CC-BY-SA 3.0 by Laura Overstreet from Lifespan Psychology Module 10 on Late Adulthood: http://opencourselibrary.org/econ-201/

1. Late Adulthood
A Look at Variations and Theories
of Late Adulthood

2. Defining Late Adulthood
 Census Categories
 65-74; 75-84; 85-100; 100+
 Quality of Life
 Optimal aging
 Normal aging
 Impaired aging

3. Age Structures in Society
Population Pyramids

4. Source: U.S. Department of
Census (He et als., 2005)

5. Unhappy Birthday
Stereotypes of Late Adulthood

6. Test Your Knowledge

7.  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+

8.  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.

9.  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.

10.  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.

11. Theories of Aging
 Integrity vs. Despair
 Disengagement Theory
 Activity Theory
 Continuity Theory

12. Continuity
 Jimmy Buffet
 John Mayall
 Les Paul

13. Variations in Aging

14. 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

15. 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)

16. 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

17. 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’

18. Secondary Aging
 Arthritis
 Hypertension
 Heart Disease and
Stroke
 Diabetes
 Cancer
 Osteoporosis
 Alzheimer’s Disease

19. Why Do We Age?
 Cell life
 Hayflick limit
 telomeres
 Free Radical Theory
 Protein Crosslinking
 DNA damage from pollutants
 Decline in immune system

20. Late Adulthood and Exercise

21. How Aging Affects Memory
 Sensory Register
 Working Memory
 Long-term Memory
 Keeping the brain healthy

22. Cognitive Changes in Late
Adulthood
A Look At Normal and Disease
Related Changes

23. 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?

24. Psychosocial Development
in Late Adulthood
A Look At Family Life, Friendship,
and Work in Late Adulthood

25. Productivity in Late
Adulthood
 Work
 Education (Elderhostel)
 Volunteerism (more informal than
formal); virtual volunteering
 Political activism (high)

26. Relationships
 Marriage
 Widowhood
 Divorce
 Never Married
 Cohabitation (SAGE)
 Friendships (socioemotional selectivity
theory)
 Residence/Neighbors

27. Types of Grandparents
 Remote (30 percent)
 Companionate (55 percent)
 Involved (15 percent)

28. Frail Elderly
 Number expected to increase
 Most cared for by friends or relatives
 Caregiver is typically either spouse, daughter,
or daughter-in-law

29. 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

30. Elderly Abuse
 Financial abuse
 Neglect
 Granny dumping (100,000-200,000
annually)