Aging & Society Final

Lewin’s Formula

(B=f (P,E)) behavior is a function of the person and environment

ex of Lewin’s formula

a person’s independence depends on both ability and home demands

Competence-Environmental Press Model (Lawton & Nahemow)

optimal functioning occurs when personal competence matches environmental demands

ex of Competence-Environmental Press Model

installing grab bars or downsizing reduces environmental pressures

zone of maximum performance potential

slight increases in pressure tend to improve performance

zone of maximum comfort

slight decreases in pressure create this, where people are able to live happily without worrying about environmental demands

proactivity

when people choose new behaviors to meet new desires or needs and exert control over their lives

docility

when people allow the situation to dictate the options they have and have little control

Lawton (1989)

argues that proactivity is more likely to occur in people with relatively high competence, and docility in people with relatively low competence

preventative adaptations

actions that avoid stressors and increase or build social resources. ex. increasing one’s social network by adding friends

corrective adaptations

actions taken in response to stressors and can be facilitated by internal and external resources. ex. changing one’s diet after having a heart attack

everyday competence

a person’s potential ability to perform a wide range of activities considered essential for independent living; it is not the person’s actual ability

ecology of aging

environmental psychology, these changes are studied in a field which seeks to understand the dynamic relations between older adults and the environments they inhabit

preventative & corrective proactivity (PCP) model

preventative actions reduce future stress; corrective actions address current problems

aging in place

remaining in one’s home/community while adapting environment as needed

home modification

adjusting living space to reduce barriers (fall prevention, accessibility)

adult day care

semi-independent living with shared services (balances autonomy and support)

assisted living

24 hour supervision with personal autonomy (individualized care and privacy)

nursing homes

skilled medical care for high dependency (person-centered care and social connection)

innovative models (eden alternative, green house project)

small-scale, relationship focused care models (emphasize dignity, autonomy, and home-like environments

the “village movement”

community based networks helping elders age at home (peer support and shared services)

successful aging

the process by which older adults maintain well-being and competence through a combination of health, personality, and supportive environments, emphasizes that aging outcomes depend not only on individual traits but also on how effectively surroundings are designed to foster independence

environmental press

refers to the demands and challenges placed on individuals by their surroundings. Moderate levels of press can encourage growth and adaptation, while excessive demands may overwhelm competence and lead to stress

dynamic adaptation

the ongoing process of adjusting the environment in response to changes in an individual’s competence. As abilities increase or decline, the environment must be modified to maintain balance and support functioning

social and emotional resources

networks of support, belonging, and community that contribute to adaptation in aging

person-environment fit

individualized balance, what is stressful for one older adult may be stimulating for another, highlighting the need for personalized approaches to support

biopsychosocial model

Mental health reflects interactions between biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors

dysphoria

the most prominent feature of clinical depression is this feeling down or blue

subclinical depression

more common than major depressive disorder

physical symptoms of depression

older adults often report physical symptoms rather than emotional ones

delirium

a rapidly developing disturbance of attention and awareness, marked by confused thinking, reduced orientation to the environment, and fluctuating levels of consciousness

causes of delirium

acute medical conditions such as stroke, cardiovascular disease, or metabolic disturbances; dehydration; medication side effects; substance intoxication or withdrawal; infections; exposure to toxins; sleep deprivation; or fever

dementia

not a specific disease but rather a family of diseases characterized by cognitive and behavioral deficits involving some form of memory loss

Alzheimer’s disease

the most common form of aggressive, degenerative, and fatal dementia, accounting for between 60% and 80% of all cases of dementia

sundowning

the symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease are worse in the evening than in the morning

parkinson’s disease

known for its characteristic motor symptoms that are easily seen; very slow walking, difficulty getting into and out of chairs, and a slow hand tremor

huntington’s disease

fatal autosomal dominant disorder (meaning that inheriting the gene from only one parent is necessary to have the disease) usually begins between ages 30 and 45, disease manifests through involuntary flicking movements of the arms and legs; the inability to sustain a motor act such as sticking out one’s tongue; prominent psychiatric disturbances such as hallucinations

alcohol-related dementia

chronic alcohol abuse or dependence may result in cognitive decline, ranging from limited forms of amnesia or mild cognitive impairment to dementia

anxiety disorders

include problems such as feelings of severe anxiety for no apparent reason, phobias with regard to specific things or places, and obsessive-compulsive disorders, when thoughts or actions are repeatedly performed

