The Theory: Insight C

Theory Application

Retirement is the time in one's life when one is no longer employed. The retirement age

usually varies, mostly between 65 and 70. It can be a rich and fulfilling time in which one

can relax and follow one's dreams and do all the things one never had time to do before.

But because retirement is such a big change in an individual's life, it is often associated

with psychological changes.

When individuals work, they have a reason to leave the house and be social with others.

Though they may not enjoy working, it is still a reason to interact with other people on a

daily basis. Upon retirement many retirees begin to feel isolated from the rest of the

world. Without that obligation to leave home and interact with others or even have the

opportunity to get out and interact with others, many feel they are isolated socially.

I strongly believe that family role and support plays an important role in adaptation.

Although the way the family views the world is important during retirement, being

affirmed by family members is more important. There is an importance of a positive

problem-solving communication style for a positive level of family adaptation. Individual

adaptation during retirement was more influenced by family worldview.

As a nurse, I would support Kuan’s theory because it has great positive impact to the

quality of life of aging persons.

Kuan’s theory supports the ideas that nursing should promote wholeness, adaptation,

patients’ discovery of himself and insight, and patients’ empowerment. It also shows that

there are difficulties and needs that a nurse should anticipate when a patient is

transitioning into retirement stage. This anticipation allows the nurse to intervene with

the issues that a person is dealing with.

Her theory focuses on the psychological effects on a retiree. It is really a difficult

transition in one’s life. But I may suggest that integration of social indicators should also

be included. Instead, psychosocial adaptation of a retiree must be a concern of a nurse.

Mariel Anne Uy