Chapter 14: Elderhood (75 until death)

Question 1

gender gap

Answer 1

Systematic differences between men and women in some measurable variable such as income, length of life, or elected representation in government.

Question 2

old-old

Answer 2

Among the very old, those who have suffered major physical or mental decrements.

Question 3

young-old

Answer 3

Among the very old, those who remain healthy, vigorous, and competent.

Question 4

life structures

Answer 4

One’s living arrangement and social relationships that support one’s physical and mental health.

Question 5

physical changes of aging

Answer 5

Multidimensional and variable changes that affect all individuals as they age, caused by an interaction of genetic, environmental, social, and lifestyle factors.

Question 6

behavioral slowing

Answer 6

Age-related delay in the speed of response to stimuli.

Question 7

processing load

Answer 7

In problem solving, the number of domains of information called into play and the amount of work necessary to select response strategies.

Question 8

visual adaptation

Answer 8

The ability to adapt to changes in the level of illumination.

Question 9

functional independence

Answer 9

Requiring little or no help with the activities of daily living.

Question 10

instrumental activities of daily life (IADLs)

Answer 10

Basic tasks that are essential to maintaining one’s daily life without dependence on informal or formal community support services.

Question 11

activities of daily living (ADLs)

Answer 11

Basic types of self-care that are required to function independently.

Question 12

organic brain syndromes

Answer 12

Disorders involving memory loss, confusion, loss of ability to manage daily functions, and loss of ability to focus attention.

Question 13

vascular dementia

Answer 13

A form of dementia that occurs when the blood vessels to the brain are blocked or narrow; the brain does not get the blood flow, oxygen, and nutrients needed for adequate functioning.

Question 14

usual aging

Answer 14

A state of typical aging in which individuals may be functioning well but are at high risk for disease, disability, and reduced capacity for functional independence.

Question 15

successful agers

Answer 15

Elderly individuals who are characterized by three interdependent features:

1. they have a low risk of disease and disease-related disabilities;
2. high mental and physical function; and 3. active engagement with life.

Question 16

active engagement

Answer 16

Continuing to be sociable and involved in doing things as you get older.

Question 17

living arrangments

Answer 17

The type of household or facility in which someone lives and the people an individual choose to live with.

Question 18

housing options

Answer 18

Alternative living arrangements including single-family homes, apartments, continuing care facilities, and nursing homes.

Question 19

gentrification

Answer 19

A pattern of real estate change in which a higher income group buys property and develops residential and commercial projects in an area that has previously been serving a lower income group.

Question 20

skill care facilities

Answer 20

A facility that provides housing, food, nursing care, and rehabilitation for people who have severe functional limitations as a result of illness, surgery, aging, or advanced dementia.

Question 21

nursing homes

Answer 21

A facility that provides housing, food, nursing care, and rehabilitation for people who have severe functional limitations as a result of illness, surgery, aging, or advanced dementia.

Question 22

continuing care retirement community

Answer 22

A residential setting offering housing and medical, preventive health, and social services to residents who are well at the time they enter the community.

Question 23

community-based long-term health care

Answer 23

A component of the Medicare program which provides medical and social services to those who are chronically ill and eligible for institutionalization but who, nevertheless, live in the community.

Question 24

gender-role convergence

Answer 24

A transformation in which men and women become more androgynous and more similar in gender orientation during later life.

Question 25

affiliative values

Answer 25

The values placed on helping or pleasing others, reflected in the amount of time spent in and the degree of satisfaction achieved from such actions.

Question 26

instrumental values

Answer 26

The values placed on doing things that are challenging, reflected in the amount of time spent on and the degree of satisfaction achieved in such actions.

Question 27

dependency

Answer 27

an assessment of difficulties in the activities of daily living usually required to function independently. Beyond very basic types of self-care, an expanded notion of dependency refers to difficulties in managing instrumental activities of daily living.

Question 28

immortality

Answer 28

The positive pole of the psychosocial crisis of very old age, in which the person transcends death through a sense of symbolic continuity.

Question 29

experiential transcendence

Answer 29

A way of experiencing immortality through achieving a sense of continuous presence.

Question 30

cosmic transcendence

Answer 30

Feelings of cosmic communion with the spirit of the universe and a redefinition of time, space, life, and death.

Question 31

socioemotional support

Answer 31

Expressions of affection, care, respect, and esteem.

Question 32

instrumental support

Answer 32

Direct assistance, including help with chores, medical care, or transportation.

Question 33

norm of reciprocity

Answer 33

The cultural norm that you are obligated to return in full value what you receive.

Question 34

confidence

Answer 34

A conscious trust in oneself and in the meaningfulness of life.

Question 35

diffidence

Answer 35

The inability to act due to overwhelming self-doubt.

Question 36

frailty

Answer 36

Physical weakness or disease, often stemming from old age, that prevents individuals from performing activities of daily living.

Question 37

optimal functioning

Answer 37

What a person is capable of doing when motivated and well prepared.

Question 38

role reversal

Answer 38

Assuming the behaviors of a person in a reciprocal role, as when a child acts toward his or her parent as a parent.

Question 39

collective efficacy

Answer 39

A strong sense of social cohesion with a high level of informal social control in a community.