Learning outcome

After completing the course the candidate:

- Can analyse and problematise the concepts of health, disease and the body in relation to different interpretive frameworks, with an emphasis on an aging perspective

- Has insight into the development and importance of social relationships for older people’s living conditions

- Has in-depth knowledge about how the life stories of the elderly, their life situations and ethnicity affect what they experience and their expectations

- Can apply knowledge of normal aging processes and theories of aging when analysing challenges in relation to the lives and living conditions of the elderly

- Has advanced knowledge about common diseases/disability in the elderly

- Has in-depth knowledge of health promotion, prevention and rehabilitation work with the elderly

- Has basic knowledge of transition phases in the lives of the elderly, and can discuss and analyse the challenges that these involve

Course Description

- Different views of health and illness

- Ageing and the elderly in a historical and cultural perspective

- How the elderly experience growing old and the need for care

- Normal aging processes and theories of aging

- Common diseases and disability in the elderly

- Prevention, health promotion and rehabilitation strategies in working with the elderly

- Transition phases, loss, grief and coping in old age

Teaching and Learning Methods

Lectures, seminars and group work.

Assessment Methods

In order to sit the examination students must fulfil the following requirements:

987-E1 ST1 Life-Story Interview: An individually conducted life history interview with an elderly person; presented at a seminar. See description posted in Fronter.

Assessment: Pass / Fail

Examination

987-E1 ST2 Health and Quality of Life in the Elderly

Individual essay based on one of the course topics. The essay is a five-day take-home assignment assessed with a grade. See criteria posted in Fronter.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean