Lesson
4
Health Through the Life Span
Think about some happy, healthy older adults you know.
What characteristics do they share?
How do these characteristics
contribute to their positive attitude?
Lesson
4
Lesson Objectives
In this lesson, you will learn to:
• Describe the physical, mental/emotional, and social
transitions that occur during middle and later adulthood
• Identify lifestyle behaviors and health programs that
promote health and prevent disease
Lesson
4
Middle Adulthood
Transitions in Middle Adulthood
Erikson’s seventh developmental stage is middle adulthood,
encompassing the ages from 40 to 65. These years are often
full of transitions.
• Physical transitions
• Mental transitions
• Emotional transitions
• Social transitions
Lesson
4
Physical Transitions
• People in middle adulthood experience
physical changes as their bodies begin to
age.
• Skin loses its elasticity, the functioning
of the body’s organs slows, and the
body’s immune system becomes less
effective.
• Females experience menopause around
ages 45 to 55.
Middle Adulthood
Lesson
4
Middle Adulthood
Mental Transitions
• Just as exercise strengthens the muscles, mental activities
strengthen the brain. Solving puzzles, reading, and playing
board games provide mental stimulation.
• An adult who “exercises” his or her brain remains mentally
active.
• People reach middle adulthood with a great deal of
knowledge and experience, which they can use to pursue
new interests.
Lesson
4
Middle Adulthood
Emotional Transitions
The midlife crisis for some individuals results from questions
and concerns about:
•Having met their goals.
•Feeling loved and valued.
•Having made a positive difference
in the lives of others.
Keeping the health triangle in balance and continuing to set
goals along the way will help people avoid these concerns.
Lesson
4
Middle Adulthood
Social Transitions
• Many adults of this age are faced with the death of a parent
or the empty-nest syndrome with their children growing up
and leaving home.
• People who maintain healthy relationships with family and
friends have less difficulty adjusting to these changes.
• For many, this is a time to apply their talents and life
experience to community and social programs.
Lesson
4
Late Adulthood
Goals of Older Adults
• Erikson’s final stage of development, late adulthood, occurs
after age 65.
• One of the goals of people at this stage is to look at life with
satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment.
• Older adults evaluate the events of their lives and their
achievements.
• If they have lived their lives with integrity, they are likely to
be satisfied.
Lesson
4
Late Adulthood
Expanding Opportunities in Late Adulthood
• Many adults look forward to retirement so that they can
pursue new interests.
• Others choose to continue to work or even change careers.
• For many, volunteering is another way of staying active.
Lesson
4
Late Adulthood
Public Health Policies and Programs for Older Adults
• The government offers Medicare to people 65 years of age
and older and Medicaid to people with low incomes and
limited resources.
• Many workers must plan for their own retirement with
personal or company-run long-term savings plans.
• Through use of these funds in conjunction with Social
Security benefits, the poverty rate for older adults has been
reduced.
Lesson
4
Quick Review
Q. Which of the following does people in middle
adulthood face?
1. no time to themselves.
2. physical, mental, and emotional transitions.
3. more financial insecurity.
4. less awareness of their role in the world.
Lesson
A.
4
Quick Review - Answer
People in middle adulthood face the following: physical,
mental and emotional transitions.
Click Next to attempt another question.
Lesson
4
Quick Review
Choose the appropriate option.
Q.
Many adults face the emptynest syndrome after their
children grow up and leave
home.
True
False
Lesson
A.
4
Quick Review - Answer
True. Many adults face the empty-nest syndrome after
their children grow up and leave home.
Click Next to attempt another question.
Lesson
4
Quick Review
Choose the appropriate option.
Q.
Integrity refers to going your
own way without regard to
how your actions affect others.
True
False
Lesson
4
Quick Review - Answer
A. False. Integrity refers to a firm adherence to a moral
code.
Click Next to attempt another question.
Lesson
4
Quick Review
Q. Which of the following is specific example of the
relationship between health decisions made as a
teen and disease prevention later in life?
1. eating healthy and exercising help inhibit high blood
pressure.
2. eating snacks helps inhibit obesity.
3. playing the dating field keeps stress and boredom
from setting in.
4. skipping breakfast decreases hunger during the day.
Lesson
4
Quick Review - Answer
A. 1. eating healthy and exercise help inhibit high blood
pressure.
A specific example of the relationship between health
decisions made as a teen and disease prevention later in
life is healthy eating and exercise help inhibit high blood
pressure.
Click Next to attempt another question.
Lesson
4
End of Lesson 4
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Lesson
4
Middle Adulthood
Transitions in Middle Adulthood
Erikson’s seventh developmental stage is middle adulthood,
encompassing the ages from 40 to 65. These years are often
full of transitions.
• Physical transitions
A transition
• Mental transitions
is a critical
change that
• Emotional transitions
occurs at all
stages of life.
• Social transitions
Lesson
4
Middle Adulthood
Social Transitions
• Many adults of this age are faced with the death of a parent
or the empty-nest syndrome with their children growing up
and leaving home.
Empty-nest
syndrome
• People who maintain
healthy
relationships with family and
is the
feelings
of sadness
orto these changes.
friends have
less
difficulty
adjusting
loneliness that accompany
children’s
• For many,
this is a leaving
time to home
apply and
their talents and life
entering
adulthood.
experience
to community
and social programs.
Lesson
4
Late Adulthood
Goals of Older Adults
• Erikson’s final stage of development, late adulthood, occurs
after age 65.
Integrity
• One of the goals of people
at this stage is to look at life with
refersoftofulfillment.
a firm
satisfaction and a sense
adherence to a
• Older adults evaluate the events of their lives and their
moral code.
achievements.
• If they have lived their lives with integrity, they are likely to
be satisfied.
Lesson
4
Quick Review - Answer
A. Correct! People in middle adulthood face the following:
physical, mental and emotional transitions.
Click Next to attempt another question.
Lesson
4
Quick Review - Answer
You have answered the question incorrectly. Go back to try
again, or click Next to view the correct answer.
Lesson
4
Quick Review - Answer
A. Correct! Many adults face the empty-nest syndrome after
their children grow up and leave home.
Click Next to attempt another question.
Lesson
4
Quick Review - Answer
You have answered the question incorrectly. Go back to try
again, or click Next to view the correct answer.
Lesson
4
Quick Review - Answer
A. Correct! Integrity refers to a firm adherence to a moral
code.
Click Next to attempt another question.
Lesson
4
Quick Review - Answer
You have answered the question incorrectly. Go back to try
again, or click Next to view the correct answer.
Lesson
4
Quick Review - Answer
A. Correct! A specific example of the relationship between
health decisions made as a teen and disease prevention
later in life is the following: healthy eating and exercise
help inhibit high blood pressure.
Click Next to attempt another question.
Lesson
4
Quick Review - Answer
You have answered the question incorrectly. Go back to try
again, or click Next to view the correct answer.