Older adults may face challenges in adjusting to aging

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the stated research gap and stated challenges and recommendations and future-work section of the source papers, classified as general, drawn from work published between 1980 and 2026, spanning 3 journals.

Supporting evidence — 6 representative gaps

• The Efficacy of Group Counseling with Older Adults (1981) · The Personnel and Guidance Journal · doi

  There is a lack of research on the efficacy of group counseling with older adults. Prior work has focused on traditional one-to-one counseling approaches, neglecting the potential benefits of group counseling. There is a need for a framework that considers the unique needs and challenges of older adults in counseling.

  generalstated research gap
  Keywords: there lack research efficacy group counseling older adults
• The Efficacy of Group Counseling with Older Adults (1981) · The Personnel and Guidance Journal · doi

  Older adults may face challenges in adjusting to aging, including declining health and social isolation. Counselors may struggle with bias and lack of experience working with older adults. Group counseling may require specialized training and expertise to effectively support older adults.

  generalstated challenges
  Keywords: older adults face challenges adjusting aging including declining
• Investigating Job-Level Disparities and Generational Differences in Perception and Utilization of Workplace Counselling Services in Nigerian Organizations (2026) · NIU journal of social sciences. · doi

  focused - Because senior staff are more likely to use counselling services, organizations should create to encourage initiatives participation among lower-level employees through awareness programmes and easier access procedures. Since perceptions of service adequacy are levels, organizations similar across should ensure clear, transparent, and consistent communication about counselling services, including confidentiality and access processes. job - - Given differences generational in perceptions—especially among employees tailor aged 35–44—organizations should counselling outreach and support strategies to address the specific needs of different age groups.

  generalrecommendationsevidence 5/5
  Keywords: counselling organizations services among employees access perceptions focused senior staff likely create encourage initiatives participation
• A Comprehensive Strategy for Offering Guidance and Counseling Services to Older Adults (1980) · Counseling and Values · doi

  The following recommendations are based on the findings of the CEMREL project as implemented up to this point: 1. Older adult peer facilitators can make a contribution to their age cohorts in the area of positive mental health and should be given the opportunity to do so. Stipends should be given to the facilitators as an incentive to participate and as an indication of the value of their service. 2. Internships in the area of counseling older adults should be available to counseling and social work students. Care must be taken, however, to avoid glutting the market with counselors of older adults, and counseling students should be informed of the relatively few full time positions that are currently available in this area. (The highly creative risk-taker who demonstrates an ability to envision, plan, and design counseling possibilities with older adults should be encouraged.) 3. New strategies for counseling internships should be devel oped. For example, a counseling intern who works exclusively with older adults may find at the end of the internship experience that there are few jobs available that are devoted exclusively to counseling older adults. On the other hand, a prospective counselor who gains experience working with older adults and other age groups expands employment possibilities. If a prospective counselor is fully commit ted to working with older adults, providing that person with an internship that combines several areas of training and skills will likely enhance the employability of that person. Combinations of two or more areas (e.g., counseling and guidance, administration, education, recreation) also may enhance employability. 4. The approach that CEMREL has used in introducing coun seling services at multipurpose senior centers seems appropriate and is recommended. This approach stresses a low-key rapport-building phase during which the counselor (intern) operationally defines his or her role at the center but spends much time just getting to know the older adults. The typical consequence of this approach is rather spontaneous counseling episodes that may lack some of the structure and continuity of much of traditional counseling. The highly positive this approach is that older persons do begin to share aspect of 215 concerns and do become more receptive to participating in a "coun seling situation." 5. Guidance activities and informational services related to the needs of older adults should be emphasized. Many of the important concerns of older adults relate to such areas as health, finances, and transportation. Accurate and appropriate information relevant to these concerns may be most helpful. 6. The CEMREL project has observed older adults being help ful to one another in guidance and counseling groups. Whereas large numbers of individuals have not participated, those who have partici pated have tended to be helpful to one another. Group work should be encouraged, and more research should be done to better identify incentives for older adults to participate in groups so that more from that age group may be attracted to take part. 7. Counselor educators should work closely with administrators of area agencies on aging in developing training strategies and intern placements. Opportunities for counseling older adults appear most likely to occur directly or indirectly under the auspices of area agen cies on aging. SUMMARY Currently, there is a need to begin developing strategies for providing guidance and counseling services for older adults. Some counselor educators report success in training their students to counsel older adults. Exemplary training programs for older adult peer counselors also have been developed. The CEMREL project combines successful elements of previous guidance and counseling programs with several unique features: (a) mutual assistance linkages consisting of univer sity interns and peer facilitators at the multipurpose senior centers; (b) the use of a model counselor selected from within an area agency on agingsystem; and (c) the provision ofguidance services in education al and occupational information. Seven recommendations have been made as an outgrowth of the experiences of the CEMREL project.

  generalrecommendationsevidence 5/5
  Keywords: older adults counseling area counselor cemrel guidance project training approach services peer facilitators available students
• Counseling in the Later Years: A Growing Need (1983) · The Personnel and Guidance Journal · doi

  The challenges of providing counseling services to older adults include categorizing the groups of people in need of the service. Ageist attitudes and limited economic opportunities can make it difficult for older adults to adjust to transitions. The paper highlights the importance of addressing these challenges.

  generalstated challengesevidence 5/5
  Keywords: challenges providing counseling services older adults include categorizing
• Counseling in the Later Years: A Growing Need (1983) · The Personnel and Guidance Journal · doi

  Further research is needed to understand the most effective ways to provide counseling services to older adults. Research should focus on developing a continuum of services that facilitate adjustment to the transitions of aging. Studies should examine the impact of counseling services on the well-being of older adults.

  generalfuture-work sectionevidence 4/5
  Keywords: further research needed understand effective ways provide counseling

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