Late Adulthood (Death & Dying)

Ageism

Ageism

Prejudice or discrimination against a person (most commonly an older person) based on age.

Primary Aging

Gradual, inevitable process of bodily deterioration throughout the life span.

Secondary Aging

Aging processes that result from disease and bodily abuse and disuse and are often

preventable.

Nature vs. Nurture Debate

Primary aging akin to nature (biological processes), secondary aging to nurture (environmental influences).

Groups of Older Adults

Defined as "young old" (ages 65-74), typically active; "old old" (ages 75-84), more likely frail; and "oldest old" (age 85 and above), often needing significant care

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

Essential activities that support survival, such as eating, dressing, bathing, and getting around the house.

Functional Age

Measure of a person’s ability to function effectively in his or her physical and social environment in comparison with others of the same chronological age

Gerontology

the study of the aged and aging processes.

Geriatrics

Branch of medicine concerned with processes of aging and medical conditions associated with old age

Life Expectancy

Age to which a person in a particular cohort is statistically likely to live (given his or her current age and health status), on the basis of average longevity of a population.

Longevity

Length of an individual’s life.

Life Span

The longest period that members of a species can live.

senescence

As we get older, we may feel the effects of various chronic conditions or diseases. This process is known as

Genetic-Programming Theories

Theories that explain biological aging as resulting from a genetically determined developmental timetable.

Variable-Rate theories

Theories that explain biological aging as a result of processes that involve damage to biological systems and that vary from person to person ( also known as "error theories" )

epigenesis

Aging also may be influenced by specific genes “switching off, ” after which age-related losses (such as declines in vision, hearing, and motor control) occur

Telomeres

are repetitive sequences of DNA at the ends of chromosomes that protect them from deterioration or fusion with neighboring chromosomes during cell division

Hayflick limit

Genetically controlled limit, proposed by Hayflick, on the number of time cells can divide in members of species

Endocrine theory

the biological clock acts through genes that control hormonal changes. Loss of muscle strength, accumulation of fat, and atrophy of organs may be related to declines in hormonal activity (Lamberts, van den Beld, & van der Lely, 1997).

Immunological theory

proposes a similar process; certain genes may cause problems in the immune system (Holliday, 2004) that then lead to an increased susceptibility to diseases, infections, and cancer (Fulop, Witkowski, Pawelec, Alan, & Larbi, 2014).

Evolutionary theory

of aging suggests that natural selection prioritizes traits that enhance reproductive fitness in the young, even if these traits cause harm later in life (Hamilton, 1966; Baltes, 1997)

Wear-and-tear theory,

holds that the body ages as a result of accumulated damage to the system at the molecular level. Like an old car, the parts of the body eventually wear out (Jin, 2010)

Free Radicals

Unstable, highly reactive atoms or molecules, formed during metabolism, that can cause internal bodily damage.

Free-radical theory

suggests that aging results from damage caused by reactive molecules produced during metabolism. These molecules damage cells and DNA over time, leading to diseases like cardiovascular disease, cancer, arthritis, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's (Lobo, Patil, Phatak, & Chandra, 2010)

mitochondrial theory

emphasizing mitochondria's role in generating energy and producing damaging free radicals, which accelerate aging (Harman, 2006; 1992; Ziegler et al., 2015)

Rate-of-living theory

postulates that there is a balance between metabolism, more energy use, and life span. The faster a body’s metabolism, the shorter its life span, vice versa (Pearl, 1928)

Survival curve

A curve on a graph showing the percentage of people or animals alive at various ages

Reserve capacity

the backup capacity that helps body systems function to their utmost limits in times of stress.

Cataracts

cloudy or opaque areas in the lens of the eye, are common in older adults and eventually cause blurred vision.

age-related macular degeneration

leading cause of visual impairment in older adults

Glaucoma

a irreversible damage to the optic nerve caused by increased pressure in the eye. It can be treated with eye drops, pills, or surgery.

