Later Adulthood

1
Later Adulthood

• Brainstorm 60-74
• And 75 plus?

2
Developmental Tasks

• Accepting ones life
• Promoting intellectual vigor
• Redirecting energy toward new goals
• Developing a point of view about death

3
For Panel on Wednesday

• Consider your own experiences with grandparents
  and how it is/was similar to or different from
  what the text says.
• Think about older adults that you know are they
  healthy or unhealthy? What has contributed to
  their wellbeing or poor health?
• Read about the psychohistorical perspective.
  What have you experienced, both individually and
  as a member of society, that you think will have
  significance in your older age? What impact
  might these experiences have on your development
  into old age?

4
Defining Healthy and Unhealthy Aging

• Healthy
• Active Disease-free Independent
• Unhealthy
• Fatigue Sick Inactive Loss of ADLs
• Successful Aging
• Avoiding illness Engagement with life
• High cognitive and physical functioning

5
Age related changes

• Some examples
• Physical changes
• Sensory changes
• Stamina, dexterity and balance
• Illness
• Cognitive changesyes, but
• Neural plasticity continues throughout the
  lifespan
• Physical exerciseblood flownourishment
• Learning new things keeps the brain healthy and
  growing
• Psychosocial
• Role gain and role loss
• Increase in losses
• Stereotyping and Prejudice

6
Do we live in an ageist society?

• "any attitude, action, or institutional structure
  which subordinates a person or group because of
  age or any assignment of roles in society purely
  on the basis of age" (Linda M. Wolfe, Ph.D
  website)
• Over the next two days keep an eye out for
  examples.

7
Contributing Factors to Unhealthy Aging

• Personality-neuroticism
• Inadequate nutrition
• Disinterest
• Limited resources
• Physical limitations, e.g. teeth problems
• No appetite
• Lack of exercise 60 (CDC) of older adults
  dont get adequate exercise
• Early family adversity
• Linked with fatigue

8
Contributors to healthy aging

• Nutrition
• Antioxidants improve cognitive function
• 5 fruits/vegies a day even 2 shows a positive
  effect on cognitive function.
• Exercise- physical, psychological, cognitive
  benefits
• Tai Chi 1/weekfewer falls through better balance
• Aerobic exercise reduces risk of heart disease,
  stroke, high bp, etc.
• Strength training increases stamina and
  independence
• Balance exercises decrease rate of falls
• Activity decreases depression, colon cancer,
  diabetes, osteoporosis
• Social connections
• Help with stress management
• Meaningful roles
• Vaillants findings

9
Vulnerability-Stress Model

• Individual vulnerability
• Stress
• Low quality aging

10
Application of SOC Model

• SelectionOptimization--Compensation
• Small groups Nutrition, Physical activity or
  Social Activity
• How might you encourage older adults to select
  your topic as a priority?
• How can the individuals internal resources be
  best used?
• What limitations exist and what are detours
  around them?

11
Very Old Age-75

• Coping with physical changes of aging
• Developing a psychohistorical perspective
• Traveling unchartered territory
• The Crisis Immortality vs. Extinction

12

• What is a psychohistorical perspective?
  Integration of personal and societal experiences
  in the past with the present situation and future
  expectations/possibilities.
• For 80 year olds (born in 1929) what are some
  significant historical events?
• Consider your time on earth so far.
• Significant personal events/experiences?
• Significant social events/changes?
• Imagine how these might impact you over time.

13
http//www.theelders.org/elders

• How might the psychohistorical perspective of the
  elders have contributed to their choice to focus
  on equality of women and girls?
• What other connections can you make between their
  histories and their work?
• Consider the basic concepts of psychosocial
  theoryhow are they relevant to the development
  of the Elders?

14
Test 4 review

• Early Adulthood
• Personality TheoryFulfillment TheoriesSocial
  Role Theory
• Middle AdulthoodDefine and give examples of
  generativity and stagnationDevelopmental stages
  of the family
• Relationship between generativity/stagnation and
  family
• Older AdulthoodSuccessful aging
  definedContributions to healthy and unhealthy
  agingSOC model