Life-Span Development in Late Late Adulthood

dealing with end of lifedevelopmental tasks and issues

Caitlyn AndrewsVanessa Barriga Anna Clark Jennifer Jaber Beth Lee Alisa Meyer

Agenda• Relationships

Vanessa Barriga

• Physical Health Caitlyn Andrews

• Brain Changes Anna Clark

• Mental Health / Behavioral Health Alisa Meyer

• Death and End of Life Preparation Beth Lee

• The Best Parts of Being at Late Late Age Jennifer Jaber

RELATIONSHIPS: SOCIAL & COMMUNITY

• Age Groups Level two

• Life Expectancy Level two

• Stereotypes Level two

• Work and Retirement Level two

• Theories Level two

• Religion Level two

• Political Issues Level two

• Social Support and Integration Level two

• Friendship Level two

Vanessa Barriga

RELATIONSHIPS:SEXUALITY & PARTNERS

• StatisticsLevel two

• Level 3• Romance and Sex

Level two• Level 3

Vanessa Barriga

RELATIONSHIPS:SEXUALITY & PARTNERS

Vanessa Barriga

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT4KovVUc78

RELATIONSHIPS:FAMILY SYSTEM & LIVING ARRANGEMENTS

• Marriage StatisticsLevel two

• Level 3• Divorce and Remarriage

Level two• Level 3

• CohabitationLevel two

• Level 3• Grandparents, Parents

Level two

Vanessa Barriga

PHYSICAL HEALTH• Problems and Prevention• Alzheimer’s

Caitlyn Andrews

PHYSICAL HEALTH: AGING BRAIN

• Brain Shrinks and SlowsLevel two

• Level 3• Neurogenisis and Enriched Environment

Critical ThinkingExercise

• 30 mins, 3x a week• Prevention

Includes specific dietary changes• More antioxidants

Caitlyn Andrews

PHYSICAL HEALTH: AGING BRAIN

• Decrease in Brain LateralizationSimilar to that of young adults

Caitlyn Andrews

PHYSICAL HEALTH:APPEARANCE & MOVEMENT

• SynopsisShorter in HeightDrop in weightLose muscleMove more slowly

• Prevention can also Decrease DisabilityRegular walkingRegular exercise

Caitlyn Andrews

• VisionLevel two

• HearingLevel two

• Smell and TasteLevel two

• Touch and PainLevel two

• Level 3• Changes in Sexuality

For Men

Caitlyn Andrews

PHYSICAL HEALTH:APPEARANCE & MOVEMENT

PHYSICAL HEALTH:DISEASE & HEALTH PROBLEMS

• ArthritisLevel two

• Level 3• Osteoporosis

Level two• Level 3

• Accidents (increased danger)Level two

• Level 3

Caitlyn Andrews

PHYSICAL HEALTH:DISEASE & HEALTH PROBLEMS

• Alzheimer’s DiseasePersonal reflection

•

Caitlyn Andrews

PHYSICAL HEALTH:EXERCISE & NUTRITION

• 7 Ways Exercise can Improve Quality of LifeLevel two

• Level 3• Importance of Diet & Risk of Malnutrition

Dangers of Low Weight• Level 3

Caitlyn Andrews

BRAIN CHANGES:THEORIES OF AGING

• Cellular Clock TheoryLevel two

• Level 3• Free Radical Theory

Level two• Level 3

• Mitochondrial TheoryLevel two

• Level 3• Hormonal Stress Theory

Level two• Level 3

Anna Clark

BRAIN CHANGES:PHYSICAL & COGNITIVE CHANGES

• Effects of Brain ShrinkageLevel two

• Level 3• Effects of Brain Slowing

Level two• Level 3

• Reduction in Neurotransmitter ProductionLevel two

• Level 3

Anna Clark

• NeurogenisisLevel two

• Level 3• Dendritic Growth

Level two• Level 3

• RewiringLevel two

• Level 3• Lateralization

Level two• Level 3

BRAIN CHANGES:ADAPTIONS OF THE BRAIN

Anna Clark

MENTAL /BEHAVIORAL HEALTH:DEPRESSION

• What is Depression?Level two

• Research FindingsLevel two

• Level 3

Alisa Meyer

MENTAL /BEHAVIORAL HEALTH:DEPRESSION

• StudiesLevel two

• Level 3• Gender?

Level two• Level 3

• PredictorsLevel two

• Level 3• Treatment

Level two• Level 3

Alisa Meyer

MENTAL /BEHAVIORAL HEALTH:VICTIMIZATION

• FearLevel two

• Level 3• Crimes

Level two• Level 3

Alisa Meyer

MENTAL /BEHAVIORAL HEALTH:VICTIMIZATION

• Abuse – How often does it occur?Types

• Level 3Institutional Abuse

• Level 3

Alisa Meyer

MENTAL /BEHAVIORAL HEALTH:LIFE SATISFACTION

• Affect and OutlookLevel two

• Level 3• Self Esteem

Level two• Level 3

Alisa Meyer

MENTAL /BEHAVIORAL HEALTH:SOCIO-EMOTIONAL HEALTH

• Erickson TheoryLevel two

• Level 3• Activity Theory

Level two• Socio-Emotional Selectivity

Level two• Level 3

• Selective Optimization with Compensation TheoryLevel two

• http://helpguide.org/mental/depression_elderly.htm

Alisa Meyer

DEATH & END OF LIFE PREPARATION

ATTITUDES AT LATE LATE AGE• Know the psycho-social aspects of Death

among the elderlyElder death touches everyone at some timeCounselors often serve as

• Containers of difficult or awkward feelings• The neutral party who can raise important topics

• Theorists and researchers considerAwareness (insight)Increasing certainty in a culture that denies itTemporal nearness (salience)Qualitative nature of preparedness

