Late Adulthood

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• Late Adulthood

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Physical Development
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Cultural Beliefs about Late Adulthood

• Perception of late adulthood
• Asian, African, and Latin cultures have favorable
  view
• Western culture views becoming favorable
• Still combat some ageism

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Cultural Beliefs about Late Adulthood

• Substages of late adulthood
• Young-Old65-74
• Old-Old75-84
• Oldest-Old85 and up

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Cultural Beliefs about Late Adulthood

• Perception of late adulthood
• Each substage is different regarding physical,
  cognitive, and social functioning

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Cultural Beliefs about Late Adulthood

• Differ in performing activities of daily living
  (ADLs) and reported health
• 1/3 of people over 80 say health is good
• Less than ½ of 85-89 year olds have a disability
• Functional age may be better concept to use than
  chronological age

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Global Aging Pattern

• Old-Age Dependency Ratio (OADR)
• Number of persons aged 65 or older
  Number of persons aged 20-64 
• Bottom number represent work force who pay into
  government

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Global Aging Pattern

• Top number represents those not in workforce but
  receive government benefits
• OADR increase means more people receiving
  benefits and not enough paying in to cover

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Global Aging Pattern

• Reasons for climbing OADR
• Birth rate peaked (represent workforce)
• Medical care increases longevity
• Some gender differences in life expectancy

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Physical Changes

• Hair continues to gray and thin
• Bones thin especially in women
• Age spots developsun exposure hastens
  development
• Height and weight decline
• Teeth yellow
• Exercise and healthy diet can slow some
  appearance changes

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Changes in Senses

• Vision
• Reduced visual acuity
• Cataracts
• Most common visual impairment
• Increased chance of Macular Degeneration
• Increased chance of Glaucoma

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Changes in Senses
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Changes in Senses

• Hearing
• Acuity diminishes for high-pitched sounds
• May develop tinnitus
• Can lead to social isolation
• Taste and smell
• Decline in taste and smell can make food less
  enjoyable
• Dangerous smells not detected

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Physical ChangesChanges in Sleep

• Quality of sleep declines with age
• Sleep less deeply
• Time in light sleep increases
• Sleep Apnea common sleep problem
• Can be treated with CPAP device
• Psychological issues can also impair sleep
• Depression, anxiety, and medical conditions

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Health in Late AdulthoodChronic Health Problems

• Common health issues are arthritis osteoporosis,
  and hypertension
• Arthritisdisease of the joints
• Cartilage that cushions joints wear out
• Women affected more than men
• Management involves medication, inserting new
  joints and/or exercise

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Health in Late AdulthoodChronic Health Problems

• Osteoporosis
• Increased risk for broken bones
• Exercise and calcium-rich diet for treatment
• Hypertension
• Secondary aging makes condition worsen
• Diet and medications are treatment options

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Health in Late AdulthoodHealth Care and Health
Promotion

• Medical intervention can combat health problems
• Developed countries allow access to healthcare
• Rising OADR will cause future financial strain
• Healthy lifestyle can help

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Figure 12.3 Use of Medical Resources by Age
Group Persons age 65 and over consume far more
medical resources than persons in other age
groups. Source OECD (2009)
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Health in Late AdulthoodHealth Care and Health
Promotion

• Healthy lifestyle includes
• Healthy dietlow fat and sugar, taking
  multivitamins
• Regular exerciselowers risk of disease,
  increases muscle and bone mass
• Aerobic and strength training beneficial
• Avoid smoking and alcohol

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Cognitive Development
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Cognitive Changes and DeclineChanges in
Attention and Memory

• Declines in
• Selective Attention
• Divided Attention
• Sustained Attention
• Memory effects include
• Working memory decline
• Episodic and autobiographical memory decline
• Source memory decline

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Cognitive Changes and DeclineDementia and
Alzheimers Disease

• Biological brain changes include
• Brain mass decline
• Spaces within brain increase
• Hippocampus, cerebellum, frontal lobes
• Neurotransmitters decline
• Acetylcholine and dopamine

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Cognitive Changes and DeclineDementia and
Alzheimers Disease

• Aging increases risk of dementia
• Alzheimers disease most common
• Loss of memory for recent events including people
• increased anxiety and aggression
• Two features include
• Accumulation of plaques
• Neurofibrillary tangles

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Cognitive Changes and DeclineDementia and
Alzheimers Disease

• Risk factors include
• Gene
• ApoE gene or all onset but may not determine
  developing Alzheimers
• Diet
• Protective factors include
• Cognitive activity
• Physical exercise
• Diet

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Alternative Views on Cognitive Changes Wisdom