schizophrenia

characterized by the severe impairment of thought processes, including the content and style of thinking, distorted perceptions, loss of touch with reality, a distorted sense of self, and abnormal motor behavior

alcohol use disorder

a drinking pattern that results in significant and recurrent consequences that reflect loss of reliable control over alcohol use

socioemotional selectivity theory (SST)

a life-span theory that argues social contact is motivated by a variety of goals, including information seeking, self-concept, and emotional regulation

intimacy in older adults

refers to the strong emotional intensity, higher satisfaction, and better conflict management reported in relationships, alongside greater selectivity in social ties that prioritize meaningful connections

sexuality in older adulthood

characterized by a decline in sexual activity primarily due to fewer available partners rather than loss of desire, with sexually active older adults maintaining similar rates and frequency of activity as younger adults, despite persistent ageist stereotypes

marriage, divorce, cohabitation, and dating in later life

reflect diverse relationship patterns, with most adults marrying, many older adults living alone due to widowhood, and significant numbers engaging in dating or companionship, influenced by gender differences and relationship histories

widowhood

the state of losing a spouse, often associated with drops in life satisfaction, increased depression risk, financial strain (especially for women), and adjustment outcomes shaped by prior relationship quality and dependence, with many widowed adults eventually repartnering

LGBTQ+ relationships and aging

experiences shaped by historical stigma and discrimination, with similarities to heterosexual couples in satisfaction and conflict, but disparities such as higher poverty, health problems, and social isolation, compounded by ageism and LGBTQ+ stigma

thanatology

the study of death, dying, grief, bereavement, and social attitudes toward these issues

clinical death

lack of heartbeat and respiration

whole brain death

the definition used today in most countries; the guidelines are that the person is in a coma, all brainstem reflexes have stopped working, third breathing has permanently stopped

persistent vegetative state

it is possible for a person’s corticical functioning to cease while brainstem activity continues; from which the person does not recover

bioethics

the study of the interface between human values and technological advances in health and life sciences

euthanasia

 in the arena of death and dying, the most important bioethical issues is the practice of ending life for reasons of mercy

active euthanasia

involves the deliberate ending of someone’s life that may be based on a clear statement of the person’s wishes or be a decision made by someone else who has the legal authority to do so

passive euthanasia

involves allowing a person to die by withholding available treatment

physician assisted suicide

physicans provide dying patients with a fatal dose of medication that the patient self-administers

death anxiety

refers to people’s anxiety or even fear of death and dying

end of life issues

when given the chance, many adults would like to discuss a variety of issues, such as management of the final phase of life, after-death disposition of their body, memorial services, and distribution of assets

final scenario

making such choices known about how they do and do not want their lives to end

hospice

an approach to assist dying people emphasizing pain management, or palliative care, and death with dignity

palliative care

an approach to care based on an ethic of controlling and relieving pain or other symptoms and not on attempting to cure disease

death doula

many hospices have this option for people who help ease the passage through death

living will

a person simply states his or her wishes about life support and other treatments

healthcare power of attorney

an individual appoints someone to act as his or her agent for healthcare decisions

DNR order

means cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is not started should one’s heart and breathing stop

bereavement

the state or condition caused by loss through death

grief

the sorrow, hurt, anger, guilt, confusion, and other feelings that arise after suffering a loss

mourning

concerns the ways we express our grief

anticipatory grief

it is believed when death is expected, people go through a period of this before the death that supposedly serves to buffer the impact of loss when it does come and to facilitate recovery

grief work

many authors refer to the psychological side of coming to terms with bereavement

anniversary reaction

refers to changes in behavior related to feelings of sadness on this date

dual process model (DPM)

coping with bereavement integrates existing ideas regarding stressors

Kubler-Ross’s 5 stages of death

denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance

complicated grief

characterized by persistent and intrusive feelings of grief lasting beyond the expected period of adaptation to loss, and is associated with traumatic distress

separation distress

symptoms include preoccupation with the deceased to the point it interferes with everyday functioning, upsetting memories of the deceased, longing and searching for the deceased, and isolation following the loss

traumatic distress

symptoms include feeling disbelief about the death, mistrust, anger, and detachment from others as a result of the death, feeling shocked by the death, and the experience of physical presence of the deceased

disenfranchised grief

sometimes, a loss that appears insignificant to others is highly consequential to the person who suffers the loss, ex loss of a pet