Chapter 5 Sections 2 &3 Notes OLD AGE, DYING, AND DEATH

Decremental model of aging Idea that progressive physical and mental decline are inevitable with age. Ageism Prejudice or discrimination against the elderly. Young people tend to think that old people suffer from poor health, live in poverty, or are victims in crime. This is a stereotype that is often seen but rarely true.

Transitions in life go from graduation, marriage, and parenthood to retirement and widowhood. (positive to negative transitions) Adjusting is hard to do in old age because it represents a loss of control over your environment. Psychical Changes – becoming sick Emotional Changes – losing a spouse

Crystallized Intelligence – ability to se accumulated knowledge and learning in appropriate situations Fluid Intelligence – the ability to solve abstract relational problems and to generate new hypotheses. As you age your fluid intelligence declines. Senile Dementia – decreases in mental abilities experienced by some people in old age. Alzheimer's disease – a condition that destroys a person’s ability to think, remember, relate to others, and care for themselves.

Thanatology – the study of dying and death. The FIVE stages of psychological adjustment 1.Denial “No, it can’t be happening to me.” 2.Anger “Why me?” 3.Bargaining People may ask their religious god for a certain amount of time left in exchange for something. 4.Depression Becoming aware of the loses they are acquiring 5.Acceptance A sense of calm Hospices – a facility designed to care for the special needs of dying.