1. 10 Stages in the Life Span
6) PUBERTY or PREADOLESCENCE – ten or twelve
to thirteen or fourteen years
7) ADOLESCENCE – thirteen or fourteen to
eighteen years
8) EARLY ADULTHOOD - eighteen to forty years
9) MIDDLE AGE – forty to sixty years
10) OLD AGE or SENESCENCE – sixty years to death

2. 7 Periods of Development
7) Older adulthood
Young-old
Middle-old
Old-old
65 yrs to death
65-74 yrs
75-84 yrs
85 yrs to death

3. Development in 8 Periods of the Life Span
AGE PERIOD
MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS
Late Adulthood
(65 yrs & over)
Most people are healthy & active, altho health & physical abilities decline somewhat.
Slowing of some reaction time affect many aspects of functioning.
Most people are mentally alert. Altho intelligence & memory may deteriorate in some areas, most people find ways to compensate.
Retirement from work force may create more leisure time but may reduce economic circumstances.
People need to cope with losses in many areas ( loss of one’s faculties, loss of loved ones) & their own impending death.

4. Havighurt’s Developmental Tasks During The Life Span
Old Age:
Adjusting to decreasing physical strength & health
Adjusting to retirement & reduced income
Adjusting to death of spouse
Establishing an explicit affiliation with members of one’s age group
Establishing a satisfactory living arrangements
Adapting to social roles in a flexible way

5. Old Age The closing period in the life span
Age 60: dividing line bet. middle & old age
Current trend: 65 yrs as retirement age
Subdivided into:
early old age= 60 to 70 yrs “elderly”
advance old age= 70 to death “old”

6. Characteristics of Old Age
A Period of Decline
Individual Differences in the Effects of Aging
Judge by Different Criteria
Many Stereotypes of Old People
Social Attitudes Toward old Age
A Minority-Group Status
Aging Requires Role Changes
Poor Adjustment is Characteristic of Old Age
Desire for Rejuvenation is Widespread

7. Characteristics of Old Age
Many Stereotypes of Old People
Folklore/tales tend to depict age unfavorably
Characterized unfavorably in different forms in mass media
“young is beautiful, old is ugly”
Jokes/humor contribute to sterotypes of the elderly
Social Attitudes Toward old Age
Worn out physically & mentally; accident-prone
Unproductive & their days of usefulness is over
Hard to live with
A Minority-Group Status- “second-class citizen”

8. Characteristics of Old Age
A Period of Decline
Senescence- a time of growing old or of aging
Senility- period during old age when more or less complete physical breakdown takes place & when there is mental disorganization
Decline due to physical & psychological causes
Individual Differences in the Effects of Aging
Aging affects different people differently
Judge by Different Criteria
Tend to judge age in terms of physical appearance & activities

9. Problems Unique to Old Age
Physical helplessness dependency
Economic insecurity change lifestyle
Establishing living conditions
Making new friends to replace (dead/disabled/moved)
Developing new activities
Learning to treat grown children as adults
Involvement in activities planned for the elderly
Being “victimized” or taken advantage

10. Developmental Tasks of Old Age
Adjustment to Physical Changes
Changes in appearance; physiologic changes; sensory changes
Common changes in motor abilities
Changes in Mental Abilities
Mental changes: variations
Changes in Interest
Conditions affecting change of interest
Conditions responsible for changes in recreational interest
Vocational Adjustments
Conditions limiting employment opportunities
Adjustments to Changes in Family Life

11. Common Changes in Appearance: Head Region
Nose elongates
Mouth changes shape due to tooth loss
or to wearing dentures
Eyes seem dull & lusterless, often watery
look
Double or triple chin develops
Cheeks become pendulous, wrinkled
& baggy
Skin becomes wrinkled & dry; dark spots,
warts or moles appear
Hair in head thin & turns gray/white;
tough, bristly hair appears in nose,
ears & eyebrows

12. Common Changes in Appearance: Trunk Region
Shoulders stoop & thus seem
smaller
Abdomen bulges & droops
Hips seem flabbier &
broader than they did earlier
Waistline broadens, giving
the trunk a sac-like
appearance
Breasts become flabby &
droop

13. Common Changes in Appearance: Limb
Upper arms flabby & heavy;
lower arm seems to shrink
Legs become flabby & veins
prominent
Hands become scrawny,
veins on back prominent
Feet becomes large due to
sagging muscles; corns,
bunions & callouses
Nails of hands & feet become
thick, tough & brittle

14. Neurologic Changes & Their Significance in the Elderly
System
Findings
Significance
Visual
Diminished ROM on convergence & upward gaze
Small, irregular pupils
Diminished reaction to light & near reflex
Combination of restricted vertical gaze & cervical motion difficulty seeing information posted on walls
Motor
Decreased muscle strength: legs>arms, proximal>distal
Atrophy of interossei
Short-stepped or broad-based gait with diminished associated movements
Hip extensors may no longer be strong enough to lift body from sitting to standing; arm strength used to push up
Sensory
Diminished vibratory: legs>arms
Mildly increased threshold for pain, temperature & light touch
Poor sensory input from feet  risk for falls
Risk for injury from topical heat modalities
Reflexes
Absent or diminished ankle jerks
Reduction in knee, biceps & triceps reflex
Radiculopathies maybe overlooked or misdiagnosed

15. Common Hazards of Old Age
Physical
Diseases & physical handicaps
Malnutrition
Dental disorders
Sexual deprivation
Accidents
Psychological
Acceptance of cultural stereotypes of the elderly
Effects of physical changes – insecurity & inadequacy
Changes in life patterns
Tendency to “slip” mentally
Feelings of guilt about idleness; reduced income
Social disengagement

16. Common Hazards of Old Age
Vocational
Prevention from working
Retirement
Family
Loneliness
Family-life hazards
Living arrangements
Role changes

17. Assessment of Adjustments to Old Age
Factors Influencing Adjustments
Characteristics of Good Adjustment
Characteristics of Poor Adjustment
Conditions Contributing to Happiness in Old Age

18. Assessment of Adjustments to Old Age: Good Characteristics
Strong & varied interests
Economic independence
Many social contacts with people of all ages
Enjoyment of work which is pleasant & useful but not overtaxing
Participation in community organization
Ability to maintain a comfortable home
Ability to enjoy present activities without regretting the past
A minimum worry about self & others
Enjoyment of day-to-day activities regardless of how repetitious they maybe
Avoidance of criticisms of others especially members of young generation

19. Assessment of Adjustments to Old Age: Poor Characteristics
Little interest in the world of today or individual’s role in it
Withdrawal into world of fantasy
Constant reminiscing
Constant worry, encourage by idleness
A lack of drive, leading to low productivity in all areas
Refusal to take part of activities for elderly bec “boring”
Many social contacts with people of all ages
Loneliness due to poor family relationships & lack of interest of contemporaries
Involuntary geographic isolation; involuntary residence in an institution or with a grown child
Constant complaining & criticizing of anything and everything

20. Conditions Contributing to Happiness in Old Age
A favorable attitude toward old age developed as a result of earlier pleasurable contacts with elderly people
Happy memories of childhood & adulthood
Freedom to pursue a desired lifestyle without outside interference
A realistic attitude toward & acceptance of the physical & psychological changes of old age
Acceptance of self & present living conditions even if fall below expectations
opportunity to establish a satisfying socially acceptable pattern of life
Acceptance by & respect from the social group
Satisfaction with marital status & sex life
Reasonably good health without chronic health problems
Enjoyment of social activities with relatives & friends
A financial situation adequate to meet needs and wants