1. Adulthood and Old Age
Chapter 5

2. Adulthood What is adulthood like?
Period when opposite factors affect lives
Can be a time when a person matures fully into what he or she is
Can be a time when life closes in and what was once possibility is now limitation

3. Physical Changes
Aging is the result of normal wear and tear on the body
Process of physical decline is slow and gradual
Middle Aged Adults
Hair starts turning gray and begins to thin
Old Age
Muscles and fat that have built up over the years begins to break down
People lose weight, become shorter, develop more wrinkles

4. Health Problems
Most common causes of death may be the caused by a fast moving lifestyle of young adults
Heart Disease
Cancer
Cirrhosis of the liver
Sexual Activity does not automatically decline with age
The ability to comprehend new material and think improves years and experience

5. Levinson’s Theory of Male Development
Transition periods occur at age 30, 40, 50, and 60
Each transition lasts about 5 years

6. Levinson’s Theory of Male Development
Ages 22-28
Considered by society and himself to be a novice in the adult world
Conflict between the need to explore adulthood and the need to establish a stable life structure
VS.

7. Levinson’s Theory of Male Development
The Age-Thirty Crisis
Questions about the choices of marriage partner, career and life goals are reopened
Many feel that any part of life that is unsatisfying or incomplete needs to be changed now because soon it will be too late

8. Levinson’s Theory of Male Development
Settling Down
Men begin actively carving out a niche in society concentrating on “making it” in the adult world
36 – 40
Men strive to attain the seniority and position in the world that he identified as his ultimate goal

9. Levinson’s Theory of Male Development
The Midlife Transition
What have I done with my life? What have I accomplished? What do I still wish to accomplish?
Generativity – desire to use one’s wisdom to guide future generations
Parenting or mentoring
Adults may choose to hang on to the past
Take part in the same sports or hobbies that they have always known

10. Levinson’s Theory of Male Development
Middle Adulthood
Late 40s is a time when true adulthood is achieved
Understands and tolerates others, is sensitive towards others
Able to have balance between friends and privacy
If someone avoids this life crisis it will come at a later time in life (usually their 50s) with a more forceful approach

11. Female Development Empty Nest Syndrome Depression
May occur after the last child leaves home
Does not have to be traumatic
Stable marriages make this event bearable
Depression
Most common in middle aged women
Early years a women has a sense of personal worth from various roles
Daughter, lover, wife, mother, and wage earner

12. Old Age Fear of Growing Old One of the most common fears in society
People see old age as being one step from the grave
Many people do not want to use the word “old” but prefer words such as “elderly” or “senior citizens”

13. Attitudes Toward Aging
Many people think chronological age is what makes people “old”
Ageism – prejudice or discrimination against the elderly
We think that old people suffer from poor health, live in poverty and are frequent victims of crime
We also think that the aged withdraw from life and sit around doing nothing

14. Changes in Health Most people over 65 are in reasonably good health
The health of an older person is related to their health as a younger person
Everyone is subject to diseases – old and young
Major Causes of Death Among Old People
Heart Disease
Cancer
Strokes

15. Changes in Life Situations
Young people experience positive transitions
Graduation, marriage, parenthood
Older people experience negative transitions
Retirement, widowhood
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16. Changes in Sexual Activity
Majority of people over the age of 65 continue to be interested in sex
Healthy partners enjoy sexual activities into their 70s and 80s
Some do not engage in sexual activity for the following reasons:
Poor health
Death of a spouse

17. Adjusting to Old Age
Aging sometimes represent a loss of control over the environment
When older people are unable to maintain the things that they value most the quality of life suffers dramatically along with their self image
People with assertive personalities are better at coping with life changes
AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) – Group that speaks out and lobbies on social issues for older people

18. Changes in Mental Functioning
Changes in many of the mental functions occur as people age but intelligence and memory do not occur as much as people think
Crystallized Intelligence – ability to use accumulated knowledge and learning in appropriate situations
Fluid Intelligence – ability to solve abstract relational problems and generate new hypothesis

19. Senile Dementia
Senile Dementia – term that describes memory loss, forgetfulness, disorientation of time and place, decline in the ability to think, impaired attention, altered personality and difficulties in relating to others

20. Senile Dementia Alzheimer’s Disease
Most common form of senile dementia
4 million people affected
Neurological disease that is a gradual deterioration of cognitive functioning
Lose ability to comprehend simple questions and recognize friends and loved ones
Patients do not die from Alzheimer’s but from the weakened state
Not fully known what causes it and there is no cure

21. Dying and Death Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Thanatology – study of dying and death
Five Stages of psychological adjustment to death
Denial – This cannot be happening
Anger – people are likely to alienate themselves from others
Bargaining – people change their attitudes and attempt to bargain with fate
Depression – Short term
Acceptance – death feels appropriate and peaceful

22. Dying and Death Kubler-Ross Grieving Periods
Not all terminally ill patients go through the stages
Patients do not limit their responses to any stage and they can have recurring bursts of anger
Grieving Periods
In the 1800s a widow or widower was expected to grieve a long time
Today people are encouraged to get on with their lives
How long a person grieves depends on the person

23. Hospices Discussing death is taboo in 21st Century America
In 1900 the average life span of someone was less than 50 years
Hospice – movement to restore the dignity of death
Make patient’s surroundings pleasant and comfortable
Improve the quality of life
Medicare includes arrangements for financing hospice services