PSY250: Old Age Social and Emotional

average longevity

the age at which half of the individuals born in a particular year will have died; 77.5 for men and women, 74.8 for men, and 80.2 for women

maximum longevity

the oldest age to which any individual of a species lives

active life expectancy

the age to which an individual lives while being independent

dependent life expectancy

the age to which an individual lives while relying on care from others

factors predicting longevity

genetics, environment (diseases, toxins, lifestyle), gender, stress, social support, socioeconomic status

interaction of the four development forces

chronic conditions (biological), coping skills and personality factors (psychological), relationships and access to care (sociocultural), and where an individual is in the lifespan when a significant event occurs (lifecycle)

issues with pharmacology

effectiveness, affordability, and side effects, and the way medications work changes as we age because of changes in absorption, distribution, and metabolism

polypharmacy

the use of multiple medications

adherence

it can be hard for elderly adults to follow medication regimens; taking medications during the day vs. at night or take them with food or water

disability

effect of chronic conditions on people’s ability to engage in activities that are necessary, expected, and personally desired in society

Model of Disability (Verbrugge and Jett, 1994)

shows how pathology, impairment, and functional limitations lead to disability through a pathway

frail older adults

have physical disabilities, are very ill, and may have cognitive or psychological disorders and require assistance with everyday tasks

activities of daily life (ADL)

basic self-care tasks loke bathing and using the bathroom

instrumental activities of daily living (IADL)

require intellectual competence and/or planning like finances or travel

Rowe and Kahn (1998)

successful aging is the absence of disease/disability, maintenance of mental and physical functioning, and active engagement with life

selection, optimization, and compensation (SOC)

developing and choosing goals, application and refinement of means to achieve goals, and flexibility in thinking

Erikson’s Stages of Development

8th stage is ego integrity (evaluating life choices and being okay with them) vs. despair

Lawton’s Competence and Environmental Press Model

compares a person’s competence level and the demands from their environments to explain their aging

competence

upper limit of a person’s ability to function in 5 domains (physical health, sensory-perceptual skills, motor skills, cognitive skills, and ego strength)

environmental press

physical, interpersonal, or social demands that environments place on people

aging in place

93% of older adults live with modifications to existing housing, cluster/congregate housing, the village model, or living with family (75%)

assisted living

homelike living that costs around $30,00 per year that provides support with autonomy, but no national consensus/guidelines, so there’s lots of variability

nursing homes

less than 5% of the population over 65 lives in a nursing home and the typical resident is over 85, female, and either has significant cognitive/physical impairments or has no family living nearby

person-centered planning

promoting wellbeing through increasing perceived control or autonomy

alternative nursing homes

the Greenhouse Project or the Eden Alternative, which are small, homelike, have a high level of care and autonomy, and have better outcomes for elders