Late Adulthood
Late Adulthood and Death
University of Phoenix
PSY/280
September 22, 2011
Late adulthood typically describes the period from the sixties or seventies until death. During this period there are many physical and psychosocial changes and adjustments that take place in the individual life and that of their families or caregivers (Dr. Preisser, 1997). With the improvements in medicine and the advances in science and technology people are living longer. People have also been encouraged to exercise and eat more healthy foods. These life style changes along with the advances in medicine have made the need for caring for the elderly more important. Families have to consider how to prepare for caring for the elderly financially and physically since they are living longer. In this paper the challenges and opportunities that face families as they care for the elderly and prepare for their death will be discussed.
Changes in Late adulthood
Old age has frequently shown to be related to multiple psycho-social losses and increased health risks qualifying late adulthood as a period of decline with regard to objective quality of life (Schilling, 2006). During the period of late adulthood the body is unable to replace cells to replace the once that are dying or fail to function properly. This leads to many physical, psychological and cognitive changes. Some of the changes more common in this stage of life are cardio-vascular diseases, malfunctioning digestive system, depression, impaired memory, impaired vision, impaired hearing and significant decline in energy levels. Some changes are seen easily such as the greying of the hair, a gradual slowdown in speech and slowing movements. In adulthood the skin is also less elastic, thin and dry due loss of skin tissues that cannot be replaced at this stage.
People in late adulthood stage of life tend to have slower response speeds, some are not able to think and respond quickly enough to changing situations. In this stage of life
University of Phoenix
PSY/280
September 22, 2011
Late adulthood typically describes the period from the sixties or seventies until death. During this period there are many physical and psychosocial changes and adjustments that take place in the individual life and that of their families or caregivers (Dr. Preisser, 1997). With the improvements in medicine and the advances in science and technology people are living longer. People have also been encouraged to exercise and eat more healthy foods. These life style changes along with the advances in medicine have made the need for caring for the elderly more important. Families have to consider how to prepare for caring for the elderly financially and physically since they are living longer. In this paper the challenges and opportunities that face families as they care for the elderly and prepare for their death will be discussed.
Changes in Late adulthood
Old age has frequently shown to be related to multiple psycho-social losses and increased health risks qualifying late adulthood as a period of decline with regard to objective quality of life (Schilling, 2006). During the period of late adulthood the body is unable to replace cells to replace the once that are dying or fail to function properly. This leads to many physical, psychological and cognitive changes. Some of the changes more common in this stage of life are cardio-vascular diseases, malfunctioning digestive system, depression, impaired memory, impaired vision, impaired hearing and significant decline in energy levels. Some changes are seen easily such as the greying of the hair, a gradual slowdown in speech and slowing movements. In adulthood the skin is also less elastic, thin and dry due loss of skin tissues that cannot be replaced at this stage.
People in late adulthood stage of life tend to have slower response speeds, some are not able to think and respond quickly enough to changing situations. In this stage of life
References: Berger, K.S.(2010) Invitation to the life span. New York : Worth Publishers Dr. Preisser, . (1997). developmental pyscology. Retrieved from http://www.mesacc.edu/dept/d46/psy/dev/Spring00/lateadult/index.html Schilling, O. (2006). Development of life satisfaction in old age: Another view on the "paradox ' '. Social Indicators Research, 75(2), 241-241-271. doi:10.1007/s11205-004-5297-2 Park, D. C., Nisbett, R., & Hedden, T. (1999). Aging, culture, and cognition. The Journals of Gerontology, 54B(2), P75-P75-84. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/210091198?accountid=35812