Late Adulthood, Death, Dying and Bereavement

Chapters 17-19

Piaget’s Formal Operations Stage

Abstract thought

Erik Erikson

• Ego integrity vs despair– Feeling whole, complete and satisfied with

life’s achievement– Vs despair-made many wrong decisions yet

time is too short to find an alternate route to integrity

– Hard to accept death– Anger and contempt with others maybe

expressed

Physical Issues

• Dementia-loss of memory• Alzheimer’s Disease-leading cause of death in

elderly population• Cancer/ heart issues/breathing• Diabetes/broken bones• Issues with cold and heat- due to nervous system• Issues with taste buds• Macular degeneration-vision blurs and loss of vision• Loss of some smell

Exercise and life style

• Exercise and active lifestyle seem to improve

loss of memory, loss of body mass, loss of energy and loss stamina

increase of oxygen and blood flow throughout the body

Care for the Elderly

• Nursing homes-assisted living

• Hospice

• Care of family members

• Living alone

• hospitals

Reflections

• Elderly may participate in life reflection-reflecting on one’s life to recognize contribution to society and others

• Many cultures hold elderly in high social status and view them with much wisdom

Terminal Decline

• Steady marked decrease in cognitive functioning prior to death

• Some say average 1-3 years possible 5 years

• Loss of memory, speech, motor function, bodily functions can be signs

Death and Dying

• Dying occurs in 3 phases– Agonal phase- gasps and muscle spasms– Clinical death- short interval in which

heartbeat, circulation, breathing and brain functioning stop but resuscitation is still possible

– Mortality occurs when the individual passes into permanent death

Brain Death

• Irreversible cessation of all activity of the brain and brain stem which controls reflexs

• persistent

Understanding of Death

• Permanence-once living things die, they can not be brought back

• Universality-all living things die

• Nonfuctionality-all living things function,and cease at death

Stages of Bereavement

• Denial

• Anger

• Bargaining

• Depression

• Acceptance

Components to think about

• Wills

• Place of death

• Place of burial

• Method of burial

Other terms

• Euthanasia

• Assisted Suicide

Other cultures view of death and dying

• See handout