FAD CH 9

What is the nature of retirement?

- After retirement, many people pass through stages, including a honeymoon period, disenchantment, reorientation, retirement routine, and termination. - There are ways to plan a good retirement including tapering off from work gradually, exploring interests before retiring, and trying to plan ahead financially.

How does memory capability change in late adulthood?

- Declines in memory affect mainly episodic memories and short-term memory. - Explanations of memory changes in old age have focused on environmental factors, information processing declines, and biological factors.

What is the quality of life in late adulthood?

- Elderly people live in a variety of settings, although most live at home with a family member. For others there are specialized living environments that range from continuing-care communities to skilled-nursing facilities. - Financial issues can trouble older people, largely because their incomes are fixed, health care costs are increasing, and the life span is lengthening.

What sorts of relationships are important to older adults?

- Family relationships are a continuing part of most older people's lives, especially relationships with siblings and children. - Friendships are highly valued in late adulthood and an important source of social support.

How are the senses affected by aging?

- Old age brings declines in vision, hearing, taste, and smell. - The declines in the senses can have major psychological consequences.

What sorts of physical changes occur in old age?

- Older people are often subject to ageism - Old age brings many physical transitions, internal changes, and changes in sensory perception. - Many of the physical changes associated with aging can cause social and psychological difficulties for older people.

How do people deal with aging?

- Societies in which elderly people are respected are generally characterized by social homogeneity, extended families, responsible roles for older people, and control of significant resources by older people. - Disengagement theory suggests that older people gradually withdraw from the world, while activity theory suggests that the happiest people continue to be engaged with the world. A compromise theory—continuity theory—may be the most useful approach to successful aging, and the most successful model for aging may be selective optimization with compensation.

How long can people expect to live,and what are the major causes of death?

- Whether death is caused by genetic programming or by general physical wear and tear is an unresolved question. Life expectancy, which has risen for centuries, varies with gender, race, and ethnicity. - New approaches to increasing life expectancy include telomere therapy, reducing free radicals through antioxidant drugs, restricting caloric intake, and replacing worn-out organs.

How do marriages fare in late adulthood?

- While marriages in older adulthood are generally happy, the many changes of the period cause stresses that can bring divorce. - The death of a spouse has major psychological, social, and material effects on the survivor and makes the formation and continuation of friendships highly important.

Although we may expect the elderly to be in poor health or sickly, approximately ______________ of people 65 and older rate their health as good, very good, or excellent.

3/4

how old are the young old?

65 to 74 years old

how old are the old old?

75 to 84

One out of every ____ people in the United States is sixty-five years of age or older.

8

how old are the oldest old?

85 and older

How well do people in late adulthood function intellectually?

Although some intellectual abilities gradually decline throughout adulthood, starting at around age 25, others stay relatively steady. For example, research shows that while fluid intelligence declines with age, crystallized intelligence remains steady, and may even improve, in late adulthood.

Which of the following people is most likely to show the symptoms of major cognitive disorder?

An 85-year-old African American

Unlocking longevity genes

Certain genes control the body's ability to cope with environ- mental challenges and physical adversity. If harnessed, those genes may provide a way to increase the life span. One particularly promising family of genes are sirtuins, which may regulate and promote longer life

George is beginning to look back on his life and evaluate it. Which stage describes what George is attempting to accomplish?

Ego integrity versus despair

In what ways does personality develop during late adulthood?

Erikson calls older adulthood the ego- integrity-versus-despair stage, Peck focuses on three tasks that de ne the period, Levinson suggests that older people can experience liberation and self-regard, and Neugarten focuses on the ways people cope with aging.

ego-integrity-versus-despair stage

Erikson's final stage of life, characterized by a process of looking back over one's life, evaluating it, and coming to terms with it

The bionic solution: replacing worn-out organs

Heart transplants . . . liver trans- plants . . . lung transplants. We live in an age when replacing damaged or diseased organs seems nearly routine.

What is the general state of health of older people, and to what disorders are they susceptible?

Most illnesses and diseases of late adulthood are not peculiar to old age; however, incidents of cancer and heart disease rise with age. People in late adulthood are also more prone to develop arthritis, hypertension, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease.

Passive-dependent personalities

Others become fearful—of falling ill, of the future, of their own inability to cope. They are so fearful that they may seek help from family and care providers, even when they don't need it.

