Psychoeducational Workshops: An Experience of Working
With Elderly People

Guadalupe Méndez Soriano, Alma Rosa Bernal Reyes, Lorena Sánchez Bernal
(Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias de la Salud UST, IPN, Mexico)

Abstract: This research arises from the psychoeducational interventions made inside non-formal educational environments by psychology degree students attending their sixth semester at IPN in Mexico City.

This paper exposes the experience carried out with elderly population in day centers for the aged, retirement houses and community centers. In the first stage, a diagnostic was made by means of the Socio-Educational Intervention Needs Analysis model (ANISE in its Spanish acronym), and the objectives for the intervention program were established. Subsequently, in the intervention stage, psychoeducational workshops were designed and implemented with thematic areas such as cognitive skills, communication, socialization, motor skills, self-esteem, creativity, and self-care.

As a result, it has been confirmed that the work of educational psychologists not only impacts in formal educational environments but also in non-formal environments such as day centers for the aged, retirement houses and community centers where cognitive and affective areas are strengthened through playful and creative activities. Therefore, there is evidence of improvements in both elderly people quality of life and their ability to relate with others.

Key words: education, psychoeducational intervention, elderly people