1. Chapter 5
Adulthood & Old Age

2. Chapter 5 Section 1
Adulthood

3. Adulthood can be a time when a person fully matures into what they are OR it can be a time when life closes in & what was once possible is not limited.
Physical Changes
Physical peak is reached between 18-30
physical decline is slow & gradual & is usually not
noticeable
appearance changes
graying, thinning hair
dry, wrinkly skin
senses change
difficulty seeing distant objects
adjusting to the dark
focusing on printed pages
gradual or sudden loss of hearing
reaction time slows

4. health problems
related to making good choices with diet, exercise &
lifestyle
3 most common causes of death in adulthood
cancer
heart disease
cirrhosis of the liver
menopause
between 45-50
production of sex hormones drops drastically
women stop ovulation & cannot produce children
does not effect sex drive or enjoyment
many women experience little or no discomfort
irritability & depression are more emotional than
physical

5. Cognitive Changes
For the most part, intelligence remains fairly constant
throughout adult life.

6. Chapter 5 Section 1
Social & Personality Development

7. Developmental tasks of middle adulthood (Havighurst)
Helping teenaged children to become responsible & happy adults.
empty nest
full nest
Achieving adult social & civic responsibility
Reaching & maintaining satisfactory performance in one’s occupation
career change at mid-life
Developing adult leisure-time activities

8. Relating oneself to one’s spouse as a person
divorce & remarriage
Accepting & adjusting to the physiological changes of middle age
Adjusting to aging parents
Caring for aging parents

9. Chapter 5 Section 2
Old Age

10. Our society has a decremental model of aging meaning our chronological age is what made people “old”
Ageism – prejudice or discrimination against the elderly
Developmental tasks of late adulthood (Havighurst)
Adjusting to declining physical strength & health.
40% of the elderly have some type of chronic disease
heart disease
hypertension
diabetes
arthritis
dementia & alzheimer’s
Adjusting to retirement & reduced income
retirement can increase isolation

11. Adjusting to death of spouse
can also increase isolation
Establishing an explicit affiliation with one’s age group
Senior Citizen Centers
Adopting or adapting social roles in a flexible way
Establishing satisfactory physical living arrangements
nursing facility, assisted living, with grown children

12. Chapter 5 Section 3
Dying & Death

13. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross identified 5 stages of grief or loss.
Denial – common reaction is shock & numbness. “This can’t be happening to me.”
May refuse treatment which can contribute to the seriousness of the condition.
Anger – “Why me?”
Alienate themselves because no one can relieve their anger
Bargaining – An attempt to bargain with fate – make promises
Depression – people become aware of the losses they are incurring & the loss that is to come.
Acceptance – struggle is over & there is a sense of calm.