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Later Adulthood

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Later Adulthood Development Report
BSHS/325

Late Adulthood starting at 65+ begins to enter different stages of their lives. Aging involves biophysical changes and challenges, senescence and health issues, Pharmaceutical interventions, and closer monitoring of health and wellness. As an individual age they begin to experience Wisdom: Ego vs. Despair, This stage marks a considerable reduction in productivity and is when a person enters the retirement phase. During this stage, adults tend to look back upon their lives to figure whether they have led a successful life. If so, a feeling of contentment and what Erikson called Integrity vs. Prevails on the adult. This reflection; if not positive, leads to a state of despair where nothing can be done to turn back time and change. This stage and reflection can also be marked by regrets if the aging adult is left to feel unaccomplished. A prominent aspect of this stage is also the fear of death, which contributes to the hopelessness that becomes apparent at this stage. An adult's values at this stage are set and firm nothing can alter or change the thought process or the perception with which she/he now views the world.

Late adulthood can be marked by menopause and osteoporosis, a reduction in bone density, grey hair, less skin elasticity, and a loss of muscle mass resulting in an increase of body fat. Cognitively, during late adulthood verbal skills such as vocabulary and broad-spectrum knowledge are still intact. However, memory and mobility tends to decrease. Social and personality development can be affected by many variables during late adulthood: individuals in late adulthood may experience depression that may go unsuspected and untreated; also an individual in late adulthood may experience a period of readjustment to changes within their body, retirement financial status change, and loss of a spouse.

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