Late Adulthood

Chapter 12: Late Adulthood

Late adulthood is considered the stage of life from age 60 to death.  Erik Erikson (1959/1980) termed this eighth life stage “old age”, characterized by the developmental task of integrity versus despair (Ashford & Lecroy pg. 596). Integrity refers to the ability to integrate or satisfactorily blends one’s history and experience with the task of evaluating and accepting one’s life (pg. 596).  People tend to reflect back on their life and find that their life has been meaningful and rewarding, and develop a sense of integrity during this stage of life.  However, if they are disappointed because of missed opportunities and unresolved conflicts, they may be vulnerable to despair (pg. 597). 

There are a number of  theories of aging that address how people change or do not change with advancing age, how late life differs from earlier adulthood, and characteristics of normal or successful aging. The theories help us better understand aging and inform our social work practice with older adults and their families (pg. 599). Continuity theory emphasizes that people change less with aging than they stay the same (pg.599).  The theory states that adaptation changes that occur with age is done using familiar strategies from the individual’s past repertoire  Successful aging according to the Activity Theory depends on adaptation through substitution for roles that are no longer available Newer theories of aging have returned to the themes of activity and disengagement in different ways (pg. 600). Researchers Rowe and Kahn describe successful aging in three main areas; 1) maintaining cognitive abilities 2) avoiding disease and maintaining physical functioning, and 3) maintaining active engagement with life (pg.600). 

Reference

Ashford, J. B., LeCroy, C. W. (2013). Human Behavior in the Social Environment: A Multidimensional Perspective (5th Ed.)