of the old age crisis.

Afterword

Thus, in order to survive the crises of old age, you need to reevaluate your own “I”, develop indifference to deteriorating health and aging, accept the thought of death and get rid of the fear associated with it.

Taking time off from work gives you a lot of free time, but it doesn't mean the end of life. You just need to find a hobby and hobby that will be interesting now. I have a lot of time for myself and self-care. Yes, health is deteriorating, the body is aging, but you need to accept this and rationally take care of your health. To experience this easier, you need to realize the significance of your life, feel respect and interest from other people.

The senile crisis is more like an intrapersonal crisis, rather than an age-related crisis. This is a period of identity, of existential crisis. Acceptance of the changes that occur (as in adolescence) determines the ease of later life and crisis.

The crisis of old age and its manifestations

Mental processes in old age do not fade away, do not disappear, but only slow down. The speed of reaction, attention and thinking changes. These changes look like this:

1. Reaction speed

The reaction time in older people increases, the time interval for the passage of a nerve impulse stretches, perceptual (sensory) information is processed more slowly, and cognitive processes are slowed down. According to E.Ya. Sternberg (the founder of the school of domestic gerontopsychiatrists), when mental activity and the speed of psychomotor reactions decreases, the scope of perception narrows, and concentration of attention becomes difficult, only then can we talk about the aging of the body. Let’s add to the complete picture of a slower mental response a decrease in tone and mobility.

2. Memory

Memory in old age often brings surprises. Reading the memoirs of veterans, you are surprised by the flow of names, surnames, division numbers, and detailed accounts of events from the days of “bygone days.” Yes, it would be wrong to talk about memory decline in all elderly people; more than 90% of elderly people aged 65 years and older have excellent memory, perhaps with slight deterioration. These nuances are more related to current events, and the distant past is seen clearly. This has a beneficial effect on the mental well-being of the elderly, because returning to pleasant moments in a past life, in youth, living them again and again brings pleasure and peace. Pleasant memories are one of the means of overcoming the crisis of old age. Memorizing new information in older people engaged in mental activity is also successful.

3. Attention

When talking to older people, you can often observe their absent-mindedness. A person confuses the sequence of events, understands this himself and suffers, aggravating the crisis. One must be especially patient with the fact that control over danger signals is often reduced in an elderly person. In youth, traffic lights and car signals are perceived instantly; in old age, attention is weakened, and these signals are perceived with difficulty.

4. Intelligence

For some reason, there is an opinion that a person loses his intelligence as he ages. There is no evidence of this; moreover, a multi-year (20 years) massive longitudinal (with one group of people) study in Seattle (USA) showed amazing results. The IQ level (intellectual quotient) does not change throughout life, i.e. if it was average, it will remain so, if high, it will remain at this level.

Of course, there are some nuances. Intelligence requires constant development. If professional activity was associated with mental work, intelligence will remain stable. Otherwise, constant training is required in old age (memorizing poetry, solving crossword puzzles).

General intelligence can be assessed in terms of crystallized and fluid intelligence.

What is crystallized intelligence? It is formed and depends on the knowledge acquired over a lifetime. Solving problems and getting out of difficulties rely on this type.

What is fluid intelligence? The ability to comprehend and find solutions to heuristic problems, problems for which there are no conventionally correct solutions.

Fluid intelligence is more unstable than crystallized intelligence. When talking about a decrease in intellectual level, they mean the lack of creative approaches to get out of difficult situations. But still, more than 10% of older people surprise with their youthful level of intelligence. Such people easily comprehend the crisis of old age and quickly adapt to new conditions.

Read more: Depression in older people

How to cope with the crisis of old age - basic principles

The crisis of old age in our country is a pressing problem. This is due to the fact that older people rarely turn to appropriate specialists with their problems to quickly and effectively overcome decline. Also, few people understand the seriousness of the crisis problem. As life progresses, one difficulty replaces another, and here it is important to learn to adapt and rebuild.

To overcome the crisis, according to professional psychologists, it is enough to observe the following basic principles:

• maintain regular communication with friends, neighbors, and family;
• do not isolate yourself, consult with other people, discuss emerging problems;
• do not give in to a sad mood, find something you love that brings joy and satisfaction;
• accept help with gratitude, take care of loved ones.

What is a psychological crisis in old age?

It would be easy to judge the crisis of old age only from the physiological side: deteriorating health, decreased capabilities and loss of strength. An age crisis also implies psychological changes. Emotions are contained. The person seems to go into his inner world to comprehend what he has lived through.

What changes in characteristic phenomena do we observe from the outside? An elderly person has an acute need for communication, for listeners and those who want to receive his advice.

