Changes In Late Adulthood

The book on Ageing Well indicate the emotional and physical effects to barriers and challenges of illness, poor financial means, and unsupportive family dynamics. Illness and poor physical health interferes with a person 's independence and can be damaging to self esteem, feelings of autonomy, and overall

Aging is a universal phenomenon and humans are no exception. Gerontology deals with the psychological, social and biological aspects of aging process. A recent study shows that people aged 85 years and older are expected to augment from 5.3 million people to 21 million as the world reach 2050. In today’s world Gerontology has an enormous role to play so that the senior citizens could be analyzed and their needs may be addressed with compassion and empathy.

Normal aging is a gradual decline in certain processes (Gladyshev, & Gladyshev, 2016). The decline is not static and can be increased or reduced depending on choices made (Gladyshev, & Gladyshev, 2016). Changes commonly attributed to aging include declines in the five senses, most organ systems, appearance and brain function (Tully, 2016). The five senses include reduction in taste buds, smell, ability to hear high frequency sounds and speech discrimination, reduced ability to see in the dark and a reduction in tactile sensory (Tully, 2016). In the organ systems there is a reduction in the hearts response to work, bone mass, skin turgor, vital capacity in the lungs, renal and colon function (Tully, 2016). Most notable is the age-related changes

Later adulthood is the time in life when changes in marriage, families, and peer relationships are affected the most by the loss of someone close to that person. “Most people 70 years of age or older are widowed, divorced, or single” (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2010, p.619). Losing a spouse or close friend can create a sense of loneliness, which causes depression, anxiety and the emptiness feeling can become overwhelming. Depression also leads to psychological effects that will deteriorate a person’s health causing the chance for a terminal disease to become much higher. The weaker appearance of older adults causes family and remaining peers to step up in the role of making sure the person’s wellbeing is being met. (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2010). Living accommodations and healthcare needs

aging recognizes that many people can age quite well in spite of frailties or adverse

Aging is a complex process that people evolve into as life progresses. The study of aging is known as gerontology, and it encompasses changes in the social aspects of an individual, the psychological aspects as well as the biological aspects. Studies and clinical observations have shown that with the onset of old age, a myriad of problems arise. These problems not only affect the livelihoods of the affected individuals; they also affect those who are close to them including the societies in which they reside in. It is imperative to get enlightened of the various problems that face aged and aging individuals as well as the possible remedies to the same challenges.

As we age, our bodies gradually undergo irreversible physiological and psychological changes from decrease in bone and muscle mass, lung capacity and heart rate to inhibition of cognition and neuro-motor function. However, the speed of the aging processes depends on the person’s genetic predisposition to such diseases as cancer, diabetes and hypertension, the dietary habits and the lifestyle, and also on existence of comorbidities, such as arthritis, osteoporosis, cardio-pulmonary and autoimmune pathologies (McPherson &Wister, 2014). Speaking about my own perspectives on aging, I think I have good chances to age well: my heredity is not burdened with any serious illnesses, I adhere to a relatively healthy lifestyle and my cognition is constantly

Biological changes are probably the most noticeable change to an individual in regards to the topic of aging. This theme looks at how old the individual seems to be by measurements of how well the body is performing. Variables can range from vitals such as heart rate, blood pressure or lab tests like glucose levels and liver function to any other factors that play into allowing the individual to perform various activities of daily living. According to a research report done on whether limitations where were more prevalent towards a population between 55 to 69 were not statistically significant in terms of vision, hearing, cognitive functioning, and ADLs (Choi, Schoeni, & Martin, 2016). The researcher studied more than 72,000 subjects between the years of 1998 to 2012 in the United States. Data collection was done through a longitudinal survey either over the phone or in

Frailty is a clinical symptom associated with age-related declines, and it has been recognized as a geriatric syndrome for many decades. According to a major challenge for aging population, the term “frailty” is widely used in the field of geriatrics and gerontology. It is known that frailty has been closely related to older adults who have complex health issues, which raises vulnerabilities and adverse health outcomes (Fried et al., 2001; Pel-Littel, Schuurmans, Emmelot-Vonk, & Verhaar, 2009). The outcomes of frailty are usually known as disability, functional impairment, incidence of hospitalization, and death. However, a concept of frailty is full of “known unknowns” such as which mechanism leads to frailty and how it is best managed and

