Aging Issues
(Excerpts from an article in Connections, The Family Institute newsletter, Spring 2005)

Midlife Years
"As men and women enter middle age there are a number of dynamic stressors that lead them to the 4 R's: they Reassess, Renegotiate, Reevaluate and even Restructure their lives," according to Karen Krefman, LMFT, a staff psychotherapist at The Family Institute and former director of the Midlife & Beyond Program for Maturing Adults.

It's a time of looking back and looking ahead, while taking stock of the present. It is a time when unresolved issues from one's past resurface, allowing an individual to reevaluate what has happened and, more importantly, giving them an opportunity to work through these issues.

For people in midlife, there is often an accompanying sense of urgency - there is so much left to do, but time is running out and the choices are more limited - "it's now or never, but it's not too late." Added to this is the pressure of juggling multiple responsibilities and roles, while maintaining degrees of competency and productivity, all of which adds to the level of stress individuals experience at this time.

It is this realization about limits of time, in part, that can lead individuals to alter aspirations, life goals, timetables, and to make changes in their relationships. Thus, the midlife years provide many new opportunities...  they can be a time of tremendous growth and development.

Therapists in the Midlife & Beyond Program invite clients to explore and anticipate significant changes and to develop new perspectives in order to optimize midlife possibilities.

Later Life Years
Transitioning into later life years, the Midlife and Beyond Program encourages older adults to work together with their network of family, friends and caregivers to improve the quality of life for everyone.

Faced with health concerns and an increasing reliance on others for emotional and physical support, older adults often deliberate over relationships with adult children...wonder how illness and physical health will impact relationships with partners, family and friends...cope with the inevitable loss of loved ones...and wonder how to maintain independence.

Frequently, the combination of illness and the uncertainties that aging presents causes fear, depression, anxiety and instability in relationships - impacting friends, family and caregivers.

Krefman says that it is important to understand that the emotional and relationship changes inherent in aging affect all of those concerned with an individual's well-being. "The Family Institute's integrative counseling approach allows us to work not only with individuals, but also with couples and families, including adult children, siblings, friends and caregivers as the needs of the family change," she added.

For more information about services offered by the Midlife & Beyond Program services, call Karen Krefman, LMFT at 847-733-4300, ext. 757.