Elderly Health and Literature Therapy: A Theoretical Review

Abstract

Recently, the problems of old age have been discussed in terms of two aspects: preventive and therapeutic approach. The previous studies on the preventive aspect have been mostly concerned with the educational preparation for successful approach to elderly, directing focus toward the transitional period of the old age. Most research into the therapeutic aspect on the elderly diseases has focused on organic mental disorders such as dementia and functional mental diseases such as depression. This study aims to suggest the preventive and new therapeutic possibility in old people through combining the elderly health with literature. First, the research results regarding the social background for the elderly problems indicate that geriatric diseases increase in proportion to the increase of the population. Secondly, for the literature therapy, it is initially required to seek a comprehensive understanding about the health of the elderly through the phased consideration for the elderly problems. Thirdly, for the treatment of geriatric diseases by using literature, it is necessary to develop more active and integrative literature therapy than passive bibliotherapy. Literature therapy is the use of literature in the treatment of people with emotional or mental illness. Fourthly, theoretical approach should be considered for the health of the elderly and the literature therapy. From a literary approach, the literature therapy can help the study on geriatric diseases such as dementia and depression. Thus, the program for the health of geriatric issues and literature therapy should be developed as the next step in the future.

Literature and Art Therapy in Post-Stroke Psychological Disorders

“…Therefore, emotional disorders such as depression and anxiety that appear after stroke must be dealt with effectively to help with rehabilitation (Aström et al 1993). Literature treatment is an auxiliary tool that treats neurosis as well as emotional or behavioral disorders; thus, it might be an effective therapy method for PSD as well (Jacobs and Mosco 2011;Eum et al 2014). …”

“…Literature therapy (also known as biblio/poetry therapy) is defined as the therapeutic use of literature for treatment of mental disorders or for mental health (Cohen 1994;Eum et al 2014). It is a psychotherapeutic approach that provides information and outlines approaches readers can adopt to develop insight and awareness of negative thoughts and emotions, provides answers to problems and supports them to practice these approaches in their daily lives (Jorm et al 2002;Campbell and Smith 2003;Eum et al 2014).…”

“…It is a psychotherapeutic approach that provides information and outlines approaches readers can adopt to develop insight and awareness of negative thoughts and emotions, provides answers to problems and supports them to practice these approaches in their daily lives (Jorm et al 2002;Campbell and Smith 2003;Eum et al 2014). The UK National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) (2009) has recommended bibliotherapy as a treatment for unrelenting sub-threshold depressive symptoms or mild-tomoderate depression.…”

The Development of Psychological Counseling—Literature Therapy

“…In addition, appreciating literary works can help readers to change their irrational cognition, to draw new concepts from literary works, to produce new behaviors, and also can help readers to strengthen their self-actualization ability, then make them can have a better develop of themselves. At the same time, literary appreciation can make people have a peak experience, meaning that when the reader absorbed in the reading, will focus on the high concentration, to achieve a full, selfless state, and this state can help promote mental health (Eum, 2014).…”

Estado psicológico de los estudiantes que asisten a un programa universitario para personas mayores: enfoque en los síntomas de ansiedad y depresión

“…These programs are positively valued by participants who feel more prepared to deal with retirement and have high levels of satisfaction related to these interventions (Midanik, Soghikian, Ransom, & Tekawa, 1995). A recent research on the problems linked to aging puts emphasis on preventive approaches (Eum, Yim, & Choi, 2014). "The Classrooms of Experience": in the Basque Country, located in northern Spain, the state university (University of the Basque Country) has created a free program for elderly/retired people called "the classrooms of experience."…”