“Transformative aging is the developmental plasticity or resilience that enables humans to deal with confusing pain and loss, contend with uncertainty, and create wholeness from the fragmentation that characterizes modern life” (Walker, 2002, p. 109). During the late adulthood phase of human development, individuals encounter a new set of crises. For instance, physically, some older adults face the threat of osteoporosis, arthritis, loss of weight and stature as, well as sensory loss. In addition, senior citizens are more susceptible to chronic illnesses, such as, diabetes and high blood pressure. Further, since their immune system has also been debilitated by age, they are prone to dangerous viral infections like the flu. However, the cognitive aspect of aging is by far the most distressing during this phase for many adults. It is at this stage that Alzheimer, an accelerated form of dementia, destroys a person’s memories forever.

Everyone grows up in a different way due to a variety of factors which means that everyone ages differently. Older adults tend to be more susceptible to diseases or illnesses, and they may become more dependent on others. Some older adults are capable of living their lives the way they always have, by staying healthy. The interview conducted with a 72-year old married woman reveals just that; she was born and raised in Minnesota, and she still lives here today. Sleeping is often an issue with old age, but she has come to manage it in a healthy way. She also enjoys her life with family and friends who support her; these factors help her remain enthusiastic and prevent her from falling into depression.

As living organisms, humans are prone to change. Evolution teaches us that those more fit and adaptable to their environment are more likely to reproduce and create offspring effecting the future behavior and structure of the population or species. This will lead to new adaptation suitable to the environment. Because humans are constantly evolving they go through many biological changes throughout the course of their life. Such changes include: puberty, menopause, and growth in general. However, have we ever thought of personality being something that changes over the course of an individual’s lifetime? Does personality change or become altered in humans as we grow and experience life and do these changes have an impact on our behavior and world view and if not will our childhood personalities predict what our personality will be as adults?

As people age they develop many special needs related to the later period of life. Many elderly people have specific physical needs where adaptations to their home are necessary or where they need specific equipment for self care. Old age also brings new emotional challenges for the elderly person when the family can be useful in helping to meet the persons mental health needs. Senior citizens experience needs in their social life; they also experience the need for activities with other seniors. Health needs also negatively affect the elderly and cause multiple physical problems. Every elderly person experiences needs that are related to each of these areas.

Part One of this research paper will focus on the identification of specific cognitive and social/emotional changes along with common areas of concern for the older adult. Additionally, there are suggestions for counselor interventions, activities or education that is beneficial for the older adult. Subsequently, part two will focus on the identification of specific cognitive and social/emotional changes as well as the typical areas of concern pertaining to Alzheimer’s Disease. Additionally; there will be an explanation of appropriate counselor interventions, activities or education that is beneficial to the older adult.

.With people living longer, the elderly population is growing nearly as fast as the U.S. population as a whole. As more people retire from the labor force, the share of retired elderly will increase, demanding more health care and other resources. But most importantly, the elderly will be more visible in everyday life. For most of our population, gray hair, wrinkles, and declining energy begin in middle age. After about age sixty, bones become more brittle, injuries take longer to heal, and the risk of chronic illness (such as Arthritis, Rheumatism, Diabetes), and life threatening conditions such as ( heart disease, and cancer) rise steadily. Sensory abilities, such as taste, sight, touch, smell and especially hearing, become less sharp with age. (Treas, 1995; Metz, Miner 1998). Psychologist has found that normal memory loss should not be confused with symptoms of dementia, in particular, Alzheimer’s disease. Psychologists have found that while memory may decline with age, judgement often significantly improves, and the ability to comprehend what is seen also improves with experience. When a rapid response is required, the elderly may not react as quickly as younger ones, they are not able to process as much information per time unit. But this slowdown is normal and is not a sign of mental impairment.