Adulthood and Old Age

20 – 40

Things are fairly consistent

- working on career

- building a family

- generally no major changes in health

- generally no major changes psychologically

Mid 40’s and beyond

Things begin to change

Menopause

Between the ages of 45 and 50 women enter the climacteric (psychological and biological changes leading to a drop in hormonal levels). This is known as menopause.

Generativity and Stagnation

A successful midlife transition often leads to generativity ( a desire to pass wisdom on to younger generations)

Sometimes though, this same person will try to hold onto the past. This leads to stagnation, often called a midlife crisis.

Decremental Model of Aging

The idea that progressive mental and physical decline is inevitable with age

Prejudice or discrimination of the elderly

Ageism

Senile Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease

A decrease in mental abilities experienced by some people as they age is known as senile dementia. -Impaired attention span -personality change -difficulty in relating to others

Alzheimer’s Disease is a form of Senile Dimentia that leads to a decline in mental abilities. The cause is still unknown, and there is no cure -poor judgement -increasing irritability -social withdrawal -loss of memory (i.e. family)

Thanatology The study of aging and dying is called Thanatology

Five stages of psychological adjustment to your knowledge of dying 1. Denial – refuse to accept the fact;

sometimes even the treatment required (i.e. chemo, surgery)

2. Anger – why me/ anger at the powers that

be (i.e. your deity)

3. Bargaining – ask for time, willing to

make a deal with their personal fate

4. Depression – very aware of the losses

they are incurring (jobs, friends, body

tissue, independence, mobility)

5. Acceptance – the struggle is over,

calmness sets in. Time to say goodbye

and it feels appropriate.

Hospice

A facility or level of care designed to tend to the special needs of the dying.