Physical and Cognitive Development in Late Adulthod Flashcards
Functional Age
- Actual competence and performance
- May not match chronological age
Life Expectancy Increasing in North America
- Lower infant mortality
- Lower adult deaths
Life Expectancy Group differences
- Women live longer
- SES
- Ethnicity
- Nationality
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
- Basic self-care tasks
- Bathing, dressing, eating
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)
- Conducting business of everyday life
- Require cognitive competence
- Shopping, food prep, housekeeping
Factors in a Long Life
-Heredity
-Environment/Lifestyle
Healthy diet, normal weight
Exercise
Low substance use
Optimism
Low stress
Social support
Community involvement
Learning
Aging and the Nervous System
-Loss of brain weight accelerates after 60
-Neurons lost in frontal lobes, corpus callosum, cerebellum (balance), glial cells
-Autonomic nervous system less efficient
-Brain can compensate
New fibers, neurons
New connections
Use more parts of brain
Visual Impairments and Aging
- Lower visual acuity
- Poor dark adaptation, sensitivity to glare
- Decreased color, depth perception
- Cataracts
- Macular degeneration
Vision Problems Effects of Sensory Changes
- Changes in leisure activities
- Possible problems in daily activities
Hearing Loss Effects of Sensory Changes
- Social isolation
- Lower safety and enjoyment
Decreased Taste and Smell Effects of Sensory Changes
Nutritional, safety risks
Less Sensitive Touch Effects of Sensory Changes
Difficulties with leisure, daily activities
Aging Cardiovascular/Respiratory Systems of the Body
- Heartbeat less forceful; slower heart rate, blood flow
- Vital lung capacity cut by half
- Less oxygen to tissues
- Exercise helps
Aging Immune System of the Body
- Effectiveness declines
- More infectious, autoimmune diseases
- Stress-related susceptibility
Sleep and Aging
- Need as much total sleep as younger adults: 7 hours/night
- Earlier bedtime and wake-up
- More difficulties including Insomnia, Nighttime waking, Sleep apnea, Restless legs
Physical Appearance and Mobility
- Skin thinner, rougher wrinkled, spotted
- Ears, nose, teeth, and hair change
- Lose height and weight after 60
- Muscle strength declines (10–20% by 60–70, 30–50% by 70–80)
- Bone strength drops
- Less flexibility
Adapting to Physical Changes of Aging
-Multidimensional (Appearance versus functioning)
-Effective coping strategies (Prevention, compensation
Problem-centered coping)
-Assistive technology
Factors in Good Health and Aging
- Optimism
- Self-efficacy
- SES
- Ethnicity
- Sex
- Nutrition
- Exercise
Nutrition in Late Adulthood
-Need extra nutrients: Protect bones, immune system; Fight free radicals
-Problems eating: Appetite, taste changes; Chewing, digestion; Shopping, cooking
-Supplements, diet changes
may help
Exercise in Late Adulthood
- Continued exercise best, but never too late to start
- Benefits: Physical capacities, Brain function, Self-esteem
- Barriers: Unaware of benefits, Discomforts
Sexuality in Late Adulthood
- Still important: Less desire and frequency; fewer male partners for women
- Married couples: regular, enjoyable sex
- Continue patterns from earlier years
- Enjoy activities other than intercourse (Men sometimes stop all activities if erection problems)
- Cultural influences: Disapproval in West