MIDDLE ADULTHOOD...

MIDDLE ADULTHOOD... THE EMPTY NEST

Gerontology... Gerontology is the study of aging. It is distinguished from geriatrics, which is the study of the diseases of the aging. Gerontology covers the social, psychological, and biological aspects of aging. A “gerontologist” takes a multidisciplinary approach, focusing on senescence, which combines a process of deterioration with a following period of development. Their studiesmight include an investigation of the effects of our aging population on society, and applying this knowledge to policies and programs.

Middle adulthood is considered the period of time between ages 40 - 59. As human longevity increases, middle age expectations have changed. The U. S. population is living longer, primarily due to better living conditions and advanced healthcare. Middle age... Humor is a reflection of the human condition and culture. In the U.S. culture of youth, aging becomes the target of many jokes. This is especially true when adults reach milestones such as 40, 50, and 60 years old. I demand a recount. After fifty everything that doesn't hurt doesn't work! In dog years I'm dead. Just when I find the key to success, someone goes and changes all the locks. Be kind to your kids; they'll be choosing your nursing home. I don't have hot flashes, I have power surges. Age is like underwear, it creeps up on you! Age is important only if you're cheese or wine. Eat right, exercise regularly, die anyway.

Mid-life crisis... A mid-life crisis is an emotional state of doubt and anxiety in which a person becomes uncomfortable with the realization that life is halfway over. It commonly involves reflection on what the individual has done with his or her life up to that point, often with feelings that not enough was accomplished. The individuals experiencing such may feel boredom with their lives, jobs, or their partners, and may feel a strong desire to make changes in these areas. There is research indicating that midlife crises occur more often in men than women. Midlife crisis may not occur at all or may occur naturally or may be triggered by life-altering events such as death, divorce, children leaving, etc.

This text of this car ad targets men who may be experiencing boredom, associated with mid-life crisis: “These dazzling models ooze style and power -- perfect candidates for revving up boring lifestyles and dispelling the blues!” “Symptoms” associated with a mid-life crisis may include… Exhaustion, or frantic energy Self-questioning Daydreaming about who you are; where your life is going Irritability, unexpected anger Acting on alcohol, drug, food or other compulsions Greatly decreased or increased sexual desire Sexual affairs, especially with someone much younger Greatly decreased or increased ambition Discontentment/boredom/restlessness with life or lifestyle (people and things) that have provided fulfillment for a long time

The term “midlife crisis” was coined by Canadian psychologist Elliot Jacques, but the credit for recognizing and understanding this emotional state must be given to psychologist Carl Jung. In his mid-life studies he described the crisis as “normal” in the process of maturing. He developed a model containing 5 stages of mid-life: accommodation, separation, liminality, reintegrations, and individuation. These steps dealt primarily with self reflection.

Empty nest syndrome... Empty nest syndrome refers to feelings of depression, sadness, and/or grief experienced by parents and caregivers after children come of age and leave their childhood homes. This may occur when children go to college or get married.. Sociologists popularized the term in the 1970s, and the media have helped make its existence part of conventional wisdom. Empty-nest syndrome appears to be more difficult for stay-at-home mothers, who sometimes seemed to exist only for their children. Many women now work outside the home, so have a role beyond that as a parent. Men now have the same feelings of ‘emptiness’ as women.

Many parents actually look forward to, and enjoy the advantages of the empty nest. Grocery bills are lower. There's food in the refrigerator. The house stays clean. They only have to wash clothes and towels once a week. Their calendar is often just as busy as it ever was, but it is filled with fun things to do with spouse or friends. The hard work of raising children is now finished. With more free time, they are now able to do projects and hobbies that they never had time or money for before. There is an absence of the day-to-day stressors that come with living together and children's often stormy adolescent periods.

