1

LECTURE 4LATE

ADULTHOOD

OUTLINE

1) Issues of Late Adulthood Development

2) Developmental Task

2

3

ISSUES OF LATE ADULTHOOD DEVELOPMENTErikson’s Theory – the stage he

propose for late adulthood is ‘ego integrity vs despair’◦The older must think back over her

life and try to come terms with who she has been and who she now is

Butler proposed that in old age, all of us go through a process he called a life review

Several studies show that a process of structured of reminiscence may increase the life satisfaction or self esteem of older adults.

4

DEPENDENCE

Main issue to overcomeDependence in terms of:

financial physical emotional

5

FINANCIAL DEPENDENCESaving for futureMost of older people don’t have

insuranceIncome sources : children,

pension, investment, rent, business, work & etc.

Financial protection is needed

6

PHYSICAL DEPENDENCEDecreased physical ability

loss of ability to live alone loss of energy loss of control over daily routine possible inability to do favorite

things Older people need attention especially

from family members. Social welfare program for older

people

7

8

9

EMOTIONAL DEPENDENPCEOlder people need love and

social interactionFeel lonely because of death

event and community involvement decrease can disturb mental illness

Friendship network decrease and only have interaction with adult children.

10

11

DEVELOPMENT TASK1. Staying physically healthy and

adjusting to limitations2. Planning finances to ensure

adequate means of support3. Learning and adjusting to revised

work roles4. Learning to use leisure time

pleasurably5. Finding companionship and friends6. Establishing new roles in the family7. Achieving integrity through

acceptance of one’s life

12

STAYING PHYSICALLY HEALTHY AND ADJUSTING TO LIMITATIONS

The task of staying healthy becomes more difficult as people age

This is one of the important challenges of late adulthood

It involves good habits and preventive medicine –getting regular medical and dental checkups

Many of illness in later years develop into chronic problems because of neglect not because of aging

Older adults should also attend to their physical appearance

Physical health depends partially on mental attitude

13

PLANNING FINANCES TO ENSURE ADEQUATE MEANS OF SUPPORT

Financial planning should be implemented early and this requires careful long-term planning

Good planning will help older people have financial independence

The disable who depend on others need to investigate what resources might be able from children or other relatives, pension, public old assistance programs ect.

Many adults have to consider revising their life style to cut down on expenses

14

LEARNING AND ADJUSTING TO REVISED WORK ROLESOrdinarily, government or non-

government workers are retired at this stage and do an adjustment

They have to consider a major change in work roles & learn new types of work

Retirement for them means retraining, changing jobs or going into business for themselves.

Retirement offers the opportunity to do their own activities.

15

LEARNING TO USE LEISURE TIME PLEASURABLY

As work decline, more leisure time is available for preferred pursuits

Pleasure is the feeling of being pleased and happy; it is gladness and joy

Many of older adults have not learned to enjoy themselves because of they are the work generation.

16

FINDING COMPANIONSHIP AND FRIENDS

Loneliness is one of the most frequent complaints of older people

Their challenge is to find meaningful relationships with others

Require joining formal organizations or groups in the community or extending oneself to others to cultivate friends

Involves personal initiative in contacting others, extending invitations or making phone calls.

17

ESTABLISHING NEW ROLES IN THE FAMILYSeveral events bring about the

adjustment of family roles◦ Children marrying & moving away◦ Grandparenthood◦ Retirement◦ The death of spouse◦ Becoming dependence on one’s children

All of these circumstances require major adjustment and realignment of family roles and responsibilities

18

ACHIEVING INTEGRITY THROUGH ACCEPTANCE OF ONE’S LIFE

Erikson (1959) says that the development of ego integrity is the chief psychosocial task of the final stage of life

This includes life review, being able to accept the facts of one’s life without regret, being able to face death without great fear

It entails appreciating one’s own individuality, accomplishments, and satisfactions as well as accepting the hardship, failures and disappointment