8 Late Adulthood and Aging Free Online FlashCards

Is there a fixed age when late adulthood begins?

Late adulthood is often associated with ages after about 60 or 65, but there is no single age at which a person becomes old.

How does the WHO frame healthy aging?

Healthy aging means maintaining the ability to do what a person values; it does not simply mean being free from illness.

What shapes functioning and independence in late adulthood?

Daily functioning and independence depend on the interaction between a person’s capacities and their environment, including accessible housing and supportive care.

What is selective optimization with compensation (SOC)?

Selective optimization with compensation means choosing important goals, strengthening usable abilities and resources, and compensating for losses with new strategies or assistance.

In SOC, what does using a cane to keep walking illustrate?

Using a cane or choosing safer routes to keep walking despite reduced balance is compensation: adapting strategies to offset a limitation.

How can cognitive abilities change unevenly with age?

Cognitive aging is uneven: processing speed and some forms of memory may become less efficient, while knowledge and experience-based skills can remain valuable.

How can normal forgetfulness be distinguished from a concerning memory problem?

Taking longer to recall a name can occur with normal aging. Persistent or worsening problems that disrupt daily activities warrant attention; dementia is not a normal part of aging.

What psychosocial challenge did Erikson associate with late adulthood?

Erikson described late adulthood’s central psychosocial challenge as integrity versus despair.

What distinguishes integrity from despair in a life review?

A life review reflects on relationships, choices, achievements, and hardships. Integrity involves accepting one’s life as a whole and finding meaning in it; despair may involve overwhelming regret.

What does socioemotional selectivity theory propose?

Socioemotional selectivity theory proposes that perceiving time as more limited leads people to prioritize emotionally meaningful goals and relationships.

Does a smaller social network necessarily indicate poorer social well-being?

A smaller social network does not necessarily mean poorer social well-being; many people place greater emphasis on close, emotionally meaningful relationships.

How do social isolation and loneliness differ?

Social isolation describes limited contact with others; loneliness is the painful feeling of disconnection. They are distinct and can occur at different ages.