Deck 25: Seciton 1: Late Adulthood: Psychosocial

Question 1

Define the positivity effect, and discuss the benefits of it in the lives of the elderly.

Answer 1

The positivity effect is the tendency for older people to perceive, prefer, and remember positive experiences over negative ones. It allows the elderly to maintain emotional health, as they are able to let go of or downplay difficult and negative events, and correlates with the belief that life has meaning. Elders with a positive worldview are likely to be healthier and happier.

Question 2

Outline the typical progression of elder abuse at the hands of related caregivers, and give three examples of the kinds of abuses that occur. Then identify two ways to prevent elder abuse from happening.

Answer 2

Some families feel shame if they place an elderly relative in an institution; to avoid that, caregivers try to take care of the elder in-home. Caregivers may initially be equipped to assist the elder but find that escalating frailty creates frustration and resentment. Abuse is most likely if:
• the caregiver suffers from emotional problems or substance abuse
• the elder is frail, has dementia, or is demanding
• the care location is an isolated place where visitors are few
•
Typically abuse begins gradually or with small acts and continues until someone notices. Abuse slowly escalates to more clear-cut physical abuse. Common forms of elder abuse include 1) spending the elder's assets, 2) over-medicating the elder, 3) using restraints, 4) improper feeding, and 5) rough treatment.
Ways to prevent elder abuse include: 1) providing support for caregivers such as respite care, 2) realizing that caring for an ill or frail elder in the home may be unwise, and 3) providing more safety nets in the community for elders and their caregivers.

Question 3

Describe two benefits of being an elder who volunteers.

Answer 3

1) Volunteering is related to positive well-being in later life. 2) A major reason volunteering is beneficial is that it fosters social connections. In addition, studies have found that 3) people who volunteer stay healthier than those who don't. Yet three-fourths of people older than 65 do no volunteer work.

Question 4

Applying the four stratification theories discussed in the text, describe three difficulties that a poor elderly minority woman could face in U.S. culture.

Question 5

Discuss the changes in marriage that occur in long-term partnerships.

Question 6

State three factors to consider when making the decision about whether to care for a frail elder at home or in a nursing home.

Question 7

Explain three aspects of religious involvement that benefit the elderly.

Question 8

Give three specific details of a retirement-counseling program for middle-aged workers that would promote higher self-esteem for participants when they retire.

Question 9

Describe both the disengagement theory and the activity theory, including how each relates to the quality of life in late adulthood.

Question 10

Consider the relationships between elders and their adult children. State two factors that support good intergenerational relationships and two factors that negatively affect such relationships.

Question 11

Explain the four major approaches to grandparenting. Which do you think is the ideal? Why?