Late Adulthood

Signs and symptoms of ineffective coping during grieving in late adulthood (not in lecture - googled)

- Abuse of chemical agents - Change in communication patterns - Destructive behvaior towards self or others - Fatigue - High illness rate - Unable to ask for help, make decisions and meet role expectations. - Inadequate problem solving - Inappropriate use of defense mechanisms - Lack of goal oriented behavior - Poor concentration - Sleep disturbances

Which aspects of memory decline with age?

- Episodic memory - Decline in retention of information of knowing when and where life is happening - Semantic memory - Knowledge about the world, including field of expertise and general academic knowledge

What characterizes the various theories of aging that were mentioned in the Late Adulthood lecture? (be able to identify a theory from a list of characteristics about that theory)

- Erickson psychosocial theory -primary motive for human behavior is social -developmental changes throughout life span, experiences in all ages are important criticisms - stages have positive and negative poles, crisis in each stage that needs to be resolved COGNITIVE THEORIES -piagets theory of cognitive development -children actively construct knowledge -age related, has distinct way of thinking & Different ways of understanding the world - childs cognition is qualitatively different -4 different stages, sensiomotor, preoperational, concrete operational, formal operational -Vygotsky's sociocultural cognitive theory -children also actively construct knowledge -Cultural and social interaction guides cognitive development -learning to use inventions of society, leanr from social interactions with mose skilled adults and peers, interacton creates tools to adapt to culture -Information processing theory -treats behavior and cognition as a mechanical process -brain = computer hardware, cognition =computer software, knowledge = simple to complex, thinking = process (percieve, encode, represent, store, and retrieve information), good strategies = those that win Behavioral and social cognitivetheories: -behaviorism: -scientific studies can only be based on direct observations and measures -development is observable- not stages due to coalescence of experiences -Skinners operant theory -consequence= rewards and punishments Shape behavior, not about thought or feeling development = patterned behavioral change -modifying environment produces change, changes result from consistency of experiences in terms of rewards and punishments -Banduras social cognitive theory - behavior, environment and congnition are key to development, behavior is learning through observation and imitation (modeling)m Behaviors of others is cognitively evaluated, stratagies created for successful learning Ethological theory Bowlby, built on theory due to lorenz Attachment determines development Positive and secure, negative and insecure, infancy is a very sensitive period, attachment promotes good social relationships Eclectic theory No one theorist got it right, life span development is complex, each theory has a contribution to understanding development (take the best features from each)

What are the three most important aspects of nutrition for late adulthood?

- Getting adequate nutrition - Avoiding being overweight/obese - Role of calorie restriction in improving health and extending life

Aspects of Erikson's Integrity vs. Despair in late adulthood and how it might manifest in late adulthood

- If they conclude with a positive outlook on life - INTEGRITY - If they're not able to resolve a certain stage of their life and may have a negative outlook on life - DESPAIR - Essentially decide whether or not they have lived a fulfilling life

Percentage of adults ages > 65 that have two of more chronic health conditions

-62%

The two most common causes of death for older adults aged 65 to 74 years old

-cancer and heart disease

What does the phrase "Use it or lose it" mean in relation to older adults' cognitive functioning?

-changes in cognitive activity patterns might lead to disuse and consequent atrophy of cognitive skills - need to do activites such as crosswords, and reading frequently to maintain cognitive activites

Changes and problems with sleep in late adulthood

-general changes - changes in "sleep architecture" More time spent in light sleep as oppoed to REM sleep -Increased sleep latency (time it takes to fall asleep) -increased sleep fragmentation (waking up during the night) -change in circadian rhythm - go to sleep earlier and then wake up earlier -problems - prevalence of insomnia increases with age - snoring becomes worse with age -restless leg syndrome becomes more prevalent

Changes in the expression of sexuality in late adulthood

-late adults are still sexual beings- misconception that they are asexual - men especially have performance issues, advanced medicine has helped -older men become more feminine and nurturing

General visual changes associated with age (not eye disease)

Decline in: - Visual acuity - Visual processing speed decreases and general quality of vision - Color vision - Caused by the yellowing of the lenses of the eye - Depth perception

The most prevalent chronic health conditions in adults > 65

Diabetes Arteriosclerosis Orthopedic impairments of back, extremeties, etc Visual impairments Chronic sinus problems Heart conditions Hearing impariements Hypertension Arthritis

When is hearing impairment most significant in older adults?

Impairment is most significant after 75 years (starts being prevalent 65-74)

What are some of the benefits of exercise for the aging process?

Increased longevity Related to prevention of common diseases Improves treatment of many diseases Improves cellular function Optimize body composition and reduce decline in motor skills Reduces likliness of development of mental health issues Linked to increased cognitive function

Appropriate group activities for seniors in a community setting?

Things that allow them to maintain a social, physical, and cognitive lifestyle, ex bingo, chess tournaments, group aerobics

Does the time of day affect an older adult's performance on a memory test (according to research)?

Yes, poorer in the evening