Human Development, 8: Late Adulthood

Question 1

During the 20th century, gains in life expectancy were comparable to those achieved over _____ previous years.

Answer 1

5,000

Question 1

What is the range of differences in average life expectancy between postindustrial nations (i.e., the US or Japan) and ‘developing’/3rd world countries (i.e. Afghanistan or Sierra Leone)?

Answer 1

30-40+ years difference (US: 70, Japan, 75, Afghanistan, 36, Sierra Leone, 29)

Question 2

What is the maximum lifespan?

Answer 2

The number of years a person could live absent any accidental or exogenous factor. For most people it is in the range of 70-110, with an average of 85.

Question 3

Which lobes of the brain lose the most weight in the aging process?

Answer 3

The frontal lobes.

Question 4

What is an effective response to substantial hearing loss?

Answer 4

Using a hearing aid and/or moving conversations to quieter areas.

Question 5

What is an efficient response to insomnia?

Answer 5

Avoid engaging in other activities in the bed/bedroom. Don’t read or watch TV in bed, only sleep in it. If feeling restless, get out of bed until ready to sleep. The bed will have restful effect via classical conditioning.

Question 6

Do people in late adulthood continue to enjoy sex?

Answer 6

Yes, although in the ‘West’ there is a myth that sex among elders ceases or is unacceptable. It may decline in frequency, and some disabilities can lead to withdrawal from sexuality, but most elders consider sex important and engage in it several times a month.

Question 7

Differentiate Rheumatoid Arthritis from Osteoarthritis.

Answer 7

Rheumatoid arthritis involves inflammation of the connective tissue of the whole body and can be debilitating. It is also rare, affecting 2%. Osteoarthritis is found in virtually all older adults, and affects specific joints that get more wear and tear.

Question 8

What is dementia, and how common is it?

Answer 8

Dementia is a spectrum of mental disorders that disrupt everyday life. It is rare early in adulthood, gradually increasing to affect 50% of persons over 85.

Question 9

What are some protective factors against Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 9

A “Mediterranean” diet, higher education, and an active lifestyle.

Question 10

How well does Medicare provide for the health care of older adults?

Answer 10

Medicare funding pays for about half of the typical older adult’s health care needs. This is lower than in other postindustrial nations, leading US elders to have several times greater out of pocket health care expenses, by comparison.

Question 11

What aspects of language production are more difficult in late adulthood?

Answer 11

1) Retrieving words from long term memory, leading to slower speech and more pauses. 2) Planning speech, leading to sentence fragments and false starts.

Question 12

Does “older make wiser”?

Answer 12

Not exactly, although life experience plays a role, the type of life experience matters, so that a small % of all adult ages display high wisdom. Those in human service careers or leadership positions are more likely to become high in wisdom.

Question 13

Can cognitive training programs make a difference for late-life adults’ performance?

Answer 13

Yes, cognitive interventions have been demonstrated even to fully reverse 14-year long gradual declines in cognition for many elders.

Question 14

What is the most likely cause of a misdiagnosis of dementia?

Answer 14

Depression; a secondary cause is medication with cognitive side effects.

Question 15

The final value conflict of the lifespan in Erikson’s psychosocial theory:

Answer 15

Ego Integrity vs. Despair

Question 16

Contrast ego integrity and despair.

Answer 16

Ego integrity is a sense of satisfaction and wholeness in how one lived their life. It is associated with self-acceptance, better relationships, community involvement, and accepting help. Despair is a sense of having made the wrong choices in life, without time to correct course. It is associated with bitterness and hopelessness that are often expressed as contempt and anger toward others.

Question 17

Is reminiscince positive or negative for elders’ mental health?

Answer 17

It depends. Life review, other- and knowledge- focused reminiscince are linked to positive outcomes. Self-focused reminiscence to escape boredom or relive negative experiences is linked to problems. Many well adjusted elders reminisce little, though.

Question 18

When do many baby boomers believe their ‘old age’ will begin?

Answer 18

Age 80

Question 19

Many older adults report that they are particularly dissatisfied about:

Answer 19

Nothing, actually.

Question 20

What are the strongest predictors of depression among elders?

Answer 20

Physical disability, but for many, especially high SES, percieved physical health affects depression more than objective health.

Question 21

What are the most critical elements of social support that make it effective for seniors?

Answer 21

A perception of social support, being able to depend on others, rather than the direct amount of help received. Adults need to feel in control of the help they get, rather than made to feel dependent.

Question 22

Who is most likely to commit elder suicide in the US? Are they likely to succeed?

Answer 22

White males, esp. with more distant ties, less religiosity, and less respect from the community. All who attempt elder suicide are more likely to succeed than those in other periods of life.

Question 23

Where do most elders prefer to spend the years of late adulthood?

Answer 23

They prefer to age in place, in or near the home they spent the rest of their adulthood.

Question 24

Which type of housing is associated with the least control over social life and increased depression and anxiety in elders initially without mental problems?

Answer 24

Nursing homes, which care for 5% of of seniors.

Question 25

Why does widowhood tend to affect men worse than women?

Answer 25

Because men often rely on their wives in their social and emotional lives, and are more uncomfortable asking others for help.

Question 26

Characterize helping between older adults and their adult children.

Answer 26

Positive relationships foster elder adults physical and mental health. However, they tend to give more practical assistance than they receive, and are happier when they do. Support from adult children is more often emotional.

Question 27

Who is most likely to abuse an elder?

Answer 27

A family member.

Question 28

Is retirement generally a cause of adjustment problems?

Answer 28

The majority of retirees today view retirement as a positive time of growth and opportunity, although a sizable minority experience difficulties.

Question 29

How do negative life changes in late adulthood affect women differently than men?

Answer 29

Senior women experience more negative life changes - they are more likely to be unmarried, have illnesses and mobility impairments, and lower incomes.