SISTER LETTY G.

KUAN

RETIREMENT AND ROLE DISCONTINUITIES

BACKGROUND OF THE THEORIST:

°Born on November 19, 1936, Katipunan, Dipolog, Zamboanga, del Norte.

°Master Degree in Nursing and Guidance and Counseling.

°She also holds a doctoral degree in education.

°Has a vast contribution to the University of the Philippines College of Nursing Faculty and Academic
Achievements.

°She is now a Professor Emeritus, a title awarded only to a few who met the strict criteria.

°She has two Masters Degrees, M.A. in Nursing and M.S. in Education, Major in Guidance and
Counseling, culminating in doctor of education. (Guidance and Counseling)

°Has a clinical fellowship and specialization in Neuropsychology in University of Paris, France.

(Salpetriere Hospital)

°Neurogerontology in Watertown, New York (Good Samaritan Hospital) and Syracuse University, New
York.

°She also had Bioethics formal training at Institute of Religion, Ethics and Law at Baylor College of
Medicine in Houston, Texas.

°She is a recipient of the Metrobank Foundation “Outstanding Teacher’s Award” in 1995 and an “Award
of Continuing Integrity and Excellence in Service” in 2004. (ACIES)

°Her religious community is the Notre Dame de Vie founded in France in 1932.

°As a former member of the Board of Nursing her latest legacy the Nursing Community is without a
doubt, indisputable.

°She authored several books giving her insights in the areas of Gerontology, Care of Older Persons and
Bioethics and Essence of Caring.

Concepts of Illness and Health Care Intervention In an Urban Community

By: Kuan, Letty, Gurdiel: (Quezon City): 1975

Understanding the Filipino Elderly: A textbook for Nurses and Related Health Professional

By; Kuan, Letty, G.; Dipolog City: Jesus G. Kuan Foundation, 1993

Essence of Caring

By: Letty G. Kuan,

National Teaching Training Center for the Health Professions, University of the Philippines Manila,
Learning Resources Unit, 1993
Pag-aaruga Sa Mga Taong May Edad Na

By: Kuan, Letty G.; Quezon City; UP-KAT, 1998

Bioethics in Nursing

By: Kuan, Letty G.; Manila: Educational Pub. House, 2006

BACKGROUND OF THE THEORY:

RETIREMENT:

An inevitable change in one’s life. It is evident in the increasing statistics of aging population
accompanied by related disabilities and increased dependence. This developmental stage, even at later
part of life, must be considered desirable and satisfying through the determination of factors that will
help the person enjoy his remaining years of life. It is of primary importance to prepare early in life by
cultivating other role of options of age 50-60 in order to have a rewarding retirement period even
amidst the presence of role discontinuities experienced by this age group.

BASIC ASSUMPTIONS AND DEFINITIONS

 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 period.

 ROLE
-Refers to a set of shared expectations focused upon a particular position. These may beliefs of
what goals or values the position incumbent is to pursue and the norms that will govern his
behavior.
-It is also the set shared expectations from the retirees socialization experiences and the values
internalized while preparing for the position as well as the adaptations to the expectations socially
defined for the position itself.
-For every social role, there is a complementary set of roles in the social structure among which
interaction constantly occurs.

 CHANGE OF LIFE
-Is the period between near retirement and post-retirement years. In medico-physiological
terms, this equates with the climacteric period of adjustment and re-adjustment to another
tempo of life.

 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 or has completed the required years of service.

 ROLE DISCONTINUITY
-Is the interruption in the line of status enjoyed or performed. The interruption may be brought
about by an accident, emergency, and change of position and retirement.

 COPING APPROACHES:

-Refers to the interventions or measures applied to solve a problematic situation or state in order to
restore or maintain equilibrium and normal functioning.

 DETERMINANTS OF POSITIVE PERCEPTIONS IN RETIREMENT AND POSITIVE REACTIONS TOWARD

ROLE DISCONTINUITIES:

•Health Status – refers to the 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 (According to Webster’s Dictionary) – status of an individual according to his/her

work.
•Family Constellation – Means the type of family composition described either close knit or
extended family where three or more generations of family member live under one roof; or
distanced family, whose members live in separate dwelling units; or nuclear type of family
where only husband, wife and children live together.
 (According to Webster’s Dictionary) – It is the preparing of self to the possible outcomes of life.

“I have grown and sown and now I can reap the reward and blessing of a life lived in joy and love, for I
too have made others grow. ” -Prof. Letty Gurdiel Kuan, RN, RGC, EdD-