Module 21: Late Adulthood Flashcards
What are the stages of late adulthood?
- Young Old (60-75)
- Old-Old (75-85)
- Oldest Old (85 and older)
- Octogenarian (80s)
- Centenarian (Over 100 yrs old)
How can an optimistic view affect older adults?
The optimistic view of oldies seems to help protect older adults against the long-term effects of serious health threats like stroke
Frail Elderly
older adults who cannot care for themselves
What are the most common chronic health conditions during late adulthood?
Most common chronic health conditions: Hypertension, Arthritis
What kind of twins are more similar in length of life?
Identical twins are more similar in length of life than fraternal twins
Who are the adults who are most likely to live longer?
Adults whose parents and grandparents were long lived are also likely to live longer
What are the different theories of biological aging?
- Hayflick Limit
- Programmed Senescence Theory
- Endocrine Theory
- Immunological Theory
- Evolutionary Theory
- Variable-Rate Theories
- Wear-and-Tear Theory
- Free-Radical Theory
- Autoimmune Theory
- Cross-Linking Theory
Hayflick Limit
+ cells simply lose their capacity to replicate themselves
+ Telomeres become shorter as the cell divides
+ cells can divide for no more than 50 times
Programmed Senescence Theory
+ aging also may be influenced by specific genes “switching off” after age-related losses occur (Epigenesis)
+ age-related physical declines result from species-specific genes for aging
+ prevents older, presumably less fit from becoming parents at an age when they are unlikely to be able to raise offspring to maturity
Endocrine Theory
biological clocks act through hormones to control the pace of aging
Immunological Theory
programmed decline in immune system functions leads to increased vulnerability to infectious disease and thus to aging and death
Evolutionary Theory
Aging is an evolved trait thus genes that promote reproduction are selected at higher rates than genes that extend lives
Variable-Rate Theories
aging is the results of random processes that vary from person to person (Error theories)
Wear-and-Tear Theory
cells and tissues have vital parts that wear out
Free-Radical Theory
Accumulated damage from oxygen radicals causes cells and eventually organs to stop functioning
Rate-of-Living Theory
the greater an organism’s rate of metabolism, the shorter its life span
Autoimmune Theory
immune system becomes confused and attacks its own body cells
Cross-Linking Theory
+ occurs more often in cell proteins of older adults
+ undesirable chemical bonds form between proteins and fats which cannot assume the correct shape for proper function, leading to effects such as wrinkling of the skin and arterial rigidity
What is the crowning achievement in late adulthood for Erik Erikson?
For Erik Erikson, the crowning achievement of late adulthood is Ego Integrity or integrity of the self–need to evaluate and accept their lives so as to accept death
What is the crisis in old age (65-older)?
Ego Integrity vs. Despair
What is the virtue that develops when someone is successful in ego integrity vs. despair?
Wisdom
Wisdom
+ informed and detached concern with life itself in the face of death itself
+ Accepting one has lived, without major regrets
What are the maladaptive tendencies that may be experienced in late adulthood?
- Presumption
- Disdain
Presumption
presumes ego integrity without actually facing the difficulties of old age
Disdain
contempt of life, one’s own or anyone’s
Reminiscence
thinking about the past – necessary part of achieving ego integrity and thus an important aspect of old age and preparation for death
Life Review
evaluative process in which elders make judgments about their past behaviors
Activity Theory
+ psychologically and physically healthiest response to old age is to maintain the greatest possible level of activity and involvement in greatest possible number of roles
+ the more active older people are, the better they age
Disengagement Theory
+ aging has three aspects: shrinkage of life space, increased individuality, acceptance of these changes
+ normal part of aging involves gradual reduction in social involvement and greater preoccupation with the self
Continuity Theory
+ primary means by which elders adjust to aging is engaging in the same kinds of activities that interested and challenged them in their earlier years
+ people’s need to maintain connection between past and present is emphasized, and activity is viewed as important, not for its own sake but because it represents continuation of previous lifestyle
Selective Optimization with Compensation
+ involves developing abilities that allow for maximum gain as well as developing abilities that compensate for decline and could lead to loss
+ Older adults conserve resources by selecting meaningful goals, optimizing the resources they have to achieve it, and compensating for the losses by using resources in alternative ways to achieve their goals
What factor declines in late adulthood?
