Late Adulthood

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Late Adulthood

• 60 years and up

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Stereotypes of the Aged

• Both negative and positive (generate examples)
• These stereotypes are internalized by the aged
  population which leads to real differences in
  functioning, especially in cognition

3
Ageism

• Prejudice and discrimination of the aged.
• Prejudice is an attitude or belief that old
  people are inferior.
• Discrimination is an action taken to prevent
  equal treatment of the aged.

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Differences Among the Aged

• Young-old healthy, independent older adults who
  are active and involved in community. Most are
  below the age of 75.
• Old-old older adults who have health or social
  problems. Most are above 75 y.o.a.
• Oldest-old dependent older adults who require
  constant supervision and support. Most are over
  the age of 85.

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Primary Aging

• Includes all the process of senescence.
• Irreversible and universal changes which occur
  with time
• Body systems become less efficient with age
• Every part of the body slows down.
• Pace of decline speeds up in late adulthood.

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Primary Aging Effects in Appearance

• Skin becomes drier, thinner, less elastic.
• Hair grows thinner, grayer, and may turn white or
  fall out.
• Body shape shortens, fat collects in torso and
  lower face
• Body weight decreases due to muscle and calcium
  bone loss.

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Primary Aging Effects in the Senses

• Vision corrective lenses become necessary for
  most and 10 develop serious vision problems
  Cataracts, Glaucoma, Senile macular degeneration.
• Hearing hearing loss effects 40 of the 65
  population.
• Touch, smell, and taste also lose acuity

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Social Effects

• Hearing loss can have a profound impact on social
  functioning, but this is not inevitable.
• Admitting to the problem, and seeking medical
  aids, as well as developing strategies to adjust
  to the changes can minimize the social impact of
  hearing loss.

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Secondary Aging

• Aging and disease are separate. Secondary aging
  refers to effects of illness.
• Secondary aging correlates with age, but is not
  directly caused by aging.
• Genetics, past lifestyle, eating and exercise
  habits are factors contributing to secondary
  aging.

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Compression of Morbidity

• A limiting of the time a person spends ill or
  infirm, accomplished by postponing illness or,
  once morbidity occurs, hastening death.
• Largely due to preventive measures and healthy
  lifestyles.
• Relates to physical and psychological health
  benifits

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Theories of Aging

• Wear and Tear Human body wears out by time and
  exposure to environmental stressors.
• Cellular Accidents Mutations in cell structures
  do not properly reproduce and these do not
  function properly. Free radicals result with the
  breakdown of body molecules which destroy other
  molecules.

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Theories of Aging

• The accumulation of free-radicals increases as
  we age and with exposure to stress. This
  accelerates disease.

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