As one enters retirement, the physical and cognitive changes of aging generally become even more noticeable.
What physical and/or cognitive issues do the older adults closest to you have to face?
Can anything be done to postpone having to face such issues, or are they unavoidable?
This is the stage, who no one wants to experience. Physically, you won’t able to hear or see easily, you’ll probably have some walking issues or you probably won’t be able to walk alone. Also, lots of loss of bone mass, as one of my classmates mention before “body functions tend to slow, and our motor skills decline”. According to the book, there is a theory named “wear-and-tear theory” suggests that the body, much like any machine, gradually deteriorates and finally wears out (Pankow & Solotoroff, 2007; Timiras, 2002). For example, think about a motor of an old automobile, as much you give maintenance or repair it, it won’t run the same as it used to be. Cognitively, during this stage of life, you’ll probably think of just relaxing, this means retirement. In other words, you are just waiting for death. You probably will be diagnosed with a higher risk disease or you probably get sick more often. My grandfather was diagnosed with a heart disease and few months ago he had a higher risk surgery. Now, he is somewhat recover, but the only think he does is just try to relax and just wait for the “last moment” to pass by, like he says. I believe this is one of the most depressing stages of human development.
Sources: Chapter 14
Kevin,
Even though you have been around aging individuals and you have seen a lot of this first hard, what were your reactions to a lot of this week's readings and to your writing of this response? How did you feel after all this?
Dr. Kohler

Professor,
Like I said before, I feel that this is one of the most depressing stages of human development. I say it’s depressing because most diseases comes into play and ruins late adulthood. While reading Chapter 16 of Human Development, I realized that diseases such as Alzheimer disease, which relates to dementing illness and memory loss (Mace, N. L., & Rabins, P. V. 2006). Also from my own perspective, this is when someone from you family has to take care of you, or if no one wants to take care of you, then you’ll live miserable in a retirement home. I say its “miserable” living in a retirement home because it’s not the same living in your own house with your own family. According to our textbook, you probably will also have to take care of your grandchildren, who then will cause more stress because of financial issues, or your grandchild is not behaving well in school, or the child will get sick (Bullock, 2004). I think that this last stage of human development, late adulthood, is one of the most challenging that human beings will experience.

Sitting around waiting for death cerainly does sound depressing. I know lots of senior citizens who refer to this age as their "golden years" they find great pleasure and enjoyment in being around their grandchildren, watching them, going to first communions, seeing their legacy grow. They put in their time so to speak, and now, like you said, it is a time to relax and do what they want. This is where family support and socioeconomics comes into play. If they have a family that engages with them, where they play an instrumental role is huge for cognition and alleviating some depression. Further, if you have the means and actually can retire, and travel, spend time with the younger generations, do activities like golf, or social clubs, if one has the means It will surely make the last years more enjoyable and less grave. I hope for myself that when I enter that time of my life that I have a sense of feeling fullfilled about my previous years, and have a sense of calmness and pride about what I have done, and what I have passed down to the younger generation. Nicole, Yes it sounds depressing, but it is reality. What else can you be waiting during late adulthood rather than just retiring and relaxing peacefully. I agree that some senior citizens find great pleasure and enjoyment around their family and specially their grandchildren. According to the book, participation in leisure activities during late adulthood will increase satisfaction. For example, volunteering at your local church, being part of social or religious organization, or enjoy your last moments with your family will increase your satisfaction. But not all senior citizens have this type of calmness and enjoyable towards life. Some will feel depressed, or have some type of dangerous disease, and just are simply waiting for their last moment. I also hope for myself, once I enter late adulthood, to live peacefully and have calmness, in order to enjoy the last moments of my life.