Late Adulthood Flashcards
Statistics about aging population
- -100 years ago, less than 1 percent of the population was over 65; 1900 life expectancy was 50
- -By 1989, more than 12 percent of the population was 65+
- -By 2000, 14 % of population was over 65
- -By 2030, projection is that 20% will be 65+
Average life expectancy today
78
Subdivisions of late adulthood
- -Young-old: 55-75, 65-80; highly active physically, mentally, socially but may be retired
- -Old-old: 75-85, 80+
- -Oldest-old: 85+
Erikson’s stage
8th - Integrity vs. Despair
Integrity: positive evaluation of one’s life, an acceptance of its final outcome as natural & inevitable
Despair: Regret over the past, fear of death, frustration because it’s too late to make any changes
RC Peck’s expansion of Erikson’s stages
- -Ego differentiation vs. work-role preoccupation
- -Body transcendence vs. body preoccupation
- -Ego transcendance vs. Ego preoccupation
Peck’s Ego differentiation vs. work-role preoccupation
Older adults must redefine their worth in terms of something other than work rules
Peck’s Body transcendence vs. Body preoccupation
Older adults must cope with declining physical well-being
Peck’s Ego transcendence vs. Ego preoccupation
Older adults must recognize that, while death is inevitable and probably not too far away, they feel at ease with themselves by realizing that they have contributed to the future through the competent rearing of their children or through their vocation and ideas.
Physical issues in old age
- -high risk for developing chronic illnesses and related disabilities
- -Diabetes mellitus
- -Arthritis
- -Congestive heart failure
- -Dementia
Mental well-being in old age
- -Between 10-16% of people over 65 have depression. 2-4% have severe depression
- -Mental health problems are not a normal aspect of aging
Suicide
- -Older Americans are disproportionately likely to die by suicide
- -14.3 of every 100,000 people 65+ died by suicide in 2004; general population is 11/100,000
- -Non-Hispanic white men 85+ are most likely–49.8/100,000
Retirement
–20th century phenomenon
–Conditions for a positive experience:
Voluntary vs. forced
Work is not the only or most important thing for the individual
Health is inadequate to permit the enjoyment of increased leisure
Retirement has been prepared for and planned, especially finanacially
Ageism
prejudice against others because of their age, especially prejudice against older adults.
Eldercare
Physical and emotional caretaking of older members of the family, whether that care is day-to-day physical assistance or responsibility for arranging and overseeing such care.
Elder abuse
- -As many as 5 million older adults in US may be victims of abuse
- -Most often abused by family member (2/3 of abuse)
- -Also abused by people who provide care