Late Adulthood

A Look at Variations and Theories

of Late Adulthood
Defining Late Adulthood
 Census Categories
 65-74; 75-84; 85-100; 100+
 Quality of Life
 Optimal aging
 Normal aging
 Impaired aging
Age Structures in Society

Population Pyramids
Source: U.S. Department of
Census (He et als., 2005)
Unhappy Birthday

Stereotypes of Late Adulthood

Test Your Knowledge
 There are about 10 million people aged
65 and older living in the United States.
 True
 False
 False. There are about 38.9 million people
65+
 About half of those over 65 are in
nursing homes.
 True
 False
 False. Of those 38.9 million, only 1.6
million live in nursing homes.
 The number of people with Alzheimer’s
disease is expected to increase by
2030.
 True
 False
 True. As more people enter late
adulthood, cases of Alzheimer’s disease will
increase.
 About half of people over 70 have
hearing loss.
 True
 False
 False. About a third experience hearing
loss. Rates go to almost half for people
over 85.
Theories of Aging
 Integrity vs. Despair
 Disengagement Theory
 Activity Theory
 Continuity Theory
Continuity
 Jimmy Buffet
 John Mayall
 Les Paul
Variations in Aging
Health
 Most report good health
 Most report being “very satisfied” with
their life
 1.6 million of the 38.9 million over 65
are in nursing homes
 But 85+ on increase
Average Life Expectancy
 In 1900, 47.3
 In 2007:
 White females 80.4
 Black females 76.8
 White males 75.4
 Black males 70 (historic racism)
Primary and Secondary Aging
 Primary Aging-inevitable changes
associated with age
 Secondary Aging-changes caused by
illness or disease
 The importance of making the
distinction
Primary Aging
 Skin and Hair
 Height and Weight
 Body Fat
 Eye Problems
 8% of those over 75
 Hearing Loss
 Almost ½ of those
over 80
 ‘elderspeak’
Secondary Aging
 Arthritis
 Hypertension
 Heart Disease and
Stroke
 Diabetes
 Cancer
 Osteoporosis
 Alzheimer’s Disease
Why Do We Age?
 Cell life
 Hayflick limit
 telomeres
 Free Radical Theory
 Protein Crosslinking
 DNA damage from pollutants
 Decline in immune system
Late Adulthood and Exercise
How Aging Affects Memory
 Sensory Register
 Working Memory
 Long-term Memory
 Keeping the brain healthy
Cognitive Changes in Late
Adulthood

A Look At Normal and Disease

Related Changes
Abnormal Loss of
Cognitive Functioning
 Organic/Disease Related
 Dementia
 Alzheimer’s Disease
 Multi-infarct dementia (MID)
 Nonorganic/Preventable Causes
 Depression (suicide rates high)
 Alcoholism
 Mixing Medications/Overmedication
 Poor Nutrition
 Delirium?
Psychosocial Development
in Late Adulthood

A Look At Family Life, Friendship,

and Work in Late Adulthood
Productivity in Late
Adulthood
 Work
 Education (Elderhostel)
 Volunteerism (more informal than
formal); virtual volunteering
 Political activism (high)
Relationships
 Marriage
 Widowhood
 Divorce
 Never Married
 Cohabitation (SAGE)
 Friendships (socioemotional selectivity
theory)
 Residence/Neighbors
Types of Grandparents
 Remote (30 percent)
 Companionate (55 percent)
 Involved (15 percent)
Frail Elderly
 Number expected to increase
 Most cared for by friends or relatives
 Caregiver is typically either spouse, daughter,
or daughter-in-law
Frail Elderly in Nursing
Homes
 Nursing homes and basic needs
 Quality of life is often poor
 Residents lack independence
 “Infantilization”
 Psychological/social needs not met
Elderly Abuse
 Financial abuse
 Neglect
 Granny dumping (100,000-200,000
annually)