Erikson s Final Stage Integrity versus despair reflecting on the past and either piecing together a positive view integrity or concluding that one s life has not been well spent despair Life review is an essential piece of this final stage Life review looking back at one s life experiences evaluating them interpreting and reinterpreting their significance 4 22 2008 1 Life Review 4 22 2008 2 1 Activity Theory Activity theory the more active and involved that older adults are the more likely they are to be satisfied with their lives Successful aging is associated with being active energetic and productive Good experience with aging relates to continuing early adult roles or finding substitutes that keep them active and involved 4 22 2008 3 Socioemotional Selectivity Theory Older adults become more selective about their social networks Spend more time with familiar individuals with whom they have rewarding relationships Challenges the stereotype that older adults are in emotional despair and isolation Cartensen Lockenhoff 2004 Cartensen Mikels Mather 2006 4 22 2008 4 2 4 22 2008 5 4 22 2008 6 3 Selective Optimization with Compensation Theory Developed by Paul Blates 1939 2006 Coined the term successful aging now called optimal aging Successful aging is linked with three main factors selection older adults have reduced capacity and overall loss of functioning optimization it is possible to maintain performance in some areas through practice and use of new technologies compensation becomes relevant when life tasks require a level of capacity beyond the current circumstances 4 22 2008 7 Stereotyping Older Adults Ageism prejudice against others because of their age Increased numbers living longer and healthier serve to debunk the stereotypes Relevant to policy issues health care costs caring for patients with chronic disease eldercare Hess 2006 Rupp Vodanhovich Crede 2005 See recent report in USA TODAY http www usatoday com news health 2008 04 21 life span study N htm csp 34 4 22 2008 8 4 Eldercare Traditionally done by middle aged women in the family With so many women in the work force there is considerable concern regarding who will be caregivers Eldercare physical and emotional caretaking of older members of the family Generational inequality view that our society is being unfair to its younger members 4 22 2008 9 Generational Inequality Raises questions about whether the young should be required to pay for the old Income many older adults are poor remember that gender and ethnicity also correlate with poverty Technology making adaptations is difficult need to keep up with changes in technology Internet email etc 4 22 2008 10 5 Lifestyle Diversity Married older adults are happier and live longer than those who are single There are social financial and physical consequences of divorce for older adults Divorce weakens kinship ties Negative social sanctions for elders who remarry 4 22 2008 11 Cohabitation Increasing numbers Goals are primarily for companionship Not marrying allows for retention of personal assets 4 22 2008 12 6 Successful Aging Even with disease improvements in medicine mean older adults can still lead active constructive lives Being active is especially important Success involves perceived control of the environment self efficacy Topp Fahlman Boardley 2004 Mroczek Spiro Griffin 2006 4 22 2008 13 7
View Full Document
Unlocking...