Late Adulthood Scat & Sarah

All of these lines across my face, Tell you the story of who I am, So many stories of where I’ve been, And how I got to where I am, But these stories don’t mean anything, When you’ve got no one to tell them to. Brandi Carlile—The Story

Ageism “When our perceptions of the older person are much worse than reality our prejudices are revealed…This stereotyping of older persons makes it difficult to see them as they really are. Ageism isolates the older generation socially and perpetuates our own fear of aging” (Lingren 1991)

The Facts Organ function gradually declines after age 30. There is a slight decrease each year in speed, strength, agility, endurance and reaction time as we age. The immune system becomes less resistant to disease. Most older people are somewhat shorter, weigh less and walk more stiffly. 9 out of 10 will need glasses and 1 out of 3 could benefit from a hearing aid. Illness should not be expected or an accepted part of aging. Most chronic ailments, when treated, are manageable. Acute diseases can be treated and even cured.

Older workers are more efficient and miss less work due to illness than younger workers.

Marriage Retirement requires adjustment. Couples are generally happy and satisfied.

About 80% of women and 20% of men must adjust to being widowed at some point in late adulthood. Men are more likely to have health problems after their spouse dies. Women are more likely to have financial problems. Women seek comfort from other widows. Men are more likely to remarry.

Remarriage in late adulthood is usually a happy event It makes both spouses feel: Younger Happier Sexier Less lonely Sexual interest can Be high!

Only a small minority of the elderly are unable to care for themselves. There are over 39.5 million people over 65 in the U.S. and nearly 6 million of them are over 85 years old. There are currently 1.5 million elderly citizens residing in nursing homes.

Independence More common than assisted living Benefits to living with family (or nearby)

Elder Abuse “Every year, tens of thousands of elderly Americans are abused in their own homes, in relatives’ homes, and even in facilities responsible for their care”( Jaffe-gill, de Benedictis & Segal 2010)

Types of Abuse Physical Sexual Emotional Neglect or abandonment Financial exploitation Healthcare fraud and abuse

If you suspect abuse you must report it! For a complete list of warning Signs visit: Helpguide.org

Mental Health PTSD Anxiety Depression Suicide

Memory Routine/Ritual Explicit vs. Implicit Dementia Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s Disease What is Alzheimer’s disease?

Disease Most have one or more Common diseases Immune systems Selective adaptation

Nutrition Nutrient absorption Supplements Exercise

Physical Appearance Common changes Emotionally overcoming the changes

"Old Habits Die Hard" The Great Depression Cultural differences Technology

“Older people do not become ‘more’ of anything as they age: They just become more like themselves as they were in middle age.” ---Lingren 1991 “…The people who don’t decline with age become more integrated and individual, more fully human, More uniquely who they are, And more compassionate.” ---Pipher 1999