Unit II: The Life Span

Chapter 5: Adulthood and Old Age

Define the following Key Terms: MENOPAUSE GENERATIVITY STAGNATION DECREMENTAL MODEL OF AGING AGEISM SENILE DEMENTIA ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE THANATOLOGY HOSPICE

Warm up #1 Create a chart with 4 columns. Label the columns “year,” “self,” “parents,” and “grandparents.” In the 1st column, write the current year, then continue in 5-yr increments for 50 yrs. Write your age in the 2nd column. The 3rd column is for the avg age of your parents. The 4th column is for the avg age of one set of your grandparents.

Create the following chart. Compare & contrast the activities of adolescents & adults in the areas of physical changes, cognitive changes, and social development tasks. Adolescence Adulthood/Old Age

Adolescence Adulthood/Old Age Cell growth, division, multiplying Facial, pubic, underarm hair growth Gain weight, grow taller Clear vision, good hearing, quick reaction times Puberty, sexual maturation, menarche, spermarche Adulthood/Old Age Cells dying, cell division occurs less accurately Hair begins to gray & thins out/grow hair in undesirable places Lose weight, become shorter Vision problems, hearing loss, reactions slow Menopause, conception ends, gradual decline of sperm production

Adulthood/Old Age Adolescence Stay married or divorce Vigorous sex life or inactive Still acquiring information & expanding vocabulary Learn to cope w/ problems & deal w/ new situations Levinson’s Theory of Male Development Adolescence Preparing for marriage Beginning of sexual activity Learning new skills & intellectually developing Encounter new developmental tasks Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development

Median Age of Marriage

Entering the Adult World Age 22-28 Age Thirty Crisis Age 28-33 Levinson's Theory of Male Development Entering the Adult World Age 22-28 Age Thirty Crisis Age 28-33 Settling Down Age 33-40 The Midlife Transition Age 40-45 Middle Adulthood Age Late 40’s-60

Female Development Evidence generally doesn’t support a midlife crisis for most women today “Empty Nest” syndrome can be much more difficult for widowed, divorced, or single mothers Depression most common among middle-aged women Women in their early years may derive worth from roles of daughter, lover, wife, mother, wage earner When relationships change, some experience sense of loss or personal worthlessness

Warm up #2 Write as many thoughts, beliefs, and ideas that you have concerning the elderly.

Life Expectancy Rates

Fear of growing old one of the most common fears in society Attitudes about aging usually based on a decremental model: physical & mental decline is inevitable with age Result is a climate of prejudice against the elderly Ageism feeds on myths not facts

Changes in Health Good health in adolescence & adult life carries over into old age 4 most prevalent chronic diseases: Heart disease Hypertension (high blood pressure) Diabetes Arthritis Major causes of death among the old: Cancer Strokes Quality of health care for the elderly remains inferior Many nursing homes have inadequate facilities

Changes in Life Situation Most late adult transitions (widowhood, retirement) often viewed as negative & lead to reduced responsibilities & increased isolation By age 65, 50% of women & 20% of men are widowed By age 80, 70% of women & 33% of men are widowed Symptoms of depression very common in older adults

Changes in Sexual Activity Healthy partners enjoy sexual activity into their 70’s & 80’s Best predictor of future behavior is past behavior Social stigma about older people & sex (Ewwww! WRONG!!)

Adjusting to Old Age Loss of control over the environment can cause the quality of life to suffer Retirement, disability, illness, move to a nursing home or in with a child, loss of a spouse must be adjusted to Significant growth of organizations such as AARP, who lobby on behalf of older Americans

Changes in Mental Functioning Crystallized intelligence (use accumulated knowledge & learning) increases w/ age & experience Fluid intelligence (solve abstract relational problems & generate new hypotheses) declines as nervous system declines

Small percentage develop senile dementia Characterized by memory loss, forgetfulness, disorientation of time & place, decline in ability to think, impaired attention, altered personality, difficulties relating to others

Most common form of senile dementia is Alzheimer’s disease Neurological disease marked by gradual deterioration of cognitive functioning Signs include frequent forgetting, poor judgment, increased irritability & social withdrawal Eventually lose ability to comprehend simple questions & recognize family, friends 4th leading cause of death in the elderly No cure

Death & Dying Elisabeth Kubler-Ross: pioneer in establishing thanatology – the study of dying & death Interviewed 200 terminally ill patients Identified 5 stages of psychological adjustment to death (write a brief description of each):

Denial Anger Bargaining “No, it can’t be happening to me” or “I feel fine” Anger “Why me?” or “It’s not fair” Bargaining “Just let me see my kids graduate” or “I’ll do anything for a few more years”

Depression Acceptance “What’s the point?” or “I’m going to die, why bother?” Acceptance “It’s going to be okay” or “I can’t fight it”

Individuals are unique & not all patients go through all stages or in that order Most people have trouble dealing w/ thoughts of their own death or the death of others Most Americans die in nursing homes & hospitals Hospices designed to care for the dying w/ dignity by making patients comfortable, pleasant & improving quality of life In-home hospice care is increasing

Warm up #3 Let's Write About Death! Write your definition of death. Do you believe in some kind of afterlife? Why or why not? If yes, what’s it like? Why are funerals important? If you could know the exact time & cause of your death, would you want to know? Why or why not? Write about your funeral. What would you want it to include? Which 3 people would you want to speak & what would you hope they say? What do you want written on your gravestone?

What ethical issues do you believe are involved in that debate? WARM UP #4 Do you believe in the use of assisted suicide for terminally ill patients? Why or why not? What ethical issues do you believe are involved in that debate?