Group psychotherapy with older adults.
This article describes a psychodynamically oriented psychotherapy group for older adults conducted in an agency setting, highlighting the problems specific to such groups. The literature on such groups for older adults is reviewed. The issues discussed are the psychology of late life, diagnostic considerations, medical illness and dementia as complicating factors, the issue of caretaking, and the centrality of shame. A systems-oriented approach to understanding the group's success is suggested.
Saiger
G M
GM
Center for the Study of Psychotherapies for the Aging, The Washington School of Psychiatry, DC, USA. gsaiger@mindspring.com
D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D012649:Self Concept; D012752:Shame