1. CHAPTER 4 COGNITIVE PROCESSES

2. “Cognitive perceptual health pattern deals with the ways people gain information from the environment and the way they interpret and use this information”. “Cognitive perceptual health pattern deals with the ways people gain information from the environment and the way they interpret and use this information”. Perception involves collecting, interpreting, and recognizing stimuli, whereas cognition, along with physical health, as having a major role in maintaining independence in later life, particularly as it relates to everyday competencies. Perception involves collecting, interpreting, and recognizing stimuli, whereas cognition, along with physical health, as having a major role in maintaining independence in later life, particularly as it relates to everyday competencies.

3. Competencies would include: Competencies would include: Managing finances Managing finances Taking medication Taking medication Shopping Shopping Using the phone Using the phone Carrying out housekeeping chores Carrying out housekeeping chores Transportation Transportation Meal preparation Meal preparation

4. Specific Changes INTELLIGENCE INTELLIGENCE LEARNING AND MEMORY LEARNING AND MEMORY CREATIVITY CREATIVITY

5. INTELLIGENCE A common procedure used in the measurement of intelligence is the administration of standardized tests such as WAIS (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale). A common procedure used in the measurement of intelligence is the administration of standardized tests such as WAIS (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale). Divided into 2 categories: verbal & performance. Divided into 2 categories: verbal & performance. Verbal: vocabulary, comprehension, & math Verbal: vocabulary, comprehension, & math Performance: picture completion, block design, & digit symbol. Performance: picture completion, block design, & digit symbol.

6. These tests have been the focus of much criticism for a variety of reasons and are unfair to older persons: These tests have been the focus of much criticism for a variety of reasons and are unfair to older persons: Test content may not be relevant to older people Test content may not be relevant to older people Older people may not be in the habit of being tested Older people may not be in the habit of being tested Older individuals may have developed test wisdom Older individuals may have developed test wisdom Test anxiety may make concentration difficult Test anxiety may make concentration difficult Factors such as nutrition may influence test scores Factors such as nutrition may influence test scores Older people may respond more slowly than younger Older people may respond more slowly than younger Older individuals may be less likely to guess at answers than younger folks Older individuals may be less likely to guess at answers than younger folks

7. LEARNING AND MEMORY One of the greatest fears of many older individuals is Alzheimer’s disease and the loss of independence. As a result, memory lapses are accompanied by anxiety and dread. It is crucial that leisure service providers be aware of the normal changes in memory with age and be prepared to address issues relating to memory. In addition, leisure service providers must base their programs on a realistic perspective of memory and learning in later years. Hence the fact that a number of the programs offered for older adults are based on routine. One of the greatest fears of many older individuals is Alzheimer’s disease and the loss of independence. As a result, memory lapses are accompanied by anxiety and dread. It is crucial that leisure service providers be aware of the normal changes in memory with age and be prepared to address issues relating to memory. In addition, leisure service providers must base their programs on a realistic perspective of memory and learning in later years. Hence the fact that a number of the programs offered for older adults are based on routine.

8. What’s the difference? Learning and memory are closely related: Learning and memory are closely related: Memory involves the ability to retrieve information stored in the brain Memory involves the ability to retrieve information stored in the brain Learning is the process of encoding information into memory Learning is the process of encoding information into memory

9. Interventions Factors associated with age-related learning and memory differences are amenable to intervention. There are a number of strategies used to facilitate learning and memory that can be effective in developing teaching strategies to use in program development: Factors associated with age-related learning and memory differences are amenable to intervention. There are a number of strategies used to facilitate learning and memory that can be effective in developing teaching strategies to use in program development:

10. 1. Face the individual with whom you are communicating so they can see our lips and facial movements 1. Face the individual with whom you are communicating so they can see our lips and facial movements 2. Speak slowly and keep the tone of your voice low 2. Speak slowly and keep the tone of your voice low 3. Present one idea at a time 3. Present one idea at a time 4. Whenever possible, focus on concrete rather than abstract material 4. Whenever possible, focus on concrete rather than abstract material 5. Provide sufficient time for individuals to respond 5. Provide sufficient time for individuals to respond

11. Cont. 6. Keep distractions to a minimum 6. Keep distractions to a minimum 7. Use a variety of cues, auditory, visual, and tactile, to enhance learning 7. Use a variety of cues, auditory, visual, and tactile, to enhance learning 8. Connect new learning to things learned in the past. 8. Connect new learning to things learned in the past. 9. Use creative teaching strategies. 9. Use creative teaching strategies.

12. AARP Strategies The American Association of Retired Persons suggests the following: The American Association of Retired Persons suggests the following: Establish a comfortable environment for learning Establish a comfortable environment for learning Assess the older person’s expectations and take advantage of the older adult’s interests Assess the older person’s expectations and take advantage of the older adult’s interests Emphasize the older person’s abilities and experiences Emphasize the older person’s abilities and experiences Establish the connection between new information and old knowledge Establish the connection between new information and old knowledge Use reassurance, but do not talk down to the older person Use reassurance, but do not talk down to the older person Try to retain attention by minimizing distracting background noises Try to retain attention by minimizing distracting background noises Repeat information when needed and emphasize important pieces of material Repeat information when needed and emphasize important pieces of material Learn to interpret nonverbal signs Learn to interpret nonverbal signs

13. Develop a Memory Program These recommendations can used to assist an older person with developing a memory program: These recommendations can used to assist an older person with developing a memory program: Pay attention Pay attention Rehearse and repeat Rehearse and repeat Chunk-grouping items together Chunk-grouping items together Use cues Use cues Be organized Be organized Increase use of external aids: notes, appt books, etc. Increase use of external aids: notes, appt books, etc.

14. Aging well Individuals who age well in the cognitive domain share common characteristics: Individuals who age well in the cognitive domain share common characteristics: Internal focus of control-the ability to maintain self- direction Internal focus of control-the ability to maintain self- direction Education-continued exposure to formal learning Education-continued exposure to formal learning Physical activity-particularly aerobic type of exercise Physical activity-particularly aerobic type of exercise Favorable environments Favorable environments Absence of chronic diseases Absence of chronic diseases Marital status Marital status Flexible personality styles Flexible personality styles Satisfaction with life accomplishments Satisfaction with life accomplishments

15. CREATIVITY Important component for leisure service professionals when working with older people. Important component for leisure service professionals when working with older people. Creative suggestions for activities: Creative suggestions for activities: Make a parody of a nursery rhyme Make a parody of a nursery rhyme Name 5 practical inventions that have not yet been invented Name 5 practical inventions that have not yet been invented List 10 new ways to use Scotch tape List 10 new ways to use Scotch tape Take 2 objects as different as possible—a sock and a lawn mower for example—and identify how they might be paired in creative ways Take 2 objects as different as possible—a sock and a lawn mower for example—and identify how they might be paired in creative ways Suggest 3 or 4 historic people and describe how their meeting would create a bizarre, ludicrous, or comical conversation Suggest 3 or 4 historic people and describe how their meeting would create a bizarre, ludicrous, or comical conversation Describe 3 new uses for a computer. Describe 3 new uses for a computer.

16. The potential for Ulyssean living in the later years is greatly increased in individuals with high levels of cognitive functioning, learning, memory and creativity are powerful tools for enhancing the quality of life. The potential for Ulyssean living in the later years is greatly increased in individuals with high levels of cognitive functioning, learning, memory and creativity are powerful tools for enhancing the quality of life.