Defended personalities

Others respond to the fear of aging quite differently—by trying to stop it in its tracks. They may attempt to act young, exercising vigorously and engaging in youthful activities. Unfortunately, they may set unrealistic expectations and run the risk of disappointment as a result.

______________ aging involves universal and irreversible changes that, due to genetic program- ming, occur as people get older.

Primary

Can wellness and sexuality be maintained in late adulthood?

Proper diet,exercise,and avoidance of health risks can lead to prolonged wellness during old age, and sexuality can continue throughout the life span in healthy adults.

Telomere therapy

Researchers are now looking for genes that control the production of telomerase, an enzyme that seems to regulate the length of telomeres in order to lengthen them to slow down aging

Restricting calories

Researchers hope to develop drugs that mimic the effects of calorie restriction without forcing people to feel hungry all the time

What statement is true regarding financial issues in late adulthood?

Social inequities that various socioeconomic groups experience magnify with increasing age.

Disintegrated and disorganized personalities

Some people are unable to accept aging and experience despair as they get older. They are often found in nursing homes or hospitals.

what are some changes in sexual functioning that come with aging?

Testosterone declines during adulthood by approximately 30 to 40 percent from the late 40s to the early 70s. It takes a longer time, and more stimulation, for men to get a full erection. Women's vaginas become thin and inelastic, and they produce less natural lubrication.

What is the nature of intellectual change during late adulthood?

The intellect retains considerable plasticity and can be maintained with stimulation, practice, and motivation.

Integrated personalities

The most successful individuals cope comfortably with aging. They accept it with a sense of self-dignity.

What is the PRIMARY reason that the U.S. Social Security system is currently in jeopardy?

There are too few workers to support the number of people who receive social security benefits.

what are some problems with hearing aids?

They amplify background noises as much as conversations, making it difficult for wearers to separate what they want to hear from other sounds. Furthermore, many people feel that hearing aids make them appear even older and encourage others to treat them as if they were disabled

continuing-care community

a community that offers an environment in which all the residents are of retirement age or older and need various levels of care

osteoporosis

a condition in which the bones become brittle, fragile, and thin, often brought about by a lack of calcium in the diet

adult day-care facilities

a facility in which elderly individuals receive care only during the day, but spend nights and weekends in their own homes

skilled-nursing facilities

a facility that provides full-time nursing care for people who have chronic illnesses or are recovering from a temporary medical condition

body transcendence versus body preoccupation

a period in which people must learn to cope with and move beyond changes in physical capabilities as a result of aging

Alzheimer's disease

a progressive brain disorder that produces loss of memory and confusion

institutionalism

a psychological state in which people in nursing homes develop apathy, indifference, and a lack of caring about themselves

age related macular degeneration

affects the macula, a yellowish area near the retina at which visual perception is most acute. When a portion of the macula thins and degenerates, the eyesight gradually deteriorates. If treated early, can be treated w medication or lasers.

what is the most common cause of blindness in people over 60?

age related macular degeneration

when the telomere of a cell has disappeared the cell stops duplicating, showing signs of?

aging

primary aging (or senescence)

aging that involves universal and irreversible changes that are due to genetic programming

when production of the beta amyloid precursor protein grows awry, what occurs?

alzheimers

social support

assistance and comfort supplied by another person or a network of caring, interested people

Which of the following characteristics is associated with elder abuse?

being a victim of Alzheimer's

secondary aging

changes in physical and cognitive functioning that are due to illness, health habits, and other individual differences, but are not due to increased age itself and are not inevitable

cataracts

cloudy or opaque areas on the lens of the eye that interfere with the passage of light. They bring blurred vision and glare in bright light.

