The Golden Years   Old Age   Physical Issues   Theories of Aging   Psychological Issues   Sex and the Elderly   The Power of Purpose

Old Age Gerontologist: Specialist who study aging Ageism: Prejudice and discrimination directed at older people. Very common in America and Very common in America and other individualistic societies. Collectivistic societies are less Collectivistic societies are less likely to do this and more likely to hold the elderly in high esteem.

Old Age Primary Aging: Primary Aging: Aging that involves universal and irreversible changes. Aging that involves universal and irreversible changes. Caused by genetic preprogramming. Caused by genetic preprogramming. Naturally occurs as people get older. Naturally occurs as people get older. Secondary Aging: Secondary Aging: Changes in physical and cognitive functioning. Changes in physical and cognitive functioning. Caused by illness, health habits, and other individual differences. Caused by illness, health habits, and other individual differences. Not due to increased age itself and are not inevitable. Not due to increased age itself and are not inevitable.

Physical Issues Osteoporosis: Condition in which the bones become brittle, fragile, and thin. Osteoporosis: Condition in which the bones become brittle, fragile, and thin. Enuresis: Bed-wetting. Enuresis: Bed-wetting.

Theories of Aging The older we get the less efficient our bodies become: At 25: At 25: Bodies start to produce fewer cells than are being destroyed or discarded. Bodies start to produce fewer cells than are being destroyed or discarded. This means that it is at this age that your body starts to die. This means that it is at this age that your body starts to die. Process slowly accelerates throughout life till the latter years when it accelerates rapidly. Process slowly accelerates throughout life till the latter years when it accelerates rapidly. Peripheral slowing Hypothesis:  Suggests that overall processing speed declines in the peripheral nervous system with increasing age. Generalized slowing Hypothesis:  Suggests that processing in all parts of the nervous system, including the brain, is less efficient.

Psychological Issues Dementia:  Most common mental disorder of the elderly  Includes serious memory loss accompanied by declines in many other mental functioning.  Lifestyle is a major cause of dementia with exception of inheritance.  Suggestion-Read throughout your life and never stop using your brain. Alzheimer’s Disease:  Progressive brain disorder that produces loss of memory and confusion.  Stem cells-  Potential solution for the symptoms of both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.  Not a potential solution for the cause.

Psychological Issues Dementia:

Sex and the Elderly Are our grandparents having sex? Yes they are: Yes they are: 43% of men over the age of 70 still masturbate. 43% of men over the age of 70 still masturbate. 33% of women over the age of 70 still masturbate. 33% of women over the age of 70 still masturbate. Sexually Transmitted Diseases: (STD)  Are on the incline in the elderly.  They can’t get pregnant.  They are having sex with multiple partners while living in care facilities.

The Power of Purpose Perceived Control:  Belief that we can influence our environment in ways that determine whether we experience positive or negative outcomes.  Associated with good physical and mental health  Many people who end up in nursing homes and hospitals feel they have lost control over their lives-  People are often placed in long-term care facilities against their wishes.  Once there, they have little say in what they do, whom they see, or what they eat.

The Power of Purpose Ellen Langer and Judith Rodin Study (1976) Watch a video telling them that they have control over their lives Watch a video telling them that they have control over their lives Watch movies whenever they wanted Watch movies whenever they wanted Received a house plant and told-Whether it lives or not is your choice Received a house plant and told-Whether it lives or not is your choice 18 months after the director’s speech: 18 months after the director’s speech: 15% of the treatment group died 15% of the treatment group died 30% of the control group died 30% of the control group diedDiscussion: Do the elderly do better when they stay with the family than when they go to a retirement facility? Do the elderly do better when they stay with the family than when they go to a retirement facility?