• Wisdomexpertise in the conduct and meaning of
  life
• Includes insight, knowledge, strategies, values,
  and awareness
• Current research
• No clear link to age and being wise
• Future research may examine cultural differences
• Impact of cultures rates of social change

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Alternative Views on Cognitive ChangesDealing
with Cognitive Decline

• Late-life learning
• Regular mental exercise slows cognitive decline
• Selective Optimization with Compensation (SOC)
• Selecting valued activities
• Optimize performances in those activities
• Compensating for decline by using new strategies

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Alternative Views on Cognitive ChangesDealing
with Cognitive Decline
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Emotional and Social Development
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Figure 12.4 Age and Emotional States In the
course of late adulthood, positive affect rises
steadily. Source Mroczek (2001)
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Emotional and Self-DevelopmentTheories on
Emotions in Late Adulthood

• EriksonsEgo integrity vs. despair
• Ego integritylooking back on ones life and
  accepting outcome
• Despairregrets and bitterness about the course
  of ones life
• Physical and cognitive problems can impact
  self-esteem and integrity
• Depression can increase risk of despair

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Emotional and Self-DevelopmentTheories on
Emotions in Late Adulthood

• Socioemotional Selectivity Theory maximize
  emotional well-being by becoming increasingly
  selective with social contacts
• Goals change
• Knowledge based
• Emotion based
• Older adults seek relationships low in conflict
  and high in mutual enjoyment

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The Sociocultural Contexts of Development Family
Relationships

• Contact with adult children continue into late
  adulthood
• Asian cultures believe in Filial Piety
• Obligation to parents and provide care with age
• Assistance flows from children to parents

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The Sociocultural Contexts of Development Family
Relationships

• Western cultures
• Assistance flows from parents to children
• Gender differences
• Daughters provide more care
• Sons financial

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The Sociocultural Contexts of Development Family
Relationships

• Relationships with grandchildren are positive
• Closeness and affection remain strong
• Gender differences
• Closer to grandmother than grandfather
• Great grandchildren signal family endurance

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The Sociocultural Contexts of DevelopmentLiving
Arrangements in Late Adulthood

• Western countries
• Living independently
• Northern EuropeIndependent
• Southern EuropeLive with child
• Living facilities
• Assisted living and nursing homes
• Personal control important
• Asian countries
• Living independently or with adult child

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The Sociocultural Contexts of Development Love
and Sexuality

• Marital satisfaction at peak
• Divorce would have occurred earlier leaving
  strongest marriages
• Fewer daily responsibilities that cause stress
• More time to enjoy leisure activities
• Solve disagreements calmly

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The Sociocultural Contexts of Development Love
and Sexuality

• Depression and loneliness follows losing a spouse
• Widows more common than widowers
• Social contact important for recovery

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The Sociocultural Contexts of Development Love
and Sexuality

• Sexual behavior expectations differ by culture
• Activity relies on partner availability and
  physical health
• With assistance some problems correctable
• Womenlubrication, Menmedication for erectile
  dysfunction

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The Sociocultural Contexts of Development Love
and Sexuality

• Intimate acts more common than sexual intercourse
• Masturbation remains common

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Figure 12.6 Sexuality in Middle and Late
Adulthood In American society, many adults age
45 and over take part in a variety of sexual
activities. This figure shows the percentage of
adults engaging in sexual activities once a week
or more often within the past six months. Source
Based on AARP (2009)
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The Sociocultural Contexts of Development Work
and Retirement

• Median retirement age is 6063
• Longer life expectancies increase retirement age
• Retiring impacted by
• Finances, physical health, and job satisfaction

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The Sociocultural Contexts of Development Work
and Retirement

• Satisfaction highest if retirement by choice
• May retire gradually but not for money
• Social contact and remaining active
• May have problems in obtaining work

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The Sociocultural Contexts of DevelopmentLife
Outside of Work and Home

• Time devoted to leisure activities, community
  activities, and religious involvement
• Leisure activities
• Increased time to continue previous interests
• Increased travel if able
• Time spent doing non-demanding activities

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The Sociocultural Contexts of DevelopmentLife
Outside of Work and Home

• Community service and civic engagement
• Enhance well being of future generations
• Efforts increase social well-being
• Enhance seniors well-being

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The Sociocultural Contexts of DevelopmentLife
Outside of Work and Home

• Religious involvement
• Participation increases
• Practices and beliefs increase
• Women more religious than men but men hold
  dominate positions
• Promotes self esteem, life satisfaction, and
  overall happiness
• Promotes better physical health

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The Sociocultural Contexts of DevelopmentLife
Outside of Work and Home

• Television, movies, reading, music compose 40 of
  leisure time
• Television use increases throughout life
• Impacts globalization
• Internet use lowest in later adulthood
• Can have positive outcomes if taught to use
  internet