An elderly person experiencing the difficulties of an age crisis becomes intolerant, emotionally unstable, annoying, and painfully touchy. The desire to teach everyone becomes unbearable, the reluctance to listen to any, even the most reasonable, arguments is perplexing. The crisis is blossoming. If you don’t argue with an older person, you will hear arguments about your callousness; if you try to prove him wrong, you are heartless; if you remain silent, they will be offended by you. If you come to make peace, first you will listen to the grumbling, and then you will fulfill the whims. Be patient, be glad that the crisis of old age has not yet overtaken you. This is a defensive reaction, a psychological mechanism that allows you to survive in this difficult time for an elderly person.

Of course, not all older people, experiencing an old age crisis, behave this way. Others are overcome by fear, despair from the irreversibility of life, a feeling of hopelessness of “the passage of the remaining minutes through their fingers.”

Personality types in old age

Psychologists identify several personality types characteristic of older people:

1. Constructive. He is distinguished by his balance, optimistic outlook on life, critical attitude towards himself, and high self-esteem. An older person does not become depressed about retirement, but instead makes plans for the future.
2. Dependent. Such individuals adapt well to new circumstances. They are family-oriented, prone to subordination, and have no ambitions either professionally or personally.
3. Protective. A person almost never shows emotions, is straightforward in his actions, and always speaks the truth and to the point. Under any circumstances, strives to be independent.
4. Self-incriminating. This type of personality is characterized by passivity, belief in predestination, depression, and reluctance to solve problems. A person looks at the world through a negative lens. He is so lonely that he considers death the solution to all difficulties.

There is also an aggressive-accusatory personality type. It is extremely difficult for such people to cope with the crisis of old age. They always blame others for everything, are overly impulsive, suspicious, and have an inadequate perception of themselves and the world around them. In addition, they deny the very fact of aging and are very afraid of dying.

Old age crisis in women and men: what is the difference

The crisis of old age in people of different sexes occurs in their own way; even the time frames of aging, both for men and women, do not coincide. According to summarized data from the WHO Regional Office for Europe (World Health Organization), we can talk about women as older people from the age of 55, and about men from the age of 61. But then, from the age of 75, rights are equalized, followed by advanced age (old age). And from the age of ninety we are talking about longevity.

From old age a person goes through 3 sub-crises :

1. There is a rethinking, a revaluation of the understanding of one’s own “I”: who am I besides a professional, an employee, when no one needs my experience and qualifications, and life goes on. The beginning of the crisis.
2. The fact of noticeable aging of the body and weakening of health becomes undeniable and obvious. Overcoming this point of crisis speaks of developing an adequate acceptance of this moment, a middle ground between panic and absolute indifference. The crisis is intensifying.
3. The third sub-crisis allows you to analyze the situation and accept the idea of ​​inevitable death calmly and soberly. The crisis is easing.

Men, naturally, experience the first point problematically, because... career and professional status are the basis of life for many of them. Women are more concerned about the loss of health, because... They usually look after their aged husbands, and this requires strength.

In any case, the problems of loneliness come to the fore. Although here too women adapt better, devoting themselves to children and grandchildren. The crisis of old age in men is associated with philosophical research: have I managed to do everything in life, why did I come into this world, who am I and what is the meaning of life? Because of this, the crisis in men is more painful.

Why do married couples (who are the same age, eat the same and relax) age differently? It's all about the "double standard" for women and men. What is valued in a woman? The ability to prolong the family, and for this to be desirable and sexy, to be a support for your man. As soon as the reproductive function disappears, a woman is classified by society as an “old woman.” No one is interested in her talent and success in the professional field. A man, depending on his field of activity, can be “on horseback” for a long time. Therefore, he looks more attractive in the eyes of society than his peers.

Stages of crisis development

Age crises are unique to each person. It proceeds depending on the character and internal attitudes of the elderly person. The crisis also depends on what place a person previously occupied in society, what his social circle is, etc. All this adds up to the overall picture of the psycho-emotional state. However, in addition to the psychological component, deterioration in physical health to a greater or lesser extent plays a significant role.

Due to such a multifaceted manifestation, the crisis does not pass through in one stage. Experts count 3 steps that every person who reaches old age overcomes:

• The initial stage is the stage of internal experiences and introspection. A person cannot ignore dramatic changes in life. He compares himself in the present with his past self and invariably loses. Despite his new status as a pensioner and the lack of the same amount of strength and energy, life must go on. A person is looking for a way to live this life in harmony with himself.
• Understanding yourself as an old man who needs help and support. Physical activity becomes more and more difficult, and chronic diseases remind us of themselves. Constantly overcoming, trying to stay on the same level with the younger generation will only worsen the psychological pressure. At this stage, it is important to accept the new you, to allow yourself to be an older person.
• Accepting the inevitability of physiological changes and the aging process. Replacing old habitual activities with new, age-appropriate ones.

