Module 10: Late Adulthood

Which is the best advice for Felicia, who is 81 and healthy, and hoping to continue leading an active life?

remain sexually active, exercise, and have good friends

Thomas is 57 years old and has severe arthritis. He is overweight and also suffers from fatigue, loss of concentration, headaches and unrefreshing sleep, and this has caused a change in his physical functioning despite his age. What type of aging is Thomas experiencing?

secondary

Carol and Greg both retired at 65 by choice. They remain productive in many ways. Which of the following has not been reported to be one of the ways people in late adulthood continue to be productive?

sleeping until midday every day and then watching television.

Nancy is in her early 60s and nervous about growing old because she doesn't want to be limited in her daily functioning or lose her memory or judgement. How might you reassure Nancy about her fears?

Dementia is not inevitable; while 10% will develop dementia in their lifetime, less than half of people above age 84 will have it.

According to research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chronic disease is especially a concern in the adult population over 65 in America. It is estimated that at least 80% of older Americans are currently living with some form of a chronic condition, with 50% of this population having two or more chronic conditions. ________ is the leading cause of death from chronic disease for adults older than 65

Heart disease

Which statement is true of life expectancies in the United States?

Life expectancies in the United States are higher for women than men.

Which of the following factors are considered in a description of one's functional age?

Physical and psychosocial well-being

Sebastian is age 75 and was married for 42 years. His spouse died more than 3 years ago. Helen is also 75 and is now widowed after 50 years of marriage. Which of the two may experience complicated grief, or difficulty because they do not have an extensive social network or the ability to take care of their own daily needs?

Sebastian

Which of the following is the description used by developmental psychologists to categorize the "oldest old"?

They are frail and in need of care

Greg was diagnosed with ________ as a result of his high blood sugar and insulin resistance. His doctor recommended losing weight, exercising regularly, and eating properly to improve his health.

Type 2 diabetes

According to Salthouse's processing theory of cognitive aging, ________ causes a decline in memory functioning.

a slower processing speed

James is 64 years old and complains to his doctor that he has blurred, "fuzzy" vision. When he reads the newspaper the lines appear wavy or distorted. His Doctor tells him that he suffers from the most common cause of blindness in people over the age of 60, but not to worry because the disease was detected early. He put him on medication and a diet rich in antioxidants and thinks that he may even avoid laser surgery. James was diagnosed with ________.

age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

While Gary is at the ATM during the lunchtime rush, he fumbles while trying to insert his credit card and takes a long time reading the prompts to withdraw money and terminate his transaction. He overhears someone behind him mutter, "Hurry up, grandpa! Some of us have work to do." The words are an example of ________.

ageism

Seventy-three year old Larry has contemplated his life and realizes he is dissatisfied. He realizes that missed opportunities have passed, like staying in contact with his children and being an involved grandparent. When he thinks of his accomplishments, he cannot say that he has accomplished what he wished. According to the theory of psychoanalyst Erik Erikson, Larry is experiencing ________.

despair

Mary at age 80 loves her independence, but lately she has been involved in more car accidents, although minor and mostly due the constant switching of attention when there is a lot of traffic. To explain Mary's challenges, new research may point to problems in ________ among older adults, when it comes to activities such as driving.

divided attention

Daisy wants to live much longer than her parents and grandparents, who died of health related issues in their late 60s. What is good advice for Daisy?

exercise, eat more vegetables, and have good friends

Professor Black explains that genetics, diet, lifestyle, activity, and exposure to pollutants all play a role in the aging process, and suggests that processing in all parts of the nervous system, including the brain, are less efficient with age, hence why older people have more accidents. Professor Black is explaining the ________.

generalized slowing hypothesis

The ancient Greek city state of Sparta was ruled by a Gerousia. A Gerousia was a council made up of members who were at least 60 years old and served for life. The political power within the ruling class accumulates with age, making the oldest the holders of the most power. In many preindustrial societies, people over 65 still have influence and power and their vast knowledge is respected. This type of political and social structure is known as a ________.

gerontocracy

Yvonne is 75 year-old active retiree and has decided to volunteer part-time at a day care for her church. Although she is physically fit for her age, she faces challenges in retaining information. Given her age, the most challenging information for Yvonne to remember is ________.

information presented quickly and orally, such as complicated instructions

Jay is 72-years old and is someone who sees himself as having lived a satisfying and successful life. He is grateful to have had a good career at the division of motor vehicles for over 40 years, and even more grateful for the loving family he has. He coached his children and grandchildren in football. Even now, he babysits his great grandchildren and does activities with them as well. His life has been filled with productivity, or according to Erik Erikson, ________.

integrity

Dr. Miller is giving a lecture on the theories of aging. She explains that genetics, diet, lifestyle, activity, and exposure to pollutants all play a role in the aging process, and suggests that overall processing speed declines in the peripheral nervous system affecting your brain's ability to communicate with your muscles and organs. Dr Miller is explaining the ________.

peripheral slowing hypothesis

Ninety-two-year-old Robert is watching his 25year-old grandson play an action video game that involves real time strategy. Robert challenges his grandson to a round, but a few minutes into the game, Robert gets frustrated because his fingers are not working fast enough, and decides to quit. What theory of aging might explain why Robert cannot keep up with his grandson's quick game play?

peripheral slowing hypothesis

Shevanne is 63 years old and complains that high-pitched sounds, such as "s" or "th" are hard to distinguish and conversations are difficult to understand, particularly when there is background noise. Some sounds seem overly loud and annoying. Her doctor tells her that she is suffering from an age related hearing loss due to damage of the cochlea in her inner ear. Her doctor has diagnosed her with the second most common illness in aged people. Which is it?

presbycusis

The term senescence is another name for ________.

primary aging

Anna Mae is 72 years old. She recently became a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity when a project was introduced to her group of friends at the Senior Community Center where she was already involved in tutoring school children in reading and math. This is just an example of how people in late adulthood continue to be ________ in many ways.

productive

Friendships tend to be an important influence in life satisfaction during late adulthood. Friends may be more influential than family members for many older adults. Which of the following theories supports the idea that as people age, friendships are not formed in order to enhance status or careers, but may be based purely on a sense of connection or the enjoyment of being together?

socioemotional selectivity theory

Demographers use which terminology to describe people between the ages of 65 and 74 years?

young old