As the number of older adults grows exponentially, social work and psychology practice must embrace a more nuanced appreciation of the aging process. Family life is evolving in unprecedented ways, leaving adults with new challenges and choices for how best to live out their lives. Adults may face difficult decisions and increased anxieties regarding their own health, concern for loved ones, and uncertainties about the future. The noteworthy trends associated with the “new adulthood” holds clinical significance and raises important questions for contemporary practice. Our collective clinical and research experience with older adults suggests a re-envisioning of the threshold from midlife to older adulthood as well as an expansion of clinical sensitivity to issues raised by clients. We conceptualize this transition period as Emerging Elderhood (EE) and propose key tasks, developmental opportunities, and suggestions for clinicians to guide clients toward adaptation and change.

随着老年人的数量呈指数增长，社会工作和心理学实践必须对衰老过程进行更细致入微的理解。家庭生活正在以前所未有的方式发展，给成年人留下了新的挑战和选择，以更好地度过他们的生活。成年人可能面临艰难的决定，并且对自己的健康、对亲人的关心以及对未来的不确定性感到更加焦虑。与“新成年”相关的值得注意的趋势具有临床意义，并为当代实践提出了重要问题。我们对老年人的集体临床和研究经验表明，我们重新设想了从中年到老年的门槛，并扩大了对客户提出的问题的临床敏感性。