Adult children coming back home... Empty nests are now refilling in record numbers as adult children return home after college or even after their first post-college jobs. According to the 2000 census, almost four million young adults between 25 and 34 years old now live with their parents--possibly the result of a tough job market, delayed marriage, high housing costs, economics, divorce, extended education, drug or alcohol problems, or temporary transitions. Psychologist Allan Scheinberg coined the phrase "boomerang kids“, noting that many young adults want the "limited responsibility of childhood and the privileges of adulthood.“ Some expect to live the same lifestyle with the same material possessions that their parents have achieved after working many years… so move back home to get them.

Middle age conception... Conception during middle age presents risks, but having a baby later in life is a consideration for some couples. Women sometimes delay childbearing, due to careers. Still other couples want to have a baby, to delay the “empty nest”. Female fertility declines significantly after age 40, and an advanced maternal age increases the risk of a child being born with some disorders such as Down’s Syndrome. Some conditions are also correlated with advanced paternal age: Dwarfism; craniofacial disorders such as Apert Syndrome and Crouzon Syndrome; mental retardation; autism; and 25% of schizophrenia cases. Down’s Syndrome Apert Syndrome

Menopause... Menopause is the physiological cessation of menstrual cycles associated with advancing age in women. The menopause is sometimes referred to as change of life or climacteric. Menopause occurs as the ovaries stop producing estrogen, causing the reproductive system to gradually shut down. The term menopause comes from the Greek roots 'meno-' (month) and 'pausis' (a pause, a cessation). As the body adapts to the decreasing levels of the hormones estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, vasomotor (muscles and nerves) symptoms such as hot flashes and palpitations (fast heartbeat), psychological symptoms such as depression, anxiety, irritability, mood swings, lack of concentration, and atrophic symptoms such as vaginal dryness and urgency of urination appear.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) provides the best relief, but certain forms appear to pose significant health risks such as slightly increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease. A woman has officially reached menopause when she has not had a period for one year. Changes and symptoms can start 2-5 years earlier: Shorter, longer, lighter, or heavier periods Hot flashes and/or night sweats Trouble sleeping Vaginal dryness Mood swings Trouble focusing Less hair on head, more on face Decreased elasticity of skin Urinary frequency, urgency, and/or incontinence Osteoporosis and/or muscle, joint, or back pain

It's estimated that, by the age of 55, one in five women will have had their uterus surgically removed; one in 3 women by the age of 60. This operation is called a hysterectomy. Hysterectomy... Types of hysterectomies: Partial – removes uterus but not cervix Total – removes uterus and cervix Hysterectomy and Oophorectomy – removes uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, and ovaries Radical – removes all reproductive tissue as well as the top of the vagina and surrounding lymph nodes A hysterectomy might be recommended for non cancerous tumors (fibroids); endometriosis (uterine tissue grows elsewhere such as the vagina); uterine prolapse (uterus drops into vagina); cancer (of the uterus, cervix, or ovaries); vaginal bleeding; chronic pelvic pain.

Andropause... Andropause is a biological change experienced by men during their mid-life, often compared to the female menopause. The concept of andropause is more widely accepted in Australia and Europe than it is in this country. Most clinicians in the United States recognize a progressive decline in levels of male androgens, specifically testosterone, but not dramatic, and not enough to end reproductive abilities. Many recognize symptoms associated with andropause as psychological rather than physiological. Andropause usually occurs between the ages of 40 and 55. Symptoms may include loss of libido (sexual desire), nervousness, depression, impaired memory, the inability to concentrate, fatigue, insomnia, hot flushes, sweating, and some degree of erectile dysfunction (impotence).

Social development... Men tend to decrease the number and intensity of same-gender friends. Men most often meet other men in work settings. Because of this, many of their potential friends are people with whom they compete for raises or advancement, or with whom they are involved either as supervisors or subordinates. Neither of these conditions is conducive to the openness and concern necessary for the development of a close friendship. Social relationships may depend on family availability and interaction. Friendships and neighbor interactions are important.Women’s friendships are very personal, but they tend to separate friends into “work friends”, “activity friends”, and “real friends”.

