Gerontological Psychology Course

Lesson 1 • Ethical Principles in Gerontological Practice

Covers autonomy, beneficence, and justice as applied to older adults. Establishes the ethical framework guiding all professional practice in this course.

Lesson 2 • Defining Aging and Gerontology

Introduces biological, psychological, and social definitions of ageing. Provides the conceptual vocabulary needed for all subsequent chapters.

Lesson 3 • Historical Development of the Field

Traces the evolution of gerontological psychology from early observations to modern science. Contextualises current theories within their historical origins.

Lesson 1 • Neuroanatomical Changes in Later Life

Describes structural brain changes including cortical thinning and white matter decline. Connects anatomy to cognitive and emotional functioning.

Lesson 2 • Sleep, Circadian Rhythms, and Aging

Analyses how sleep architecture and circadian timing shift with age. Establishes sleep as a modifiable factor affecting cognition and mental health.

Lesson 3 • Sensory and Motor System Aging

Covers age-related changes in vision, hearing, and motor control. Links sensory decline to psychological well-being and daily functioning.

Lesson 4 • Lifestyle Factors and Brain Health

Evaluates how exercise, nutrition, and stress affect brain ageing trajectories. Prepares students to recommend evidence-based protective behaviours.

Lesson 1 • Memory Systems and Aging

Differentiates how episodic, semantic, procedural, and working memory change with age. Enables accurate interpretation of memory complaints in clinical settings.

Lesson 2 • Language and Wisdom in Later Life

Explores preserved and enhanced capacities including vocabulary, narrative skill, and wisdom. Balances deficit-focused views with a strengths-based perspective.

Lesson 3 • Mild Cognitive Impairment Overview

Defines mild cognitive impairment and its subtypes as a transitional state between normal ageing and dementia. Prepares students for deeper clinical content in later chapters.

Lesson 4 • Attention, Executive Function, and Speed

Examines age-related changes in selective attention, cognitive flexibility, and processing speed. Connects these changes to real-world functional outcomes.

Lesson 1 • Self-Concept, Identity, and Aging

Analyses how identity, self-esteem, and purpose evolve in response to ageing-related transitions. Connects self-concept to mental health and adaptive coping.

Lesson 2 • Resilience and Post-Traumatic Growth

Identifies psychological resilience mechanisms and conditions enabling growth after adversity. Provides a strengths-based lens for clinical and community practice.

Lesson 3 • Subjective Well-Being and Life Satisfaction

Measures and interprets hedonic and eudaimonic well-being in ageing populations. Establishes well-being as a primary outcome variable in gerontological practice.

Lesson 4 • Personality Stability and Change

Reviews longitudinal evidence on Big Five trait trajectories across adulthood. Distinguishes normative personality maturation from pathological change.

Lesson 1 • Loneliness, Isolation, and Social Exclusion

Distinguishes loneliness from social isolation and examines their health consequences. Equips students to identify and address social disconnection in practice.

Lesson 2 • Intimate Relationships and Sexuality

Addresses romantic partnerships, marital satisfaction, and sexual health in later life. Challenges ageist assumptions about intimacy and relational need.

Lesson 3 • Cultural and Diversity Factors in Aging

Explores how race, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status shape ageing experiences. Builds culturally responsive competency for diverse older adult populations.

Lesson 4 • Family Caregiving Dynamics

Examines the psychological impact of caregiving on both caregivers and care recipients. Prepares students to support families navigating caregiving stress.

Lesson 1 • Anxiety Disorders in Older Adults

Examines generalised anxiety, phobias, and health anxiety as they manifest in older populations. Addresses barriers to recognition and treatment-seeking.

Lesson 2 • Suicide Risk and Prevention in Later Life

Analyses elevated suicide risk in older adults and evidence-based prevention strategies. Prepares students to conduct risk assessments and safety planning.

Lesson 3 • Dementia Syndromes and Differential Diagnosis

Covers Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body, and frontotemporal dementia. Trains students to distinguish dementia types by clinical profile.

Lesson 4 • Substance Use and Misuse in Aging

Addresses alcohol misuse, prescription drug overuse, and emerging substance trends in older adults. Highlights unique physiological and psychosocial risk factors.

Lesson 1 • Depression and Anxiety Measurement

Covers validated scales for measuring depression and anxiety in older adult samples. Addresses psychometric properties and cutoff score interpretation.

Lesson 2 • Cognitive Screening and Neuropsychological Testing

Reviews widely used cognitive screening tools and comprehensive neuropsychological batteries. Trains students to select instruments appropriate to referral questions.

Lesson 3 • Functional and Quality-of-Life Assessment

Introduces tools measuring activities of daily living, instrumental functioning, and quality of life. Links functional status to treatment planning and care goals.

Lesson 4 • Principles of Geriatric Assessment

Establishes the unique considerations for assessing older adults, including sensory and cohort factors. Frames assessment as a multidimensional, collaborative process.

Lesson 1 • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in Later Life

Applies CBT principles to depression, anxiety, and chronic pain in older adults. Covers evidence base, adaptations, and common treatment challenges.

Lesson 2 • End-of-Life Psychological Care

Addresses grief, existential distress, and dignity-preserving care at the end of life. Prepares students to support dying older adults and their families.

Lesson 3 • Adapting Psychotherapy for Older Adults

Identifies modifications to standard psychotherapy techniques required for older clients. Addresses pacing, sensory needs, cohort values, and therapeutic alliance.

Lesson 4 • Reminiscence and Life Review Therapy

Teaches structured reminiscence and life review as therapeutic tools for meaning-making. Connects these approaches to Erikson's integrity vs. despair stage.