Infancy and childhood Adolescence Adulthood and old age Unit 2: the lifespan Infancy and childhood Adolescence Adulthood and old age

Adulthood Old Age Dying and Death Adulthood and Old Age Adulthood Old Age Dying and Death

Adulthood Main Idea Vocabulary Objectives Menopause Generativity Adulthood is a time of transition – it involves shifting priorities and outlooks on life from adolescence and throughout the remainder of life. Vocabulary Menopause Generativity Stagnation Objectives Characterize the physical and changes that take place during adulthood. Describe the social and emotional changes that occur during adulthood.

Adulthood Adulthood can be a time when a person matures fully into what he or she is, or it can be a time when life closes in and what was once possibility is now limitation. How each of us reacts depends on our preparations, circumstances, and general outlook on life.

Physical Changes One theory of ageing, claims that our bodies age as a result of breakdowns in our bodies’ cells. With time our bodies’ cells become less able to repair themselves. “Wear and tear.” Another theory says that our bodies age because our cells have preset biological clocks that limit the number of times cells can divide and multiply. As cells reach the limit, they begin to die, or the process of cell division occurs less accurately. Either way, ageing occurs!

Physical Changes In general, young adults are at their physical peak between the ages of 18 and 30. (Figure 5.1) - strongest, healthiest, and have quick reflexes. For most adults, the process of physical decline is slow and gradual. - 20 year old to carry 4 bags/ 40 year old two trips. - 60 year old racquetball player can compete with 30 year old player, experience – less experienced fast player.

Physical Changes In middle age, appearances change. Hair turns grey, thins out. Skin becomes dry, inelastic, and wrinkles appear. Muscles and fat build up over the years break down so that often people often lose weight, become shorter, more wrinkles, and loose skin.

Senses are also changing Begin having difficulty seeing distant object. Adjustment in the dark. Focusing on printed pages. Loss of hearing.

Health Problems Some of the changes we associate with growing older are the result of the natural processes of ageing, other results form disease and from simple disuse and abuse. Good Health = good choices – exercise, diet, and lifestyle. Three of the most common causes of death in later adulthood – heart disease, cancer, and cirrhosis of the liver.

Menopause Between the ages of 45 and 50, every women experiences a stage called the Climacteric, which represents all of the psychological and biological changes occurring at that time. A woman’s production of sex hormones drops sharply - a biological event called menopause. The women stops ovulating (producing eggs) and menstruating and therefore cannot conceive children. However, menopause does not cause any reduction in a woman’s sexual drive or sexual enjoyment!

Marriage and Divorce About 90% of adults in the US will marry at some time in their lives. 40-60% of new marriages, though, end in divorce. Longitudinal studies have shown two factors depend on a successful or unsuccessful marriage; how couples handle conflict and how often couples share intimate and happy moments. Figure 5.2

Levinson’s Theory of Male Development Daniel Levinson proposed a model of adult development for men. (Figure 5.3) Entering the Adult World The Age-Thirty Crisis Settling Down The Midlife Transition Generativity: the desire, in middle age to use one’s accumulated wisdom to guide future generations. Stagnation: a discontinuation of development and a desire to recapture the past 5. Middle Adulthood

Female Development While many men experience a crisis a midlife, married women at midlife may be facing fewer demands in their transitional task as mother. For many, this workforce, going back to college, or starting or renewing careers outside the home. Rather than a time of crisis, it is a time of opportunity for those who opted to have a family first.

The “Empty Nest” Syndrome A significant event in many women’s lives is the departure from home of the last child. Most women enjoy greater freedom after their last child has left home. Spouses reconnect and spend more time pursuing their won goals and interests. Psychologists have found that a stable marriage makes a difference. Warn relationship = easier transition Widowed women = more difficult

Depression in Midlife Depression can affect people of all ages, but it is most common among middle ages women. During early years women = roles of daughter, lover, wife, mother, and wage earned. As time goes on, things change.. death, divorce, etc. The onset of menopause can trigger depression. Some welcome this time of life and some may not.

Section Quiz 5-1 Application Activity

Adulthood Old Age Dying and Death Adulthood and Old Age Adulthood Old Age Dying and Death

Old Age Main Idea Vocabulary Objectives As we age, our priorities and expectations change to math realities, and we experience losses as well as gains. Vocabulary Decremental Model of aging Ageism Senile Dementia Alzheimer's Disease Objectives Identify changes that occur in health and life situation during old age. Summarize how people physically, mentally, and socially adjust to old age.

Old Age The fear of growing old is one of the most common fears in our society! We are surrounded with indications that aging and old age are negative – or at best something to ridicule. Birthday cards Advertise “new and faster models” Encourage retirement and replace with younger people Many do not even want to use the word old and instead refer to “golden ages” and “senior citizens.”

Attitudes Towards Aging Many of our attitudes about aging are based on a decremental model of aging, which holds that progressive physical and mental decline is inevitable with age. Chronological age is what makes people “old.” There are great differences in physical conditions among the elderly, depending on their genetic makeup and environment. Many of us know people who are 80 and look and act 50, and vise versa. Ageism: Prejudice or discrimination against the elderly

What are some examples of Ageism?

