Intervention in Aging Systems

Code:

PCS11

Acronym:

ISE

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
CNAEF	Psychology

Instance: 2023/2024 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Psychology
Course/CS Responsible:	Master Degree in Psychology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MPSIC	12	Plano Oficial do ano letivo 2021	1	-	6	54	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

• Promote reflection on the current challenges of population aging and the need for innovative clinical responses by professionals and social and health institutions;


• Know the international guidelines for intervention with older people and their implications for practice;


• Know the main issues and challenges in old age and their development contexts and the different approaches or possibilities of intervention;


• Develop skills and specific intervention strategies with the older adults/caregivers;


• Develop a favorable and realistic attitude about the work of a Psychology professional with older adults.

Learning outcomes and competences

 The student must be able to:

• Identify the most significant contexts and issues, the main processes and changes that take place in late adulthood,
• Relate the main problems and needs of older people and their relationship systems (marital, family, institutional) with the different possibilities and approaches to intervention;
• Plan and operationalize the skills and techniques learned;
• Knowing and framing, in a multisystemic perspective, the psychologist's role in promoting the development of older adults and their developmental contexts.
• Take a position and critically reflect on attitudes and practices conveyed in older age.

Working method

Presencial

Program

I- Psychological intervention in late adulthood: intervention contexts, specificities, modalities, and specificities of the helping relationship

 

1. Contexts of intervention with older people
2. Specificities of intervention in old age
3. The helping relationship in old age.

 

II – Main issues and challenges of old age: comprehensive assessment and intervention models

1. Depression
2. Palliative care at the end of life
3. Death, loss, and grief processes
4. Abuse and ill-treatment
5. Cognitive deterioration and dementia
6. Other common challenges/problems in old age (e.g., specificities of the family life cycle, conjugality, and sexuality)
7. Psychopharmacology

 

III – Promoting quality of life: intervention in aging systems/contexts

1. Promotion of active aging: Planning and designing prevention and intervention programs
1. Psychoeducation Programs
2. Development promotion groups
3. Intergenerational programs

2. Provision of formal and family care: from assessment to intervention

2.1. Intervention with families and caregivers

1. Social responses
2. Psychoeducation
3. Support Groups
4. Psychotherapy

2.2. Home intervention

3. Policies in the context of aging and the provision of care: The organization of Services and the Integrated healthcare response

Mandatory literature

Firmino, H, Simões, M.R., & Cerejeira, J. ; Saúde mental das pessoas mais velhas. , Edições Lidel., 2016
João Manuel de Morais Taborda Barreto; Envelhecimento e saúde mental
Laidlaw, K., & Knight, B. ; Handbook of emotional disorders in later life: Assessment and treatment., Oxford University Press, 2008
Nancy A. Pachana; The Oxford handbook of clinical geropsychology. ISBN: 978-0-19-966317-0
Bob G. Knight; Psychotherapy with older adults. ISBN: 978-0-7619-2373-2
Irvin D. Yalom; The^theory and practice of group psychotherapy. ISBN: 978-0-465-09284-0

Comments from the literature

Complementary Bibliography (suggested in each summary)

Teaching methods and learning activities

This Curricular Unit integrates advanced training in Psychological Counseling and Psychotherapy with Youth and Adults. This discipline is based on an active dynamic of theoretical-practical teaching-learning.

Thus, in classroom activities, methodologies will be used for exposition and oral discussion of programmatic themes in a classroom situation, as well as encouraging active participation and learning by students.

The practical and know-how component will be emphasized, familiarization with instruments and intervention strategies, implemented in the discussion of practical cases, role-playing dynamics, video viewing, discussion of ethical dilemmas, and sharing of cases/situations with professionals from the area. Students will also have the opportunity to occasionally attend psychological intervention consultations with older adults (through the mirror) at the Psychotherapy Unit for Young, Adults, and Older Adults of the Psychological Counseling Service of FPCEUP and, when possible, visits to work contexts with seniors.

The readings presented in each summary will encourage the student's independent study and research.

keywords

Social sciences > Psychological sciences > Psychology > Clinical psychology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	10,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	40,00
Trabalho escrito	50,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	76,00
Frequência das aulas	54,00
Trabalho de campo	12,00
Trabalho escrito	20,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

The student will have to attend 75% of the classes.

Calculation formula of final grade

The theoretical component weighs 50% (individual written work/case study). The practical part considers 50%: written practical work and presentation in class in three-person groups – assessment and planning of an individual or group psychological intervention (the themes will be announced on the first day of classes). Participation in classes weighs 10% of the grade.

The marks obtained in the two components will be an arithmetic average. In each one, there must be a minimum score of 9 values ​​(referring, in this case, to an oral exam to obtain the minimum classification of 10 values).

Grades will be expressed on a scale from 0 to 20 in any of the components.

In short: Individual work (50%) + Practical work (40%) + Participation (10%)

Examinations or Special Assignments

Does not exist

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Student workers and other students in particular circumstances will be evaluated similarly to ordinary students.

Students with special educational needs must communicate with the Student Support Service at the beginning of the semester so that it can inform the teacher.

Classification improvement

There is no possibility of improving the classification.