How is the old age crisis different in the USA, Germany, and Finland?

I wonder if such a concept as the crisis of old age is international? Yes, the age crisis exists outside of time and boundaries, it only differs in the degree of impact. If we recall the reasons for the emergence of the old age crisis, it directly depends on the quality of life of pensioners. Quality is connected with the state policy of caring for the elderly, with the mentality of the people, with national traditions, and the adequacy of the pension system.

Let's compare the traditional activities of pensioners in different countries and evaluate how they cope with the old age crisis.

USA

Retirement in the United States occurs at 65 for women and at 67 for men. The amount of the pension varies, depending on the pensioner’s services to the state, but on average it is $1,164. It is the size of the pension and accumulated funds that become the decisive arguments for the decision to end working life. But part-time work, if health allows, is not a means of survival; it is one of the chances to remain in an active society. Grandparents, as a rule, do not replace eternally busy parents; there is no such tradition.

American retirees are characterized by optimism and an active lifestyle. Are they before the crisis? Many public events are organized for them, both social and commercial. There is a whole industry that makes money from organizing leisure activities for the elderly. Pensioners driving up in their cars, busily getting ready for some meeting, is a common occurrence. There are special media that cover the active life of older people and announce all events. Here you can find a schedule of interest clubs, courses, creative houses created only for older people. The famous communities “Educational Society for Those Over 55+”, “Union of Lovers of Outdoor Games”, societies for connoisseurs of orchids, fishing, antiques, the list goes on and on. Veterans find an outlet in helping those who find it more difficult by working as volunteers.

A large place in the lives of American elders is given to the Church; it is a place of meeting, communication and consolation, a wonderful way to overcome the crisis of old age.

There is an opinion that American retirees with high incomes change their place of residence to a more comfortable one, for example, move to Florida. This is partly true, but in reality everything is more complicated. In Florida and several other states, there are many special benefits and discounts just for seniors. Naturally, it is cheaper to live there; the influx of elderly people forces the infrastructure to adapt to demand and develop a powerful network of medical institutions, nursing homes, and industrial enterprises producing goods for the elderly. Improved conditions entail a new influx of pensioners.

Germany

How do older people live in Europe, and is the elderly crisis threatening residents of Germany?

The state, taking into account length of service, number of children, years of military service and education, calculates pensions from the age of 65. Naturally, it differs from person to person, but on average it amounts to 810 €.

All over the world you can meet optimistic German retirees traveling around the world. It is good practice to visit the sea at least 2 times a year. What's the secret? The national mentality is expressed in pathological frugality and economy. The tours may be cheap, but traveling means new experiences, nature and people, and this is so useful in old age! The crisis will not catch up with them.

Many elderly people in Germany live in special homes, social communities for the elderly. It’s simple: this is the norm; in Germany there is no tradition of living in large families or clans. But it is not customary to take care of elderly parents and relatives. One good thing is that specialized homes for the elderly are well provided by the state and social organizations. Comfortable conditions are created there, a high level of medical care and active leisure are provided.

Finland

Having retired at 65, Finnish pensioners fill gyms, cinemas, and cafes. Traveling, playing sports, and various hobbies help you get through the crisis of old age quickly and painlessly.

The average pension is about 1344 €. If the pension is less, then an amount is added, the so-called “national pension”. The state helps its elderly in the form of significant benefits for cultural events, gyms, purchases of certain goods, medicines, and transportation.

Read material on the topic: Senile egoism

Ways to deal with the old age crisis

The main thing is not to isolate yourself. There are enough factors that make you feel lonely and useless. But if we take them all into account, the crisis will not only not go away, but will drag on for many years.

There are other tips from psychologists:

1. Don't blame yourself. Establish contact with your inner self. Analyze the past, present and future, and then accept it as it was, is and will be accordingly. Understand that you cannot change what has already happened. So is there any point in regretting it? Listen to your feelings. Maybe there is something you wanted to do, but never dared to? Believe me, now is the time for this.
2. Find a hobby. If you stay at home all the time, the old age crisis will not go away. Of course, TV and the Internet will help you cope with loneliness for a while. But they will soon cause boredom and irritation. So find something interesting to do. This could be creativity, walks in the fresh air, playing sports with peers. Why not try learning a foreign language? All this will help you eradicate bad thoughts and find new friends.
3. Look for new acquaintances. There is a saying: an old friend is better than two new ones. This is partly correct. But not in the case of the old age crisis. A person may become sad if one of his friends or acquaintances starts talking about the past. That is why it is better to make new friends. Remember, perhaps one of them has already overcome the crisis and will be happy to share practical advice with you.
4. Engage in social activities. Volunteering will help you feel like a needed person again, a full-fledged member of society. You can visit orphanages and homes for the elderly, helping people who find themselves in difficult life situations. Another good option is to visit animal shelters.
5. Travel. If possible, visit a country you have always dreamed of visiting. This is one of the most effective ways to take your mind off the crisis and regain your joy in life. If this is not possible, arrange a tour of nearby cities or visit remote areas of your city.

And, perhaps, the most important advice is to improve your relationships with family and friends. Don't be upset with them if they don't seem to spend enough time with you. Also, don't neglect them. People in a state of crisis in old age tend to become self-absorbed and not notice what is going on around them. Therefore, forgive insults and always make contact. Practice intimate conversations, sit with your grandchildren, spend time with your family. This is an important requirement for those who want to overcome the old age crisis as soon as possible.

Update new concept of old age from 60 years old

As the world ages, there are more and more elderly people over 65 years of age. If, according to the results of research by American scientists, people begin to feel more significant in life after 60 years, then older people will have great potential for gambling.

Moreover, British columnist and journalist Camilla Cavendish recently published a book, No Pension: 10 Proposals for an Aging Society, in which she believes that old age is not what people imagine. It's horrible.

Camilla's new book has completely updated the idea of ​​so-called older people. In the book, Camilla cites the new concept of old age that the Japanese have proposed in recent years: "young-old", which is refreshing.

According to the new concept, the age from 60 to 75 years is not considered old!

Professors and people who have lived longer than 90 remind people: we do not age as quickly as we think, and you are younger than you think.

In the book, Camilla interviewed leading scientists from around the world, challenging many taboos about aging.

She said people need to change the way they think about people in their 50s, 60s and 70s, understanding that extending is not old age but middle age, as the so-called 50 years today is the same as the new 30 years.

If reaching 60 can clarify the meaning of life, it means young people have countless years ahead of them.

At the same time, these "young and old people" are also more mature and embody the value and meaning of a truly positive and optimistic life.

Live after 60 years

Philosophers have been studying the meaning of life for thousands of years, and it is still ongoing.

However, Western scientists are now saying that if you want to know what it means to be alive, you must first live to be 60 to find out the answer.

Those who feel meaningful in their lives tend to have healthier minds and bodies, according to a new study conducted in the United States.

Researchers have found that, on average, people feel their lives are most purposeful by age 60.

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They came to this conclusion by tracking 1,000 people aged 21 to 100 for three consecutive years.

Researchers regularly ask subjects what purpose they think their existence serves?

For example, a researcher might ask subjects to rate the following questions:

“I am looking for a purpose or mission in life,” or “I have found a satisfying purpose in life,” and so on.

Participants can choose from 0 to 7 points, 0 being completely incorrect and 7 being very correct.

UC San Diego School of Medicine professor of psychiatry and neurobiology Dilip Yeste, who led the lifespan research project, said their study shows that people's health is closely linked to the meaning of life.

He said, “Those who believe that life has meaning tend to feel happier and healthier than those who do not.”

Those who have not yet found meaning in life often have poor mental health and cognitive function.

In other words, those who have a clear purpose and meaning in life are happier and live longer.

The study did not include areas such as religion and theology.

Why 60 years?

The professor said that this conclusion is more reasonable because young people between the ages of 20 and 30 are focused on their careers, building friendships and romantic relationships.

At the same time, people tend to have successful careers when they reach 40-50 years old. Most people have already started a family and are having children.

People in this age group are the type of people who are old at the top and young at the bottom. Life and family pressures are greater.

After age 60, with increasing retirement, loss of family and friends, and health problems, those life goals that existed in the past become less important and people begin to look for life goals again.

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A 60-year-old netizen with the caption “illegal not carborundum” (Latin) gave his explanation.

He believes that although he does not consider his current life to be any more meaningful than before, he claims that after 60 years of age he is more relaxed in life and sees problems more dialectically. Compared to when I was young, I have more experience in dealing with some of life's problems.

He said that since when a person lives in this year, he should have more years than remaining years, so he also better understands the meaning of the term "seize the day and night." Therefore, we must take a more active attitude towards life.

The professor noted in his study that although the meaning of life varies from person to person. However, if you can identify with your personality, establish good relationships, have long-term goals and behave altruistically, you are one of the people who can understand the purpose and meaning of life.