Changes in Health Physical strength and the senses decline about 1% a year through adulthood. Good health in adolescents and adult life carries over into old age. Eating habits, exercise, etc. All people, young and old, are subject to disease. At least 35% of the elderly have at least one chronic disease. Heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and arthritis. Major cause of death among the old are heart disease, cancer, and strokes.

Changes in Health The quality of health care for the elderly remains by and large inferior to that of the general population. The reasons for this are numerous! The elderly in the lower socioeconomic class tend not to take care of themselves or to seek out treatment when needed. Doctors administer – young patients with acute disease rather than older patients with long-term chronic disease that can only be stabilized, not cured. Some elderly people who are no longer able to care for themselves live with relatives, or institutions.

Changes in Life Situations For younger people, transition in life –graduation, marriage, parenthood – are usually positive and create deeper involvement in life. In late adulthood, transitions – retirement, widowhood –often negative and reduce responsibilities and increase isolation. 43% of women and 15% of men aged 65 and older are widowed. Symptoms in depression are very common in older adults. Life changes, aging, loss of spouses/friends. Weight changes, feeling of worthlessness, extreme sadness, thoughts of death, etc. Positive Note: older people continue to learn and develop skills more than ever before. Some people attend night school , local adult education classes, or learn about computers.

Changes in Sexual Activity Just as the young people tend to think sexual activity diminishes at midlife, they often believe is ceases to exist in old age. Yet the majority of people of the age of 65 continue to be interested in sex and healthy sexual activity! The reason some do not engage in sexual activity – poor health or death of a spouse.

Adjustment to Old Age When older people are are unable to maintain what they value most… – good health, recognition in the community, visits from family and friends, privacy, leisure and work activities …..the quality of their lives suffer dramatically, along with their self-image. The loss of control is usually gradual, and it may involve both physical change (becoming sick or disabled) or external circumstances (moving into nursing home). Losing a spouse is hard enough, but also losing friends and your house.

Changes in Mental Functioning As people age, there are also changes in many of the mental functions they use. But there is less decline than most people think. John Horn (1982) has proposed two types of intelligence; Crystallized Intelligence: refers to the ability to use accumulated knowledge and learning in appropriate situations. This ability increase with age and experience. Fluid Intelligence: is the ability to solve abstract relational problems and to generate new hypotheses. This increases in development as the nervous system matures. As people age and there nervous system decline, so does their fluid intelligence.

Thus, older people may not be as good at problems that require them to combine and generate new ideas. A decline in the nervous system affects reaction time, vision, and memory. Elderly people have difficulty retrieving information from memory.

Senile Dementia A small percentage of people develop senile dementia in old age. Senile Dementia: decreases in mental abilities experienced by some people in old age. Memory loss Forgetfulness Disorientation of time and place Decline in ability to think Impaired attention Altered personality Difficulties relating to others

Alzheimer’s Disease Is one of the most common form of senile dementia is Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer’s Disease: a condition that destroys a person’s ability to think, remember, relate to others, and care for herself or himself. The causes are complex and still not completely understood. Genetics may play a role, others causes may be life events. There is no cure. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-K1dNpBnm4

Section Quiz 5-2 Graphic Organizer 5

Dying and Death Main Idea Vocabulary Objectives Thanatology Hospice Death is inevitable. Most people face death by going through stages or an adjustment process. Vocabulary Thanatology Hospice Objectives Identify the stages of dying. Describe the services of hospices.

Dying and death are popular subjects for many poets and song writers. Why does death mystify us? Death is inevitable.

Adjusting to Death Once terminally ill patients have been informed of their condition, they must then cope with their approaching death. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (1969) did pioneering work on how terminally ill react to their impending death. Thanatology: the study of death and dying. Based on interviews with 200 dying patients, she identified five stages of psychological adjustment.

5 Stages 1st Stage: Denial -Initially in shock, “no it can’t be happening”, carry on with their life. 2nd Stage: Anger - Why me? Feel angry, no one can help them understand. 3rd Stage: Bargaining - People change their attitude and attempt to bargain with fate. May ask God for more time, come closer to God.

5 Stages 4th Stage: Depression Dying people are aware of the losses they are incurring, (loss of body tissue, loss of job, loss of savings). Losing everybody and everything. 5th Stage: Acceptamce Acceptance of death. Sense of calm. Not all terminal people progress through the stages that Ross describes. Some people may go through the stages but in different order, or may repeat some stages.

Hospices In the 1900 the average life span was less than 50 years, and most people died at homes. Today, most Americans live until at least 78, and they die in nursing homes and hospitals. Machines can prolong existence long after a person has stopped living a normal life. Hospice: a facility designed to care for the special needs of the dying.

Hospice Less like a hospital, more like a home. Doctors in hospices don’t try and prolong life but improve the quality of life. A key component of hospice care is the use of tranquillizers and other drugs to ease discomfort and relieve pain. The patient in a hospice leads the most normal life he or she is able to do and is taken care of as much as possible by family members. If it can be arranged, a patient may choose to leave the hospice and die at home.

Euthanasia Euthanasia: allowing a terminally ill patient to die naturally without life support, or putting to death a person who is suffers from an incurable disease. Case Study

Documentary – Euthanasia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBMXpVLLfZ0

Section Quiz 5-3 Journal Entry #8