Stability declines in late adulthood
What personality traits increase in late adulthood?
Increases in agreeableness, self confidence, warmth, emotional stability, and conscientiousness
What personality traits decrease in late adulthood?
declines in neuroticism, social vitality, and openness to experience
Why do people show normative changes in personality characteristics?
Some researchers argue that these processes are driven primarily by intrinsic genetic differences between people that unfold over time
What do personality traits influence?
Personality traits influence behavior
What does behavior influence?
behavior influences health
Between older adults and younger adults, who are happier and more satisfied with life?
In general, older adults have fewer mental disorders and are happier and more satisfied with life than younger adults
As people get older, what do they tend to seek out?
As people get older, they tend to seek out activities and people that give them emotional gratification
What are older adults better at compared to younger adults?
They are also better at regulating emotions
Happiness in Adulthood
Happiness tends to be high in early adulthood, declines until people reach 50 years of age, and then tends to rise again until 85
What does dendritic loss contribute to?
Dendritic loss at the neuronal level clearly contributes substantially to the general slowing of health, with arthritic changes in joints and loss of elasticity in the muscles
Sleep Patterns in Old Age
+ There is a shift in sleep patterns in old age – they wake up more frequently in the night and decreased REM sleep
+ They are more likely to go to bed early and wake up early
Hunger Patterns in Old Age
Older adults may feel hungry all the time and may overeat
Why does loss of stamina appear in old age?
The loss of stamina clearly arises in large part from changes in the cardiovascular system
Loss of Balance
Gradual loss of the sense of balance, which is at least partly attributable to the effects of aging on white matter in the parts of the brain that control balance and motor function
What do older adults tend to have difficulty in?
Older adults also tend to have more difficulty with switching attention
Sensory Memory
brief storage of sensory information
Working Memory
short-term storage of information being actively process
Tasks in Late Adulthood
+ Tasks that require only rehearsal, show a little decline
+ Tasks that requires reorganization or elaboration show greater falloff
Episodic Memory
linked to specific events; most likely to deteriorate with age
Semantic Memory
consists of meanings, facts, and concepts accumulated over lifetime learning; little decline
Procedural Memory
motor skills and habits that once learned; relatively unaffected by age
Language Problems in Late Adulthood
Language problems are probably results of the problems accessing and retrieving information from the memory
What can dysfunction in frontal lobes and hippocampus cause?
Dysfunction in frontal lobes and hippocampus may cause false memories
What do older adults have difficulty in when it comes to memories?
Older adults seems to have difficulty encoding new episodic memories because of difficulties in forming and later recalling a coherent and cohesive episode
What deteriorates in memories in late adulthood?
Storage also deteriorate to the point retrieval becomes difficult
Retirement
Retirement is a single event but a dynamic adjustment process that is best conceptualized as a form of decision making
What are the five broad categories of resources that help determine how well a person adjusts to retirement?
- Individual attributes such as health and financial status
- Pre-retirement job-related variables such as job stress
- Family-related variables such as marriage quality and dependents
- Retirement transition-related variables
- Postretirement activities
Volunteering
Volunteering during retirement has been positively associated with good health and negatively associated with depression, functional limitations, and mortality
Aging In Place
staying in their own home
Group living arrangements for Older Adults
- Retirement Hotel
- Retirement Community
- Shared Housing
- ECHO (Elder Cottage Housing Opportunity) Housing
- Congregate Housing
- Assisted-Living Facility
- Foster-Care Home
- Continuing Care Retirement Community