The Red Hat Society... The Red Hat Society is a social organization for women over 50, founded in 1998 by Sue Ellen Cooper of California. There are approximately 40,000 chapters in the United States and thirty other countries. The founder or leader of a local chapter is usually referred to as a "Queen". Members are called "Red Hatters". The Society takes its name from the opening lines of the poem Warning by Jenny Joseph, which starts: “When I am an old woman I shall wear purpleWith a red hat that doesn't go and doesn't suit me.” Queen Sue Ellen Cooper and her court.

The Red Hat Society fondly refers to itself as a "dis-organization" with the aim of social interaction, tea parties, and to encourage fun, silliness, creativity, and friendship in middle age and beyond. The Society is not a sorority or a voluntary service club. There are no initiations or fundraising projects. Members over fifty years old wear red hats and purple attire to all functions. A woman under age fifty may also become a member, but she wears a pink hat and lavender attire until reaching her fiftieth birthday.

Homeostasis is the property of a living organism to regulate its internal environment to maintain a stable, constant condition. Human beings, as they age, will lose efficiency in their control systems. This is known as homeostatic imbalance, and will increase the risk for illness and be responsible for some physical changes associated with aging.There are 3 important mechanisms human bodies need to regulate: Among the most important are: Homeostasis... Thermo-regulation - the ability to regulate body temperature Osmo-regulation - the active regulation of bodily fluids concentration and pressure, directly affecting absorption of nutrients, excretion, hormone levels, blood, skin, hydration, and kidney function Glucoregulation - the maintenance of blood sugar levels

Beginning at age 40, it becomes more important to have annual physicals, checking: teeth, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar levels, and tetanus-diphtheria Health issues... Men over the age of 50 need a yearly rectal exam to check for colorectal cancer and prostate cancer. Women over the age of 40 should continue with monthly breast self-exams, have yearly pelvic exams and pap smears, and have a mammogram done every year to check for breast cancer.

Coronary heart disease is the #1 cause of death in the U.S. 20% of deaths due to heart disease occur in men and women under the age of 65. Risk factors for heart disease include smoking, obesity, high-fat diet, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, stress, and type A personality. Type A Personality: impatient, excessively time-conscious, insecure about one's status, highly competitive, hostile and aggressive, incapable of relaxation, workaholics, hard-driving, frequent hostility, driven by deadlines.

Osteoporosis... Osteoporosis is a condition that features loss of the normal density of bone, and fragile bone associated with ageing. This disorder of the skeleton weakens the bone leading to an increase in the risk of breaking bones (bone fracture). It is estimated that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 12 men over the age of 50 worldwide have osteoporosis. Risk factors include: Getting older Being small and thin (frailty) Family history of osteoporosis Taking certain medicines Being a white or Asian woman Tobacco smoking Alcoholism Calcium/ Vitamin D deficiencies Insufficient or excessive physical activity Exposure to heavy metals such as cadmium or lead

Everyone should have regular eye exams every 2 years after the age of 40. After the age of 45, a check for glaucoma should be included. Aging eyesight... Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness, affecting one in two hundred people aged fifty and younger and one in ten over the age of eighty. Untreated glaucoma leads to permanent damage of the optic nerve, which can progress to blindness. Glaucoma initially causes no symptoms. Normal optic nerve Damaged optic nerve Advanced damage People at the highest risk of developing glaucoma are women, diabetics, African-Americans, Asians, Inuits, people who use steroids, and those with a family history of the disease.

Most forms of glaucoma are characterized by high intraocular pressure. Intraocular pressure is maintained at normal levels when some of the fluid produced by the eye is allowed to flow out. When fluid cannot flow out effectively, this causes an increase in intraocular pressure and damage to the optic nerve… leading to vision loss. Early detection is the key to successful treatment.

