UNIT_5_LATE_ADULTHOOD_Student_1__1

CNUR 106 UNIT 5: LATE ADULTHOOD

• Date: February 2025

Objectives

• Learner will be able to:

  • Describe physical, cognitive, & social development in late adulthood.

  • Integrate principles of growth and development into the education process.

Critical Learning Elements

• Focus areas:

  • Physical Development

  • Cognitive Development

  • Patterns of Work

  • Social Development

Late Adulthood Developmental Stage

• Key Areas:

  • Physical

  • Cognitive

  • Psychosocial

Growing in Late Adulthood

• Overview of significant changes and development during this stage.

Physical Development

Primary Aging

• Inevitable changes associated with aging include:

  • Skin: becomes drier, thinner, and less elastic.

  • Height: may decrease (over an inch shorter than during early adulthood).

  • Muscle Loss: particularly noticeable in men.

  • Vision: majority over 65 experience some difficulty; most correctable with lenses.

  • Hearing: almost half of those over 85 have some hearing loss and may experience 'elderspeak'.

Secondary Aging

• Changes caused by illnesses or diseases, such as:

  • Arthritis (more prevalent in women)

  • Heart Disease (hypertension and stroke)

  • Diabetes (Type 2, leading to a 10-year shorter lifespan)

  • Cancer (incidence increases with age)

  • Osteoporosis (more common in women)

  • Parkinson’s Disease (more common in men)

Primary vs Secondary Aging

Primary Aging

• Characteristics:

  • Can be compensated for through:

    • Exercise

    • Corrective lenses

    • Proper nutrition

    • Hearing aids.

  • Understanding and reducing stereotypes about aging promotes respect and recognition of strengths.

Secondary Aging

• Characteristics:

  • Chronic illnesses can:

    • Reduce independence

    • Impact quality of life

    • Affect family and caregivers

    • Create financial burdens.

  • Primary aging is irreversible due to genetics.

  • Secondary aging can often be reversed through health habits and other individual differences.

Life Expectancy Trends

• Statistics (Canada):

  • Life expectancy at birth fell from 81.6 years (2021) to 81.3 years (2022).

  • Major causes of death (2022): cancer and heart disease, followed by COVID-19, and stroke.

Canadian Trends

• Population of seniors expected to rise:

  • Significant growth until 2031 with baby boomers reaching 65.

  • Population of seniors predicted to be between 9.9 and 10.9 million by 2036.

  • As of 2021, 2.3% of the population was over 85; estimated to be 2.5 million by 2046.

  • More female centenarians than male (4:1).

Health Care Trends

• Seniors often face:

  • At least one chronic condition.

  • Higher hospitalization rates than any other age group.

  • Unique needs leading to increased demand for health and home care services.

Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood

• Long-Term Memory:

  • Information stored over extended periods; retrieval depends on learning efficiency.

  • Older adults recall information from youth more vividly than middle adulthood.

Attention in Late Adulthood

• Age-related declines in divided and switching attention and slower processing time.

• Sustained attention intact; deficits mainly affect tasks requiring flexible control of attention.

• Impacts daily functioning, like driving; simulations may help mitigate these effects.

Intelligence in Late Adulthood

• Types:

  • Fluid Intelligence: declines with age affecting reasoning and processing speed.

  • Crystallized Intelligence: knowledge gained over a lifetime increases with experience.

Psychological Theorists

• Key theorists:

  • Jean Piaget (Cognitive Development)

  • Erik Erikson (Psychosocial Development)

Piaget's Theory

Formal Operations Stage

• Fourth stage (ages 11 through adulthood):

  • Ability to deal with abstract ideas and hypothetical situations.

  • Critique: development of postformal thought emphasizing experience in problem-solving.

Erikson's 8 Stages

Late Adulthood: Integrity vs. Despair

• Integrity: Satisfaction and peace for life’s opportunities, leading to a sense of fulfillment.

• Despair: Feelings of unproductive and dissatisfaction leading to depression.

Patterns of Work and Relationships in Late Adulthood

Productivity in Work

• Older adults contribute significantly in the workplace; many retire around age 65.

• Seamless transitions are smoother with planned retirements; abrupt changes create challenges.

Gender Differences Post-Retirement

• Men may experience more identity loss; women face financial vulnerabilities.

• Importance of financial planning for women to avoid outliving resources.

Relationships & Grandparenting

• Grandparenting typically begins in midlife, lasting longer due to life expectancy.

• Increased marital satisfaction reported among older adults; remarrying often linked to greater happiness.

Widowhood

• Women over 85 have higher rates of widowhood compared to men.

• The loss is especially disruptive for men, who may have expected to die first.

Loneliness in Late Adulthood

• Loneliness arises from insufficient social contact; higher risk of severe mental health issues.

• Older white men particularly vulnerable to loneliness-induced suicide.

Supporting 2SLGBTQI+ Older Adults

• Canada consults with older adults identifying as Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and/or intersex.

• Identifying challenges and needs for aging in place, healthcare etc.

Teaching Strategies for Older Adults

Importance of Adaptation

• Education needs to adapt to physical, cognitive, and psychosocial changes in older adults.

• Overcoming ageism by focusing on positive lifestyles rather than impairments.

Teaching Strategies

• Cognitive Changes:

  • Slow pace, connect to prior knowledge, minimize distractions.

• Visual Changes:

  • Use large fonts, adequate lighting, and reminders about corrective eyewear.

• Auditory Changes:

  • Speak clearly, face the person while speaking, eliminate background noise.

• Physiological Changes:

  • Consider limited stamina and cognitive functioning, provide breaks, ensure access to necessary facilities.

Conclusion

• The importance of respecting and valuing the learning potential of older adults.

• Emphasizing the necessity of supportive strategies to enhance their learning experiences.