Individual Later Adulthood Development

Individual Later Adulthood Development

Introduction

Late adulthood refers to a time in individuals' lives when they reached the phase of reevaluation what they have accomplished or done during their life span, but does not mean they are not willing to accomplish more in lives. In this life phase, people (aged 65 and above) begin to experiences several physical and social changes, along with bad health conditions. The aging process occurs at different speeds when people are being treated as second-class citizens. During late adulthood, people become weak physically, such as the senses lose their acuity, the graying of hair, bones become brittle and others. Old adults also experience several cognitive changes, such as short-term memory or memory loss. Generally, people in their late adulthood are less able to incorporate several information forms at once. Although, late adulthood has its complexities it can often be a rewarding time experiences with friends and family, as well as reconnecting socially. The aim of this assignment is to review and examine changes in the late adulthood and offers a better understanding and insight this life stage and how to proactively address all changes.

Discussion

Role and Social Position during Adulthood

Late adulthood begin at age of 65, and this age group is the largest growing US population. This age is the standard age of retirement and the age where adults become eligible for social security benefits. On the contrary, 1965 discrimination act, individuals are no more needed to be retired at age 65. Consequently, this life stage is ambiguous, when an individual feel to be old, with two most important determinants: retirement and poor health status.

Retirement is one of the significant and vital changes in the role and social position during late adulthood. Erik Erikson formulated a development framework based on stages of psychosocial and defines the last life stage as an anxiety between integrity and despair. In the late adulthood, people either accept the changes with integrity or feel despair. During the late adulthood, old adults start losing previous social role with retirement (Vis, 2009).

Moreover, society views older adults as non-existent and useless, they have transitioned from operating as viable and productive employees in the workforce to encountering the myths that they are incompetent, out of touch and less productive. In few words, during ate adulthood, older adults' start getting retire from their jobs and perceiving the current labor force to be very discriminatory and intimidating.

Living Accommodations Comparison

During the late adulthood, older adults experienced relocation of living accommodation. Evidence signifies that older adults prefer to reside in their homes; but, unfortunately they are mostly reallocated to nursing home that indicates the independence loss. Few common options are communities and neighborhoods, housing arrangements (ordinary homes, residential communities, and nursing homes).

Most of older adults (ethnic minority) in US reside in cities and suburbs. Cities provided older adults better healthcare facilities than inner-city. Inner-cities are better in terms of proximity to social services and transportation but lack in services, income and health ...