(developmental tasks)• Cultural definitions of a “good death”

Beth Lee

DEATH & END OF LIFE PREPARATION

TALKING ABOUT DEATH Elderly people think and talk readily about death

• Non-institutionalized more frequently• Institutionalized, less opportunity

– “the belief that discussing death creates a negative mental framework and self-image that may interfere with the best possible client care” (Leif, 1982)

More thinking and talking than preparedness• 74% have a will, but only 53% & 65% spoke to family &

friends about end of life wishes

Beth Lee Schrader, Nelson, & Eidsness (2009)

DEATH & END OF LIFE PREPARATION

DEATH ANXIETY• Existential Definition

Although the physicality of death destroys us, it is the idea of death that saves us (Yalom, 1980)

Death is the condition that makes it possible for us to live in an authentic fashion (Heidegger, 1926)

• By allowing us to embrace our possibilities and limits

• Boundary pressure drives choices towards authenticity

• This is the death driven developmental task of late late age

Beth Lee

 It's not that I'm afraid to

die, I just don't want to be there when

it happens. Woody Allen

DEATH & END OF LIFE PREPARATION

DEATH ANXIETY• Geriatric care providers (medical, behavioral,

pragmatic) encounter DA daily in clients and their familiesMay impair the ability to make unbiased decisionsMay prevent the flow of information, sometimes against

the law (Sinoff, et al, 2008)

DA on the part of care givers may obstruct an elderly person’s right to die naturally• 4 out of 5 people would prefer to die at home (Hine, 1979)

• DA is functionally two constructs:Fear of deathFear of the dying process

• DA as a function of age Peaks in middle- ageAll but disappears in elderly (Twelker, 2006)

Beth Lee

Death Anxiety as a Function of Age

Sinoff, Iosipovici, Almog, & Barnett-Greens (2008)

DEATH & END OF LIFE PREPARATION

CULTURAL ISSUES OF PREPARING

• Cultural Sensitivity about Death rituals requires investigation In the US, preparedness for death has a legal and

psycho-social component Excellent resource on emerging ritual:

http://www.dailyundertaker.com

Beth Lee

DEATH & END OF LIFE PREPARATION

CULTURAL ISSUES OF PREPARING• Emerging EOL Traditions

There’s an app for that….• Kaddish, the Jewish Mourner's prayer, is recited publicly every day for

11 months after a parent's death as a reaffirmation of faith. This requirement can be difficult for many to fulfill properly though, as the prayer is in Aramaic. Now there is help in the form of an iPhone app to tutor mourners in the pronunciation of this important prayer.

• Bosan, which in Japanese means grave honoring, is a newly

released iPhone app from KnowledgEx which allows you to register information about and carry photos of a loved one’s grave, as well as photos of the deceased. Whenever you want and where ever you are in your busy schedule, you can virtually honor the grave of your loved one with a prayer, along with offerings of incense, flowers, food and water.

Beth Lee

THE BEST PART OF LATE LATE AGE!

Jennifer Jaber

THE BEST PART OF LATE LATE AGE!

Benefits of Late Late Adulthood

Jennifer Jaber

THE BEST PART OF LATE LATE AGE: SUCCESSFUL AGING

• Positive Aspects being studied Growing subject

• Level 3• Factors linked with Successful Aging

Active lifestyle Positive coping skills Good social relationships Support Absence of disease

• Being Active is especially important to successful aging Level two

• Level 3• Self -efficacy

Control over the environment Positive attitude Result: higher levels of happiness

Jennifer Jaber

THE BEST PART OF LATE LATE AGE!

• Felice NewsNot for profit based in Toronto that tells only

good news• http://www.felicenews.com/the-five-best-things-about-getting-older.html

Late Age gives you ready made excuses!• Failing memory (even if your hearing is fine!)• Hearing loss (selective hearing)• Other people get to take care of you• Freedom to do what you want•

Jennifer Jaber

THE BEST PART OF LATE LATE AGE!

Secrets of the Centenarians - NYTimes.com

Jennifer Jaber

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/10/19/health/20101018-centenarians-voices-photos.html

THE BEST PART OF LATE LATE AGE!

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.

Mark Twain

Jennifer Jaber

1855, aprox 20 yrs old

Much older: Be good, and you will be lonesome.

THIS IS THE TITLE TEXT• Level 1

Level two• Level 3

• Level 1Level two

• Level 3• Level 1

Level two• Level 3

THIS IS THE TITLE TEXT• Level 1

Level two• Level 3

• Level 1Level two

• Level 3• Level 1

Level two• Level 3

Second Page• Level 1

Level two• Level 3

• Level 1Level two

• Level 3• Level 1

Level two• Level 3

referencesLieff, Jonathan D. (1982). "Eight reasons why doctors fear the elderly, chronic illness, and death." Journal of Transpersonal Psychology 14, no. 1:

47-60.May, R., & Yalom, I. (1989). Existential psychotherapy. Current psychotherapies (4th ed.) (pp. 363-402). Itasca, IL US: F E Peacock Publishers.Schrader, S., Nelson, M., & Eidsness, L. (2009). 'South Dakota’s dying to know': A statewide survey about end of life. Journal of Palliative

Medicine, 12(8), 695-705.Sinoff, G., Iosipovici, A., Almog, R., & Barnett-Greens, O. (2008). Children of the elderly are inapt in assessing death anxiety in their own

parents. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 23(11)Twelker PA. 2006. The relationship between death anxiety, sex, and age. Internet resource available at URL:

http://www.tiu.edu/psychology/deathanxiety.htmYalom, I. (2008). Staring at the sun: Overcoming the terror of death. The Humanistic Psychologist, 36(3-4), 283-297.