older adulthood Flashcards
what age are older adults
60+
what are the three classifications of older adults
young old (65-74)
old old (75-84)
oldest old (85+)
what is a centenarian
someone who lives to 100
are centenarians on the rise
yes
what tends to catch up with you in older adulthood
lifestyle choices
what are some of the biological changes in older adulthood
visual changes
bones
mobility
immune system
sleep
genes
visual changes in older adulthood
-prevalent deeper wrinkles
-by 75 most have completely grey hair
-thinning, balding influences 95% of men and 20% of women
-26% of over 65s have teeth loss
changes in bones in older adulthood
-loss of bone mineral content in 50s - 60s
-this risk can be lowered by dietary protein, calcium and vitamin D
-70% of bone loss is genetic
mobility changes in older adulthood
-loss of strength, stiff tendons, arthritis, joint inflammation
-increased risk of falling
-1/2 adults over 75 have difficulty with daily living
-strength training is recommended even in those 90+
immune system changes in older adulthood
-less able to respond to infection due to reduced t and b cells
-age 65+ can have serious consequences from the flu
-90% flu deaths occur in those 65+
-vaccination is much more effective in young than old adults
how can the efficiency of the flu vaccine be increased
Kohut et al 2004: by physical exercise
changes in sleep in older adults
-fragmented
-frequent waking: toilet, physical issues e.g arthritis and lung disease
-decrease in stage 4 and REM sleep
-Gamaldo et al 2016: sleep disturbance in those 60+ promotes depression, risk of cardiovascular disease and neuronal dysfunction
changes in genes in older adults
-genes play role in longevity
-MZ have more similar lifespans and illness rates than DZ twins
-Muabito 2012: centenarians run in the family
psychological changes in older adults
memory
Erikson’s model
ageism
cognitive decline
optimism
changes to memory
-west and crook 1990: age 60+ find it harder to remember phone numbers
-good general knowledge particularly when given contextual cues
-may need more time to learn things but performance may be as good as younger adult
-reduction to hippocampal vol (vital for LTM)
-change to cog processing strategies e. focusing on accuracy vs speed
erikson 1963 model for older adults
-ego integrity or despair
-life review: achieving the sense youve lived a useful life or feeling resigned to hopelessness
-part of ego integrity states older adults value being able to pass on their experiences to younger generation (generativity as seen in middle adulthood)
what is the opposite approach to eriksons model
cumming and henry 1961 disengagement theory: fewer interactions, fewer roles, less expectations
what is the psychological impact of ageism
-if world values you less or has neg outlook on you due to age this can have neg impacts
-e.g depression: poor social support, low income, experiencing loss or health problems are all contributors
what may cause cognitive decline in older adults
-avoiding challenging situations if you dont feel valued by society anymore
role of optimism in older adulthood
hillen 2003: remaining optimistic means quicker recovery when things go wrong e.g stroke recovery
what are some social changes in older adulthood
retirement
living arrangements
life satisfaction
retirement in older adulthood
-not all over 65 have retired
-often more of scaling back or transition period than from full work to full retirement
-health and mental wellbeing doesnt change purely bc of retirement (linked more to lifestyle factors) e.g if you used to be in cog demanding job then retire and do not have cog substitute, this may be cause of cog decline
what factors may lead to postponed retirement
-interest in job so want to keep working
-mental or physical challenge which you know is good for you
-finacial reasons
what may lead to early retirement
poor health
changes in living arrangements in older adults
-common to make changes to home or hire someone to assist with daily activities
-staying at home can help with independence, physical and mental health
-some move into home with relatives e.g adult children
–this may be difficult and make them feel like a burden
life satisfaction in older adulthood
-perceived life quality appears to be more important than objective measures
-social judgements: believing others are worse off can help act as a self protective mechanism
what is the new type of discrimination against older people
belief that those who do not age well have brought it on themselves e.g im ageing well why cant you?
-some primary changes are inevitable
what factors are important for maintaining/ restoring function
-combatting depression
-physical exercise
-memory/mental stimulation
combatting depression to maintain/ restore function
-diet, sleep and exercise are key
-Jacka et al 2010: clients who eat diet of fruit veg, meat, fish and whole grains associated with 35% lower risk of dep
-Azevedo Da Silva et al 2012: longitudinal study of 9000 pp found regular physical activity associated with reduced likelihood of dperessive symptoms
physical exercise for maintaining/ restoring function
bherer et al 2013: frailty as a reason to prescribe exercise NOT avoid it
memory/mental stimulation for maintaining/ restoring function
Park et al 2014: the synapse project
-221 pp, 60-90yrs, 15hrs of activity a week for 3 months
-4 groups: learning digital photography, quilting, social interaction or no intervention
-those assigned to photography or quilting (productive engagement) showed enhanced episodic memory function after the study and 1 year later!
