Late AdulthoodLast Phase of Life

Sixty-five Plus

Biosocial Development

Ageism

Ageism: prejudice against people because of their age, prevents elderly people from being as happy and as productive as they could be. Tendency to judge people only based on their chronological age

Ageism can be experienced at all ages but does the most damage in late adulthood

Ageism in late adulthood is decreasing

Gerontology:The study of old age

Geriatrics: the medical specialty devoted to aging specializes in the sick and consider aging as an illness, chronic and progressive disease of secondary aging

Gerontologists consider aging a socially constructed as a problem, consider late adulthood to be a time with great quality of life and promise

Demographics

7% of world’s population is over age 65

By 2010, will be 9%

13% of US population is over 65

Fasting growing age group is over 100

Concern as dependency ratio increases, increase in the number of dependents to independents: ratio of self sufficient, productive adults to dependents (children and the elderly)

Actually,

Less births per adult, fewer new dependents

1/3 of population working can produce all the basic necessities of life

Only, 10% of elderly need extensive care

Only, 5% live in nursing homes or hospitals

Dependency Characteristics

Young-old: healthy, active, financially secure, and independent (largest group: typically under 75)

Old-old-suffer physical, mental, and social deficits (generally over 75)

Oldest-old-dependent on others for mostly everything, requiring nursing homes or hospitals (over 85: about 10%)

Anti-aging Measures

Calorie-Restriction: Daily calorie requirements decrease by about 100 calories per decade after age 45.

More fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fish and grains and cereals are more essential during late adulthood

Deficits in vitamin b12 and folic acid correlate with memory deficits

Dehydration risks increase

Some medications that adults take interfere with vitamin needs

Late Adulthood: how people cope with primary aging.

The skin and the hair: skin continues to become drier, thinner, less elastic, wrinkles, visible blood vessels, and pockets of fate under the skin appear, age spots and reduction of cells make people more vulnerable to cold, heat, and scratches

Hair becomes grayer and more white, male pattern baldness

Body Changes

Vertebrae begin getting closer together

Body fat redistribution: disappears from legs, arms, and upper face and collects near the torso and lower face

Weight loss contributes to less muscles, thinner bones, and greater risk

Body Changes

Less muscles flexibility and strength resulting in need for cane or walker

Increase in number in falls, so need for strength training

Social Isolation

Dulling of Senses

Vision: Only 10 % see well

Cataracts: thickening of the lenses cause vision to become cloudy, opaque, and distorted, treatment: glasses and surgery to replace the lens

Glaucoma: a buildup of fluid within the eye, damaging the optic nerve and can cause total blindness, treatment: eye drops or surgery (genetic)

Macular Degeneration: deterioration of the retina, effects 1 in 25 people in first decade of late adulthood no cure for this disease

Hearing

Presbycubsis: age related hearing loss

By age 65, 40% have trouble hearing normal conversation

Treatment: removal of ear wax, hearing aids

Tinnitis: buzzing or rhythmic ringing in the ears, has no cure, experienced by 10 % of elderly

Compensation for Sensory Loss

Compensation is crucial as opposed to passive acceptance

Technology: improved hearing aids, lighter glasses, close caption TV programs, more advances in specializations

Personal determination: learn new habits

*could include other means of transportation

Recognition and willingness to change are key factors

Major Body Systems

In most of adulthood, primary aging does not directly cause organ failure

Primary and secondary aging combine to make all the major body systems slower and less efficient Heart pumps slower causing increased blood pressure

and increased risk of heart attacks and strokes Lungs take in and expel less air with each breath Digestive system slows Kidneys less efficient (incontinence)More likely to die from disease and harder to recover

Sleep

Older adults spend more time in bed Take more time to fall asleep

Spend less time in deep sleep

Wake up more often

Take more naps

Feel more drowsy in daytime

Narcotics typically prescribed, but may not be problem, body forcing interruption in sleep

Compression of Morbidity

Limiting the number of time a person spends ill or infirm, accomplished by postponing illness

A healthy is more likely to be intellectually alert and more socially active

Theories of Aging

Wear and Tear: Oldest theory

The body wears out after years of exposure to environment and the passage of time

Support: 1.) women who have never been pregnant tend to live longer

2.) Overweight people tend to be sicker and die younger

3.) Breakthrough of modern technology, replacement of worn-out body parts

Theories on Aging

Genetic Aging Theory: Aging is normal, natural result of the genetic plan for the species

Life expectancy Maximum life span: oldest age to which members of a

species can live, under ideal circumstances, age for humans 120 years

Average life expectancy: number of years the average newborn of a particular population group is likely to have. In US, 74 for men and 80 for women

Selective Adaptation: Every person inherits genes that allow survival until middle age and that then cause aging

Theories on Aging

Cellular Aging: Most cells in the body reproduce throughout life Overtime normal cell duplication eventually allows

aging, partly because minor errors accumulate

Free radicals: electrons in some atoms in our bodies are unattached to their nuclei, free radicals are unstable and can cause cancer, diabetes, and arteriosclerosis

Can be slowed by antioxidants: vitamins A, C, and E and the mineral selenium (bind with electrons)

Oxygen free radicals are reproduced in reaction to infections and inflammation of intestinal tract

Theories of Aging

Errors in Duplication: Cellular Aging is a natural process

Hayflick Limit is the number of times a human cell is capable of dividing into to new cells, limit is fifty divisions

Genetic Clock: a regulatory mechanism in the DNA of cells that regulate the aging process

Immune System: Decline of the immune system In a healthy person B and T cells fight disease by attacking foreign

bodies, power and production of T and B cells decline over time

Supported by research on AIDS

Lifestyles Characteristics in Longevity

Diet is moderate, consisting of fruits and vegetables

Work continues throughout life

Family and Community are important

Exercise and relaxation are an important part of daily routine