1. Family Life Stages: Middle Age to Surviving Spouse
Chapter 11
Family Life Stages: Middle Age to Surviving Spouse

2. Chapter Outline
Dealing with Change: Another Characteristic of the Strong, Healthy Family
The Graying of America
Middle Age: The Empty Nest

3. Chapter Outline Retirement Widowhood as the Last Stage of Marriage
The Grandparenting Role
Older but Coming on Strong

4. Periods of Long-term Marriage
Newly married
Early parenthood
Later parenthood
Middle age
Retirement
Widowed singleness

5. Effects of the Graying of America
It is no longer necessary to have two babies to produce one adult.
The number of living grandparents is greatly increased for children.
Marriages potentially can last much longer, so more couples experience middle age and prolonged retirement together.

6. Effects of the Graying of America
Greater survival advantages for women, relative to men, have increased the period of widowhood.
The number of elderly persons depending on middle-aged children is increasing.
More methods of care for infirm, elderly persons must be made available.

7. Middle Age
Middlessence: The second adolescence, experienced in middle age,usually involving reevaluation of one’s life.

8. People 55 and Over
FIGURE 11-1 Percent Distribution of People 55 Years and Over by Race, Hispanic Origin, and Age, 2002

9. Widowhood
The average age at widowhood is 70 years for women and 72.3 years for men.
There are approximately six times more widows than widowers in the United States.

10. The Grandparenting Role
Individuals may now spend up to half their lives as grandparents.
For some, fulfilling the role of grandparent can bring back the joys and satisfactions of their own early family life.
It is quite possible today for grandparenting to be longer than the period in which one’s own children were at home.

11. Recommendations for a Long, Healthy Life
Cut back on drinking.
Avoid smoking.
Avoid foods rich in cholesterol and fat.

12. Recommendations for a Long, Healthy Life
Eat high-fiber foods such as whole-grain cereals.
Stay out of the sun.
Exercise at least three times a week, including both aerobics and strength training.

13. Quick Quiz

14. 1. The second adolescence, experienced in middle age, usually involving the reevaluation of one’s life is
Grandparenthood
Middle Age
Midlife Crisis
Middlessence

15. Answer: d
The second adolescence, experienced in middle age, usually involving the reevaluation of one’s life is middlessence.

16. 2. The final stage of marriage is often
Widowhood
Grandparenthood
Retirement
None of the above

17. Answer: a
Widowhood is often the final stage of marriage.

18. 3. Which is not a recommendation for a long, healthy life?
Cutting back on drinking.
Avoiding smoking.
Enjoying foods rich in cholesterol and fat.
Staying out of the sun.

19. Answer: c
Enjoying foods rich in cholesterol and fat is not recommended as a strategy for living a long, healthy life.