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Cover image of Guiding Autobiography Groups for Older Adults
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Guiding Autobiography Groups for Older Adults

Exploring the Fabric of Life

James E. Birren and Donna E. Deutchman

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"Guided autobiography," write the authors, "is ideally suited to foster in the older adult a belief that his or her life is meaningful and something of which to be proud." This book helps professionals—at senior centers, community centers, and other service facilities—guide older adults and others in preparing their autobiographies.

Many older adults, the authors explain, have limited social networks. Widowhood, retirement, and other "involuntary transitions" create a loss of roles, which can damage the older adult's sense of identity and self-worth. Guided autobiography can be used very...

"Guided autobiography," write the authors, "is ideally suited to foster in the older adult a belief that his or her life is meaningful and something of which to be proud." This book helps professionals—at senior centers, community centers, and other service facilities—guide older adults and others in preparing their autobiographies.

Many older adults, the authors explain, have limited social networks. Widowhood, retirement, and other "involuntary transitions" create a loss of roles, which can damage the older adult's sense of identity and self-worth. Guided autobiography can be used very effectively with such persons—to promote their general well- being, develop friendships, and create increased feelings of self-sufficiency.

The book's chapters treat such topics as eliciting themes from people's lives, promoting creative thinking, facilitating group interaction, and mastering obstacles in the group process. Based on the authors' fourteen years of experience leading groups in guided autobiography, this book will be of special interest to gerontologists, psychologists, social workers, and other professionals who conduct activity programs for older people.

Reviews

Reviews

The book is more than a how-to manual but less than a footnote-laden scholarly tome. There is both a necessary and sufficient discussion of the pragmatic aspects of conducting guided autobiography, but there is also... a succinct discussion of the related literature... It should be of interest to all those who plan and conduct programs or other activities for the elderly.

How older adults can explore their fabrics of life in guided autobiographical groups is told with lucidity and richness of detail... After 14 years of experience, the authors have developed a procedure that has obvious great usefulness for activity programmes in a variety of settings.

About

Book Details

Publication Date
Status
Available
Trim Size
6
x
9
Pages
160
ISBN
9780801842139
Table of Contents

Foreword
Preface
Chapter 1. Strengthening the Fabric of Life
Chapter 2. Leading a Guided Autobiography Group
Chapter 3. The Healing Power of The Group
Chapter 4. The Importance of Guiding Themes
Chapter 5

Foreword
Preface
Chapter 1. Strengthening the Fabric of Life
Chapter 2. Leading a Guided Autobiography Group
Chapter 3. The Healing Power of The Group
Chapter 4. The Importance of Guiding Themes
Chapter 5. Successful Themes and Sensitizing Questions
Chapter 6. Encouraging Creativity and Divergent Thinking
Chapter 7. Mastering Potential Obstacles in the Group Process
Chapter 8. The Next Steps after Guided Autobiography
Chapter 9. A Professional's Guide to the Literature, and Implications for Future Research
References
Index

Author Bios
Featured Contributor

James E. Birren, Ph.D., D.Sc.

James E. Birren is associate director of the Anna and Harry Borun Center for Gerontological Research at the Multicampus Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, University of California, Los Angeles He is the author of Telling the Stories of Life Through Guided Autobiography Groups.
Featured Contributor

Donna E. Deutchman

Donna E. Deutchman is assistant director of the Anna and Harry Borun Center for Gerontological Research at the Multicampus Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, University of California, Los Angeles.