Functional fitness

The ability to perform the physical activities of daily living.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

is recommended as the first-line treatment, focusing on behavioral changes and debunking misconceptions about sleep. Medications like benzodiazepines or suvorexant are considered if CBT alone is insufficient.

Periodontal disease

a chronic inflammation of the gums caused by the bacteria in plaque. It can result in tender or bleeding gums and eventual tooth loss.

Dementia

Cognitive and behavioral decline interfering with daily activities

Alzheimer's Disease

progressive, degenerative brain disorder

Gradual loss of intelligence, awareness, bodily control, leading to death.

Parkinson's disease

tremor, stiffness, slowed movement, and unstable posture

Multi-infarct dementia (MD)

caused by small strokes

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)

measures older adults' intelligence, noting lower performance in processing speed and nonverbal tasks.

Seattle Study

Cognitive decline without engagement, speed declines first

Short-term memory

involves recalling number sequences forwards or backwards.

Sensory memory

Initial, brief, temporary storage of sensory information

Working memory

Short-term storage of information being actively processed

Long-term memory

consists of episodic, semantic, and procedural systems

Episodic memory

tied to specific events, may decline with age as older adults focus less on context and more on gist

Semantic memory

containing meanings and facts, shows minimal decline and may even improve in certain aspects like vocabulary

Procedural memory

involving motor skills and habits, remains largely unaffected by age, characterized by automaticity and requiring little conscious effort.

Death

is a biological fact, but it also has social, cultural, historical, religious, legal, psychological, developmental, medical, and ethical aspects, and often these are closely intertwined.

Thanatology

Study of death and dying.

Hospice care

Personal, patient- and family-centered care for a person with a terminal illness.

Palliative care

Care aimed at relieving pain and suffering and allowing the terminally ill to die in peace, comfort, and dignity.

Terminal drop

(Terminal decline) A frequently observed decline in cognitive abilities near the end of life. Also called terminal decline

Near Death Experience

often involving a sense of being out of the body or sucked into a tunnel and visions of bright lights or mystical encounters

DABDA process by: Kubler-Ross

Denial - refuse to accept the reality of situation.

Anger - a common and expected emotional response following the death of a loved one.

Bargaining - making deals with yourself or God to help yourself feel better.

Depression - Feeling of sadness

Acceptance - accepted or understand what it means in your life now

Grief

Emotional response experienced in the early phases of bereavement

Bereavement

Loss, due to death, of someone to whom one feels close and the process of adjustment to the loss.

Grief work

Working out of psychological issues connected with grief.

Recovery pattern

the mourner goes from high to low distress

Delayed grief pattern

there may be moderate or elevated initial grief, and symptoms gradually worsen over time

Chronic grief pattern

the mourner remains distressed for a long time.

Final pattern

known as resilience, the mourner shows a low and gradually diminishing level of grief in response to the death of a loved one

Terror Management Theory

says thinking about death is unsettling for everyone. It suggests humans react to this fear by holding tighter to their beliefs, like religion, to feel safer. Feeling good about ourselves also helps us cope with the fear of death. When we're reminded of death, we often seek comfort from loved ones, which reduces our anxiety

Hastening Death

refers to actions taken to intentionally speed up the process of dying, often to end suffering in cases of terminal illness or severe pain

Euthanasia

means “good death” and is intended to end suffering or to allow a terminally ill person to die with dignity

Passive Euthanasia

Withholding or discontinuation of life prolonging treatment of a terminally ill person in order to end suffering or allow death with dignity.

Active Euthanasia

Deliberate action taken to shorten the life of a terminally ill person in order to end suffering or to allow death with dignity; also called mercy killing

advance directive

Document specifying the type of care wanted by the maker in the event of an incapacitating or terminal illness.

assisted suicide

Suicide in which a physician or someone else helps a person take his or her own life.

life review

Reminiscence about one’s life in order to see its significance