A loss on older adults usually harms their self-esteem and makes them lose confidence to face life. It even gets worse for the ones who have led respectable lives over the years. The major loss is the loss of a spouse. Losing a person who has been a soul mate, a partner in investments, family, and a close confidant is usually too much to take. In addition, the loss of close relatives and friends may cause an adult to lose a sense of direction. This is because many older adults get their social satisfaction from forming close circles.
Another major loss that older adults have to deal with is the reduction of physical strength. The terrible realization that you are not as athletic, flexible, and strong as before can be stressful. As one grows older, they start losing certain senses, such as sight. They start losing the ability to depend on themselves as much as they used to. After retirement, people lose the regular means of income they always had. There is always a fear of institutionalization for them.
Working with clients in this arena would provide some difficulties. One would be in convincing and getting them to form groups as a sure way of sharing feelings with age-mates. It provides the avenue to open up about emotions with other people in similar situations. It would also be difficult be to get them active, as volunteers, for instance. Creating a passion for someone else is not easy. I could, however, manage to convince them into forming groups to improve their social lives.