Intellectual development... Research on intellectual development during middle adulthood shows declines in perceptual speed (ability to make visual discriminations) and numerical ability (simple arithmetic calculations). It shows stable and/or peaks in abilities in vocabulary (understand ideas expressed in verbal form), verbal memory (recall lists of words, etc.), inductive reasoning (recognize patterns and relationships and use them to solve further problems), and spatial orientation (visualize rotated stimuli in 3-D space.

Intellectual development... IQ tests rely on timed, physical responses, so may lack validity for middle aged adults due to decreases in perceptual speed and reaction times rather than cognitive changes. Psychologist Jean Piaget categorized cognitive development into 4 stages : sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete, and formal operational. Middle aged adults, however, are capable of postformal thought in solving problems. They go beyond abstract thought, relying on subjective feelings and intuition. They can integrate opposing views, and are able to reconcile and/or choose between conflicting views. JEAN PIAGET 1896 - 1980

Fluid and crystallized intelligence are factors of general intelligence identified by Raymond Cattell (1971). Fluid intelligence is the ability to find meaning in confusion and solve new problems. It is the ability to draw inferences and understand the relationships of various concepts, independent of acquired knowledge. It appears to peak during early adulthood and then declines during middle age. Crystallized intelligence is the ability to use skills, knowledge, and experience. It should not be equated with memory or knowledge, but it does rely on accessing information from long-term memory. It appears to be stable, peaks, or improves during middle age and beyond.

Memory is an organism's ability to store, retain, and subsequently recall information. A steady decline in many cognitive processes are seen across the lifespan, starting in one's thirties. Memory loss... Short-term memoryrefers to the amount or bits of information we can hold in our head at any given time and lasts between 1 second and 24 hours depending upon how much importance you put on the information. You would use this type of memory for phone numbers, messages, and zip codes. Research does not show a noticeable decline in short term memory with normal aging.

Memory loss... There are 3 types of long-term memory. Research has found decline in explicit memory with aging, but not of implicit or semantic memory: Explicit or episodic memories are facts that you made a conscious effort to learn and that you can remember at will, for example, the names of state capitals; also includes memories of events and experiences.Implicit or procedural memory is information you draw on automatically in order to perform actions such as driving a car or riding a bicycle.Semantic memories are facts that are so deeply ingrained they require no effort to recall. An example would be the months of the year.

Lack of appropriate effort, interference or distraction, inefficient memory strategies, and health problems may decrease memory. To improve or maintain memory you can… • Increase your sensory abilities (use of prescription glasses or hearing aid) • Limit medications if possible • Take care of your physical health • Eat a well-balanced diet • Get physical exercise (to increase blood and oxygen flow) • Keep mentally fit by challenging your mind • Use external aids (such as lists, calendars, timers, or computers) • Maintain an organized living environment • Use context cues to recall information • Avoid depression, as it can affect thinking • Limit alcohol, as it can affect thinking ????

Cosmetic surgery... More than 10 million elective cosmetic surgery procedures were performed in the United States in 2006, about 40% of which were people entering middle age and wanting to look younger. Cosmetic surgery is performed to improve appearance and self-esteem. It involves reshaping parts of the body that are otherwise functioning properly. Costs of various procedures range from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars.

Cosmetic surgery... Procedures include: Botox (injections to temporarily smooth out wrinkles), Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), Breast reduction or augmentation, Breast lift, Brow lift, Buttock Augmentation, Chemical peel, Dermabrasion, Endoscopy (Keyhole plastic surgery), Face lift, Facial implant, Facial scar revision, Forehead lift, Gynecomastia (Male breast tissue) reduction, Hair replacement, Laser skin resurfacing, Liposuction, Mentoplasty (chin surgery), Otoplasty (ear surgery), Microdermabrasion (skin rejuvenation), Rhinoplasty (nosejob surgery), Rhytidectomy (face surgery), Thighplasty (thigh lift), and Tummy tuck.

MIDDLE ADULTHOOD... THE EMPTY NEST THE END

MIDDLE ADULTHOOD...