One problem with conducting cross-sectional research on aging and cognition is that this method does not take into consideration ______________, the influences attributable to growing up in a particular era.

cohort effects

Older adults living in communities that offer an environment in which all the residents are of retirement age or older and need various levels of care reside in a ______________ home.

continuing-care

how can people enhance their physical well being and longevity?

eat wisely, exercise, avoid obvious threats to health such as smoking

According to Erikson, individuals in late adulthood engage in looking back over their lives, evaluating their experiences, and coming to terms with decisions. This is also known as ______________.

ego integrity versus despair

what are some explanations for memory changes in older people?

environmental factors, information processing deficits, and biological factors.

wisdom

expert knowledge in the practical aspects of life

Individuals still married in later life report being significantly less satisfied with their marriages than they were in earlier years.

false

According to the ______________ slowing hypothesis, for elderly individuals processing in all parts of the nervous system, including the brain, is less efficient.

generalized

hypertension

high blood pressure, one of the most common health problems of old age

Explanations for changes in memory tend to focus on three main categories: environmental factors, biological factors, and ______________.

information processing deficits

autobiographical memory

memories about one's own life

According to the 90+ Study (supplemental video), the most common cause of dementia among the "oldest old" is a series of "mini strokes" that damage the brain, known as ______.

multi-infarct dementia

glaucoma

occurs when pressure in the fluid of the eye increases, either because the fluid cannot drain properly or because too much fluid is produced. It can be treated by drugs or surgery if it is detected early enough.

When it comes to autobiographical memories, older individuals, like younger individuals, follow the ______________, in that they are more likely to remember pleasant memories.

pollyanna principle

ageism

prejudice and discrimination directed at older people

According to Peck, the first major developmental task is to decide on your identity even though you are no longer employed. This is also known as ______________.

redefinition of self versus preoccupation with work role

Elderly individuals often rely on _______________, or the assistance and comfort supplied by another person or network of people, for successful aging.

social support

gerontologists

specialists who study aging

Which of the following is NOT cited in your text as a reason older adults decide to retire?

spouses have retired

fluid intelligence

the ability to deal with new problems and situations

life expectancy

the average age of death for members of a population

what are some things that happen with internal aging?

the brain becomes smaller and lighter, as it shrinks it pulls away from the skull so less oxygen and glucose is used.

Which of the following is NOT a physical change in the brain associated with Alzheimer's?

the brain enlarges

plasticity

the degree to which a developing structure or behavior is modifiable due to experience

what is the most obvious sign of aging?

the hair turning grey, and eventually white and thinning out

dementia

the most common mental disorder of the elderly, it covers several diseases, each of which includes serious memory loss accompanied by declines in other mental functioning

disengagement theory

the period in late adulthood that marks a gradual withdrawal from the world on physical, psychological, and social levels

ego transcendence versus ego preoccupation

the period in which elderly people must come to grips with their coming death

elder abuse

the physical or psychological mistreatment or neglect of elderly individuals

life review

the point in life in which people examine and evaluate their lives

selective optimization

the process by which people concentrate on selected skill areas to compensate for losses in other areas

continuity theory

the theory suggesting that people need to maintain their desired level of involvement in society in order to maximize their sense of well-being and self-esteem

activity theory

the theory suggesting that successful aging occurs when people maintain the interests, activities, and social interactions with which they were involved during middle age

wear-and-tear theories of aging

the theory that the mechanical functions of the body simply wear out with age

redefinition of self versus preoccupation with work role

the theory that those in old age must redefine themselves in ways that do not relate to their work roles or occupations

age stratification theories

the view that an unequal distribution of economic resources, power, and privilege exists among people at different stages of life

genetic programming theories of aging

theories that suggest that our body's DNA genetic code contains a built-in time limit for the reproduction of human cells

telomeres

tiny protective areas of DNA at the tip of the chromosomes

A strong relationship exists between economic well-being and illness in that those individuals who can afford to maintain good health care in their later years remain in better health.

true

According to Levinson, as individuals enter late adulthood one of the hardest struggles they experience is the acceptance that they are "old."

true

After age 65, women are twice as likely as men to be living in poverty.

true

Based on the sequential study of aging and cognition conducted by Schaie (1994), there is no uniform pattern in adulthood of age-related change across all intellectual abilities.

true

Despite concerns about memory and intellectual capabilities, older adults have no trouble maintaining their standing in rigorous college classes.

true

Not all developmentalists believe in the "use it or lose it" hypothesis. For example, Salthouse suggests that the rate of true, underlying cognitive decline in late adulthood is unaffected by mental exercise, and the lack of decline is a function of a larger cognitive reserve.

true

T/F: A 75-year-old man pumps less than three- quarters of the blood that he could pump during early adulthood

true

T/F: Each time cells divide the telomeres grow shorter

true

T/F: The fastest growing segment of the elderly population is the oldest old, or people who are 85 and older.

true