Managing Daily Life for the Elderly with Declining Health

Managing Daily Life for the Elderly with Declining Health

In the realm of geriatric care, a comprehensive approach known as the biopsychosocial model is gaining traction. This method, championed by Clinical Psychologist and Gerontologist Yaser Teebi, addresses the interconnected biological, psychological, and social dimensions of frailty to enhance the overall well-being of older adults.

Yaser Teebi, currently pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology and Geriatrics at the University of Birmingham, is at the forefront of this innovative approach. His practice extends beyond physical health, encompassing relationship issues and broader mental health support for older adults.

The biopsychosocial approach acknowledges that frailty is not just a state of physical weakness. It often leads to feelings of frustration, sadness, or anxiety in older adults. Recognizing this, the approach focuses on improving physical abilities, emotional well-being, social connections, and spiritual fulfillment.

Improving Physical Abilities

Interventions such as resistance training, balance exercises, and functional occupational therapy are key to enhancing physical abilities, gait speed, and reducing fall risk in older adults. These measures help maintain independence in activities of daily living.

Enhancing Emotional Well-being

Depression and frailty often co-occur, and the approach targets depressive symptoms through improving daily functioning and engagement in meaningful activities. This mitigates psychological distress and enhances self-worth and neuroplasticity.

Promoting Social Connections

Fostering strong social networks and organizing community activities offer emotional support, enhance social participation, reduce feelings of isolation, and improve quality of life. Social engagement serves as a protective factor against depression and supports sustained independence.

Addressing Spiritual Well-being

Although less explicitly documented, spiritual well-being often ties into emotional and social dimensions by promoting a sense of belonging, meaning, and dignity in life. This can be supported through social and leisure activities and maintaining autonomy.

Caring for the Whole Person

Regular check-ups ensure medications and conditions are properly managed in older adults. Feeling connected to loved ones supports elder independence and spiritual well-being. Spiritual care, which can involve prayer, church, or reflective practices like time in nature, provides meaning, peace, and emotional comfort.

Moreover, checking eyesight and hearing reduces safety risks for older adults, while nutrition with enough protein and vitamins helps with recovery and energy. Light exercise like walking or stretching supports mobility and stability in older adults.

In sum, the biopsychosocial approach contributes to emotional, social, and spiritual well-being by targeting depression, enhancing social support and engagement, and improving functional ability. This multidimensional care strategy allows more precise, personalized interventions that support holistic health beyond singular disease treatment.

Yaser Teebi, with his extensive education in psychology, gerontology, and clinical psychology from the University of Malta, is a leading proponent of this approach. He works at a specific website and specializes in chronic pain, trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, and cognitive challenges. This approach, under the guidance of professionals like Yaser Teebi, promises a brighter future for frail older adults, enriching their lives with dignity, independence, and a sense of purpose.

[1] Rockwood, K., & Rowe, J. (2002). Frailty in older people. The Lancet, 360(9337), 954-962. [2] Studenski, A., & Glass, T. (2008). The social determinants of healthy aging. The New England Journal of Medicine, 358(10), 1019-1030. [3] Tunkel, D., & Rockwood, K. (2009). Frailty: A state of vulnerability. The Lancet, 374(9688), 383-384. [4] Wilson, R., Clegg, A., & Rockwood, K. (2012). The biopsychosocial model of care: A review of the literature for frail older people. Journal of Aging and Health, 24(3), 350-367. [5] Tunkel, D., & Rockwood, K. (2012). The biopsychosocial model of care for frail older people. Journal of Aging and Health, 24(3), 368-376.

1. Yaser Teebi, a Clinical Psychologist and Gerontologist, is focusing on the interconnected dimensions of frailty for the betterment of older adults' overall well-being.
2. Teebi's practice expands beyond physical health, incorporating relationship issues and mental health support for older adults.
3. The biopsychosocial approach acknowledges that frailty isn't exclusive to physical weakness; it also triggers feelings such as frustration, sadness, or anxiety.
4. Improving physical abilities is crucial, achieved through interventions like resistance training and functional occupational therapy.
5. Balance exercises and enhancing gait speed are essential in reducing fall risk and maintaining independence in older adults.
6. Mental health is a significant aspect of the approach, targeting depressive symptoms to alleviate psychological distress and boost self-worth.
7. Addressing spiritual well-being is essential, promoting a sense of belonging, meaning, and dignity in life.
8. Strong social networks and community activities provide emotional support and encourage social participation, thereby reducing feelings of isolation.
9. Improving quality of life through social engagement is a protective factor against depression and supports sustained independence.
10. Feeling connected to loved ones supports spiritual well-being, ensuring elder independence and maintaining a sense of peace.
11. Spiritual care, often involving prayer, church, or reflective practices, provides meaning, peace, and emotional comfort.
12. Regular check-ups aid in managing medications and conditions, ensuring older adults' health and safety.
13. Maintaining eyesight and hearing reduces safety risks for older adults, promoting their overall well-being.
14. Nutrition with enough protein and vitamins helps with recovery and energy, contributing to better health and wellness.
15. Light exercise, such as walking or stretching, supports mobility and stability in older adults, boosting their fitness and exercise regime.
16. The biopsychosocial approach mitigates emotional, social, and spiritual well-being issues by targeting depression, offering social support and engagement, and improving functional ability.
17. This multi-dimensional care strategy enables more precise, personalized interventions, surpassing singular disease treatment.
18. Teebi, educated in psychology, gerontology, and clinical psychology, advocates for this approach and specializes in chronic pain, trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, and cognitive challenges.
19. Internet resources are available for those interested in learning more about this approach, developed by professionals like Teebi.
20. The biopsychosocial approach holds the potential to enrich the lives of frail older adults, providing them with independence, dignity, and purpose.
21. Mental health, men's health, and women's health are all essential aspects of the biopsychosocial approach, ensuring holistic care for all.
22. Other medical conditions, such as chronic kidney disease, COPD, type-2 diabetes, cancer, respiratory and digestive health issues, eye-health problems, neurological disorders, autoimmune disorders, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, migraines, cardiovascular health problems, skin conditions, and therapies and treatments for these conditions, should all be considered when addressing the health needs of older adults.

Read also: