Sister Letty G.

Kuan
RETIREMENT AND ROLE
DISCONTINUITIES
 The Theory of Sister Letty G. Kuan is
about “Graceful Aging”. Her interest in old
people initiated her to formulate a theory
for the purpose of knowing the reasons
and variables on how to make people
happy at retirement by conceptualizing a
framework
 RETIREMENT AND ROLE DISCONTINUITIES
Determinants of Fruitful Aging
•Prepared retirement
•Health status
•Income
•Family Constellation
•Self-preparation

Outcome
Fruitful
Retirement Role Retirement and
Discontinuities ( Aging Process) Change of Life
Aging
About her Theory: Retirement and Role Discontinuities
❑ Basic Assumptions and Concepts

▪ Physiological Age is the endurance of cells and

tissues to withstand the wear-and-tear phenomenon of
the human body. Some individuals are gifted with
strong genetic affinity to stay young for a long time
About her Theory: Retirement and Role Discontinuities

❑ Basic Assumptions and Concepts

▪ Role refers to the set of shared

expectations focused upon a particular
position. These may include beliefs
about what goals or values the position
incumbent is to pursue and the norms
that will govern his behavior.
About her Theory: Retirement and Role Discontinuities
❑ Basic Assumptions and Concepts

▪ Change of Life is the period between near retirement and

post retirement years. In medico-physiologic terms, this
equates with the climacteric period of adjustment and
readjustment to another tempo of life.
About her Theory: Retirement and Role Discontinuities
❑ Basic Assumptions and Concepts

▪ Retiree is an individual who has left the position

occupied for the past years of productive life because
he/she has reached the prescribed retirement age of
has completed the required years of service.
 About her Theory: Retirement and Role Discontinuities
❑ Basic Assumptions and Concepts

▪ Coping Approaches refer to the

interventions or measures applied
to solve a problematic situation or
state in order to restore or
maintain equilibrium and normal
functioning.
 About her Theory: Retirement and Role Discontinuities
❑ Determinants of positive perceptions in retirement and positive
reactions toward role discontinuities:

▪ Health Status – refer to physiological and mental state of the

respondents, classified as either sickly or healthy.
▪ Income – (economic level) refers to the financial affluence of the
respondent which can be classified as poor, moderate or rich.
▪ Work Status
 About her Theory: Retirement and Role Discontinuities
❑ Determinants of positive perceptions in retirement
and positive reactions toward role discontinuities:

▪ Family Constellation – means the type of family

composition described either close knit or
extended family where three more generations of
family members live under one roof; or distanced
family, whose member live in separate dwelling
units; or nuclear type of family where only
husband, wife and children live together.
▪ Self-Preparation
 “The Longer you stay in life, the
more you have acquired, the better
you should be, the Legacy is given.”
 Carmencita M. Abaquin
“PREPARE ME”
Interventions & the Quality of Life of
Advance Progressive Cancer Patients
▪ During the past decade, the incidence of cancer has significantly
increased not only in the Philippines but also worldwide.
▪ Cancer has been associated with multifaceted issues and concerns
regardless of stages of development.
▪ For patients with advanced progressive cancer, these problems are
compounded, thus the need to develop interventions that can
address the needs especially those concerning the ability to be in
control and maintaining their dignity.
About her Theory: PREPARE ME
❑ PREPARE ME has the following components:

▪ Presence – being with another person during the

times of need. This includes therapeutic
communication, active listening, and touch.

▪ Reminisce Therapy– recall of past experiences,

feelings and thoughts to facilitate adaptation to
present circumstances.

▪ Prayer
About her Theory: PREPARE ME
❑ PREPARE ME has the following components:

▪ Relaxation-Breathing – techniques to encourage and elicit

relaxation for the purpose of decreasing undesirable signs and
symptoms such as pain, muscle tension, and anxiety.

▪ Meditation – encourages an elicit form of relaxation for the

purpose of altering patient’s level of awareness by focusing on an
image or thought to facilitate inner sight which helps establish
connection and relationship with God. It may be done through the
use of music and other relaxation techniques.
About her Theory: PREPARE ME

❑ PREPARE ME has the following components:

▪ Values Clarification – assisting another individual to

clarify his own values about health and illness in order
to facilitate effective decision making skills.