MIDDLE ADULTHOOD

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MIDDLE ADULTHOOD

• Chapter 12
• Growth and Development

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Middle Adulthood

• Covers the mid 40s through the early 60s
• Now known as the transitional period after early
  adulthood before retirement
• Can be a time of growth and progression rather
  than decline and regression
• Adults should reach their peak performance and
  maturity if they maintain healthy lifestyles
• Most physiological changes appear gradually and
  at different times for different persons
  gradually muscle tone and elasticity in
  connective tissue is lost and weight is gained

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GOALS OF MIDDLE ADULTHOOD

• Establishing adjusting to new family roles
  empty nest syndrome, being grandparents
• Securing economic stability for the present
  future
• Maintaining a positive self-image- depends on
  whether successful or not
• Evaluating or redesigning career options

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Middle Adulthood

• Bone loss occurs through demineralization, bones
  become porous and brittle may lose 1-4 inches
  in height gradually
• Periodontal disease is common
• Skin loses elasticity and becomes wrinkled
• Hair growth slows, thinning and graying occurs
• Eyes lose their ability to focus on near objects
  presbyopia
• Loss of hearing acuity presbycusis

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Middle Adulthood

• Major role changes occur- couple centered focus,
  empty nest syndrome, grandparenting and parenting
  the parent
• Adults hope to establish economic security and
  reach peak job status
• Climacteric the change of life that occurs in
  both men and women
• Sexual development continues throughout life if a
  person is healthy and in healthy relationships.
  Intimacy must be nurtured, but is sometimes
  affected by constraints of family obligations

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Menopause

• Indicates the cessation of menses and loss of
  reproductive ability in women
• Usually starts between 45-55. A woman can gauge
  when she will begin menopause by when her
  biological mother did
• See table 12-1

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MENS CHANGE OF LIFE

• The main change that men experience relates to
  their thinking patterns and self-image as they
  notice physical changes they may try to act
  look younger termed their mid-life crisis.
• Men remain capable of procreating well into their
  80s most decreased sexual functioning is due to
  disease, medications such as HTN or diabetes meds
  or psychological

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MIDDLE ADULTHOOD

• According to Erikson the task of middle age is
  called generativity. This means that individuals
  demonstrate a concern and interest in their
  community
• Nonachievement of generativity results in
  self-absorption and stagnation
• Mental ability and memory remain at peak level of
  performance if the person is healthy

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Middle Adulthood

• This is a time when adults look into themselves
  and reassess their values and beliefs
• They have a clear understanding of what
  constitutes personal needs, moral duties, and
  societys demands
• Nutritional needs remain similar to the needs of
  the young adult
• Require less sleep may experience difficulty
  falling or staying asleep
• May tire more easily need rest periods
  following strenuous exercise

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Middle Adulthood

• Accident prevention still important
• Require yearly physical eye exams
• Eye conditions that frequently begin in
  middle-aged adults glaucoma cataracts
• Colon cancer more prevalent early screening is
  recommended
• Women may develop fibrocystic breast disease
  should to do BSE to get early intervention for
  any changes
• Men over 50 may develop benign prostatic
  hypertrophy (BPH) which is a buildup of prostatic
  tissue around the urinary urethra