Social Aspects of Later LifeSocial Aspects of Later Life

Chapter 15Chapter 15

Older adults are sometimes stereotyped Older adults are sometimes stereotyped as MARGINAL and POWERLESS in as MARGINAL and POWERLESS in society, much like children.society, much like children.

What is your view of older adults?What is your view of older adults?

Continuity TheoryContinuity TheoryPeople tend to cope with daily life in later People tend to cope with daily life in later

adulthood by applying familiar strategies adulthood by applying familiar strategies based on past experiences to maintain and based on past experiences to maintain and preserve internal and external structures.preserve internal and external structures.

The degree of continuity falls into three The degree of continuity falls into three categoriescategoriesToo Little – feeling that life is unpredictableToo Little – feeling that life is unpredictableToo Much- feeling boredomToo Much- feeling boredomOptimal – just enough change to challenge and Optimal – just enough change to challenge and

provide interestprovide interest

Internal continuity – a remembered inner past Internal continuity – a remembered inner past (temperament, experiences, emotions, skills(temperament, experiences, emotions, skills

External continuity – remembered physical and External continuity – remembered physical and social environment, role relationships, and social environment, role relationships, and activities.activities.

Maintaining both is important for adaptations Maintaining both is important for adaptations later in lifelater in life

Competence is impacted by adaptation levelsCompetence is impacted by adaptation levels

Erikson’s StageErikson’s Stage Integrity versus DespairIntegrity versus Despair

Integrity is achieved when a person must come to Integrity is achieved when a person must come to terms with the choices and events that have made terms with the choices and events that have made his/her life unique, acceptance that one’s life is his/her life unique, acceptance that one’s life is drawing to a close.drawing to a close.

Despair occurs when one is unsure whether they Despair occurs when one is unsure whether they have made the right choices concerning life. They have made the right choices concerning life. They feel bitter about life choices, blame themselves or feel bitter about life choices, blame themselves or others for their misfortune, see their lives as others for their misfortune, see their lives as meaningless, and fear death.meaningless, and fear death.

Evidence shows that older adults who are Evidence shows that older adults who are more involved and committed to their faith more involved and committed to their faith have better physical and mental healthhave better physical and mental health

Reliance on religion in times of stress is Reliance on religion in times of stress is especially important for African Americans.especially important for African Americans.

Older adults are more likely to talk to their Older adults are more likely to talk to their ministers than to a psychotherapistministers than to a psychotherapist

RetirementRetirement

Many retired people continue to work part-time.Many retired people continue to work part-time. Loss of occupational identity ( I am a teacher, I Loss of occupational identity ( I am a teacher, I

am a therapist, I am a firefighter)am a therapist, I am a firefighter) What are you when you retire?What are you when you retire?

Various reasons for retirementVarious reasons for retirement When financial secureWhen financial secure Loss of jobLoss of job HealthHealth

Volunteer more!Volunteer more!

Friends and FamilyFriends and Family

To older adults the most import thing In life To older adults the most import thing In life is relationshipsis relationships

Life satisfaction greatly correlated with Life satisfaction greatly correlated with number and quality of friendshipsnumber and quality of friendships

Having at least one close friend buffers Having at least one close friend buffers against losses of roles and status against losses of roles and status

Five types of sibling relationshipsFive types of sibling relationships Intimate sibling relationshipsIntimate sibling relationshipsCongenial sibling relationshipsCongenial sibling relationshipsLoyal sibling relationshipsLoyal sibling relationshipsApathetic sibling relationshipsApathetic sibling relationshipsHostile sibling relationshipsHostile sibling relationships

Marriage helps people deal better with Marriage helps people deal better with chronic illness, functional problems, and chronic illness, functional problems, and disabilitiesdisabilities

Marital satisfaction also predicts Marital satisfaction also predicts depressive symptomsdepressive symptoms

More than half of all women over 65 are More than half of all women over 65 are widowed and can expect to live 10-12 widowed and can expect to live 10-12 years after being widowedyears after being widowed

Widows are at a higher risk themselves of Widows are at a higher risk themselves of dyingdying

For many women, widowhood means For many women, widowhood means povertypoverty

Men are more likely to remarry than Men are more likely to remarry than womenwomen

3 important aspects of great-3 important aspects of great-grandparenthood:grandparenthood:Provides a sense of personal and family Provides a sense of personal and family

renewalrenewalNew diversions in great-grandparent’s livesNew diversions in great-grandparent’s livesA major milestone – a mark of longevity that A major milestone – a mark of longevity that

most people never achievemost people never achieve

Social Issues and AgingSocial Issues and Aging

Only a MINORITY of those over 65 are frail, with Only a MINORITY of those over 65 are frail, with the number increasing with agethe number increasing with age

Activities of daily living (ADLs) – basic self-care Activities of daily living (ADLs) – basic self-care tasks. tasks.

A person is considered frail when they need help A person is considered frail when they need help with one or more of these ADLswith one or more of these ADLs

Less than 5% of 65 – 74 year olds need Less than 5% of 65 – 74 year olds need assistanceassistance

20% of those over 85 need assistance20% of those over 85 need assistance Primary v/s Secondary controlPrimary v/s Secondary control

Nursing HomesNursing HomesONLY about 5% of older adults live in ONLY about 5% of older adults live in

nursing homes on any given day.nursing homes on any given day.About 50% of adults over 85 will spend some About 50% of adults over 85 will spend some

time in long-term caretime in long-term care

Those in nursing homes typically:Those in nursing homes typically: Over 85Over 85 FemaleFemale Recently admitted to a hospitalRecently admitted to a hospital Live in retirement housing rather than being a Live in retirement housing rather than being a

homeownerhomeowner Unmarried or live aloneUnmarried or live alone Have no children or siblingsHave no children or siblings Have cognitive impairmentHave cognitive impairment Have problems with IADLsHave problems with IADLs

Elder AbuseElder Abuse

Different categories:Different categories: PhysicalPhysical SexualSexual Emotional/psychologicalEmotional/psychological Financial/material exploitationFinancial/material exploitation AbandonmentAbandonment NeglectNeglect Self-neglectSelf-neglect

The most common form of abuse is neglect The most common form of abuse is neglect (60%) with physical abuse second (16%)(60%) with physical abuse second (16%)

Political ArenaPolitical ArenaThe aging of the baby boom generation The aging of the baby boom generation

raises a very expensive problemraises a very expensive problem

Adults over 65 are the most politically Adults over 65 are the most politically active of all age groups!active of all age groups!

They vote at a higher rate than any other They vote at a higher rate than any other groupgroup

The AARP is the largest interest group in The AARP is the largest interest group in the united States with over 34 million the united States with over 34 million membersmembers