Late Adulthood

Question 1

Statistics about aging population

Answer 1

• -100 years ago, less than 1 percent of the population was over 65; 1900 life expectancy was 50
• -By 1989, more than 12 percent of the population was 65+
• -By 2000, 14 % of population was over 65
• -By 2030, projection is that 20% will be 65+

Question 2

Average life expectancy today

Answer 2

78

Question 3

Subdivisions of late adulthood

Answer 3

• -Young-old: 55-75, 65-80; highly active physically, mentally, socially but may be retired
• -Old-old: 75-85, 80+
• -Oldest-old: 85+

Question 4

Erikson’s stage

Answer 4

8th - Integrity vs. Despair
Integrity: positive evaluation of one’s life, an acceptance of its final outcome as natural & inevitable
Despair: Regret over the past, fear of death, frustration because it’s too late to make any changes

Question 5

RC Peck’s expansion of Erikson’s stages

Answer 5

• -Ego differentiation vs. work-role preoccupation
• -Body transcendence vs. body preoccupation
• -Ego transcendance vs. Ego preoccupation

Question 6

Peck’s Ego differentiation vs. work-role preoccupation

Answer 6

Older adults must redefine their worth in terms of something other than work rules

Question 7

Peck’s Body transcendence vs. Body preoccupation

Answer 7

Older adults must cope with declining physical well-being

Question 8

Peck’s Ego transcendence vs. Ego preoccupation

Answer 8

Older adults must recognize that, while death is inevitable and probably not too far away, they feel at ease with themselves by realizing that they have contributed to the future through the competent rearing of their children or through their vocation and ideas.

Question 9

Physical issues in old age

Answer 9

• -high risk for developing chronic illnesses and related disabilities
• -Diabetes mellitus
• -Arthritis
• -Congestive heart failure
• -Dementia

Question 10

Mental well-being in old age

Answer 10

• -Between 10-16% of people over 65 have depression. 2-4% have severe depression
• -Mental health problems are not a normal aspect of aging

Question 11

Suicide

Answer 11

• -Older Americans are disproportionately likely to die by suicide
• -14.3 of every 100,000 people 65+ died by suicide in 2004; general population is 11/100,000
• -Non-Hispanic white men 85+ are most likely–49.8/100,000

Question 12

Retirement

Answer 12

–20th century phenomenon
–Conditions for a positive experience:
Voluntary vs. forced
Work is not the only or most important thing for the individual
Health is inadequate to permit the enjoyment of increased leisure
Retirement has been prepared for and planned, especially finanacially

Question 13

Ageism

Answer 13

prejudice against others because of their age, especially prejudice against older adults.

Question 14

Eldercare

Answer 14

Physical and emotional caretaking of older members of the family, whether that care is day-to-day physical assistance or responsibility for arranging and overseeing such care.

Question 15

Elder abuse

Answer 15

• -As many as 5 million older adults in US may be victims of abuse
• -Most often abused by family member (2/3 of abuse)
• -Also abused by people who provide care

Question 16

Old Age and Poverty

Answer 16

• -10 to 12% live in poverty
• -More than 25% of older women who live alone are in poverty
• -Poverty rates among ethnic minorities are 2-3 times higher than the rate for Whites
• -The oldest old is the age group most likely to be living in poverty

Question 17

Living arrangements

Answer 17

• -95% of older adults live in the community, not in institutions
• -Almost 2/3 of older adults live with family members
• -23% of adults 85 years and over live in institutions

Question 18

Death and Dying

Answer 18

• -Often lonely, prolonged and painful
• -End-of-life care should respect for the goals, preferences, and choices of the patient and his or her family
• -If you want to die at home, let your family and doctor know
• -Check to see whether your insurance coverss home care and hospice care

Question 19

Euthanasia

Answer 19

The act of painlessly ending the lives of individiduals who are suffering from an incurable disease or severe disability

Question 20

Kuble-Ross’ 5 Stages of Dying

Answer 20

• -Denial and isolation
• -Anger
• -Bargaining
• -Depression
• -Acceptance