Life Stages of Psychological
Development
( Old Age )
Reported by:
Justine F. Reyes
Old Age
is the closing period in the life span. It is a
period when people ‘’move away’’ from
previous more desirable periods or times of
‘’use fullness’’.
Age of sixty is usually considered the
dividing line between middle and old age.
Aging inevitably means physical decline,
some of which may be due to lifestyle, such as poor
diet and lack of exercise, rather than illness or the
aging process. Energy reserves dwindle.
Cells decay. Muscle mass decreases. The
immune system is no longer as capable as it once
was in guarding against disease.
Body systems and organs, such as the heart
and lungs, become less efficient. Overall,
regardless of people's best hopes and efforts, aging
translates into decline.
Aging in late adulthood profoundly affects
appearance, sensation, and motor abilities. An
older adult's appearance changes as wrinkles
appear and the skin becomes less elastic and thin.
Small blood vessels break beneath the surface
of the skin, and warts, skin tags, and age spots
(liver spots) may form on the body.
Hair thins and turns gray as melanin
decreases, and height lessens perhaps by an inch
or two as bone density decreases.
The double standard of aging applies to
men and women in older adulthood just as
it did in middle adulthood.
Older men may still be seen as
distinguished, while older women are
labeled as grandmotherly, over the hill, and
past the prime of life.
Skin
With age, the skin becomes less elastic and more lined
and wrinkled. Fingernail growth also slows. The oil glands
gradually produce less oil, making the skin drier than before. You
can slow skin aging by using moisturizer and protecting the skin
from the sun with sunscreen and sun-protective clothing, such as
a hat or cap.
Hair
It's normal for hair to gradually thin on the scalp, pubic area,
and armpits. As hair pigment cells decline in number, gray hair
growth increases.
Height.
By age 80, it's common to have lost as much as 2 in. (5 cm) in
height. This is often related to normal changes in posture and
compression of joints, spinal bones, and spinal discs.
Hearing.
Over time, changes in the ear make high-frequency
sounds harder to hear and changes in tone and speech less
clear. These changes tend to speed up after age 55.
Vision.
Most people in their 40s develop a need for reading glasses
as the lenses in the eyes become less flexible (presbyopia). It's
also normal for night vision and visual sharpness to decline.
Also in the later years, glare increasingly interferes with
clear vision. Vision changes can affect your ability to drive
safely.
Sleep
Changes in sleep and circadian rhythm occur as you age.
You will probably sleep less at night, and you may not sleep as
deeply as you did when you were younger. And it's more likely
that you'll wake up during the night and/or wake up earlier in
the morning.
Developmental tasks of Old Age
Meeting social and civic obligations is
difficult for many older people as their health fails
and as their income is reduced by retirement.
Sooner or later, most old people must adjust
to the death of a spouse. This is a far more likely to
be a problem foe women than for men.
Because the death of a spouse often means
reduced income and hazards associated with living
alone, it may necessitate changes in living
arrangements.
The Most Common Issues of
Aging
 Heart conditions (hypertension, vascular disease,
congestive heart failure, high blood pressure and
coronary artery disease)
 Dementia, including Alzheimer's disease
 Depression
 Incontinence (urine and stool)
 Arthritis
 Osteoporosis
 Diabetes
 Breathing problems
 Frequent falls, which can lead to fractures
 Parkinson's disease
 Cancer
 Eye problems (cataracts, glaucoma, Macular
Degeneration)
Common Changes In
Sensory Functioning In
Old Age
 Vision
 Hearing
 Taste
 Touch
 Sensitivity to Pain
Common Changes In Motor
Abilities In Old Age
 Strength
 Speed
 Learning New Skills
 Awkwardness
The End
and
Thank You 