ch 13: Later Life: Cognitive, Emotional, Social development

what is integrity?

Erik Erikson's eighth psychosocial stage, in which elderly people decide that their life missions have been fulfilled and so accept impending death.

what is intergenerational equity?

Balancing the needs of younger and older people; specifically, the idea that U.S. government entitlements, such as Medicare and Social Security, "over-benefit" older adults at the expense of other age groups.

what is a mnemonic technique?

A strategy for aiding memory by using imagery or enhancing the emotional meaning of what needs to be learned.

what is an old age dependency ratio?

The fraction of people over age 60 compared to younger, working-age adults (ages 15 to 59). This ratio has been rising dramatically in recent decades.

who are the old-old?

80 and older

who are the young old?

60s and 70s

what is the paradox of well being?

the fact that, despite their physical and mental losses, elderly people report being just as happy and often happier than younger adults.

what is the positivity effect?

Older people's tendency to focus on positive experiences and screen out negative events.

what are private pensions?

The major source of nongovernmental income support for U.S. retirees, in which workers and an employer put a portion of each paycheck into an account to help finance retirement.

what is Social Security?

The U.S. government's national retirement support program

what is socioemotional selectivity theory?

A theory of aging (and the lifespan) put forth by Laura Carstensen, describing how the time we have left to live affects our priorities and social relationships. Specifically, in later life, people focus on the present and prioritize being with their closest attachment figures.

what is widowhood mortality effect?

An elevated risk of death among surviving spouses after being widowed

why is population becoming old?

• Baby boomers entering later life
• Longevity
• Declining fertility

what are memory tasks that older people have more difficulty with?

divided-attention tasks or situations in which they need to memorize material or perform an activity while monitoring something else

why does working memory processing decrease with age?

• Problems with the executive processor is related to frontal lobe deterioration
• Erosion of myelin
• Loss of synaptic plasticity in hippocampus
• Includes difficulties with:
• Screening out irrelevant information
• Selective attention
• Memorizing information in noisy environments

how can we keep memory fine tuned?

1. Use selective potimization with compensation
2. mnemonic strategies
3. Work on person's mental state.

what can make old age the best time?

More positive, more flow (less boredom) and less stress.
• Older people prioritize emotional states
• Based on the positivity effect that focuses on positive experiences
• Seeing time slip by can stimulate flow
• Boredom less common in old age because people are engaged in the challenging flow states that make them happiest
• Older people live less-stressful lives
• Report fewer stresses and better treatment by others

what can make old age the worst time?

• Erosion of U.S. retirement as life stage is destined to impair emotional quality of old age
• Social connectedness and physical loss contribute to diminishing well-being and happiness in the old-old years

what does reaching integrity mean?

• Reviewing one's life and making peace with it
• Having a sense of usefulness and meaning in present life
• Having a sense of self-efficacy; feeling in control

how can we help the old old?

• Provide ample time and appropriate setting to learn material • Avoid elderly bad-memory stereotype
• Encourage personal passions • Do not expect automatic willingness to make new friends • Avoid the unhappy elderly stereotype

when are retirees happy?

• Positive
• Physical and mental health
• Focus on "bucket list"
• Leisure activities
• Married
• Financial stability
• Consider retirement as a challenge
• A new phase of life
• Volunteering

when are retirees sad?

• Negative
• Not leaving work by choice
• Forced retirement
• Financial concerns
• Health concerns

what is germany's mercedes model?

substantial government support
• First government-funded retirement program developed in 19th century
• System designed to keep people financially comfortable
• Retirement is financed mainly by employee and employer payroll taxes
• Government replaces 3/4 of person's working income for life
• Stipend increases to standard of living, so people get more financially comfortable with age

what is the us used car model?

deteriorating pensions and savings; some guaranteed government support
• Social Security - government-funded program
• Pension plans - savings accounts of employees
• Model is based on personal initiative

what is the percentage of women over 80 who live alone and have incomes below the poverty line?

20% • If we consider women living within striking distance of poverty, the number is 50%

what are bridge jobs?

• Returning to part time work after retirement is important trend

are old age sterotypes about work true?

NO, Older workers are less physically adept, take more time off for health reasons, are more rigid, are less adaptable, and make more mental mistakes

how can we help someone survive widowhood?

• Helping a family member survive widowhood • Expect different emotions •
Do not decide a person is uncaring if positive feelings are expressed
• Be alert about loneliness as the major issue • And encourage social connections
• Understand the challenge is to establish new routines
• Encourage a family member to join a widowed person's group
• Advise seeking professional help if any widowed family member stays seriously depressed for over a year