LATE ADULTHOOD. 60yrs and onward (HUMAN DEVELOPMENT) - Essay Example

Late Adulthood: 60yrs and onward (Human Development) Late adulthood is the time period during which an individual experiences various physical and mental health declines. During late adulthood the body is going through various age-related changes that affect the normal functioning, social habits, psychological development and the learning and memory of an individual. However, specialists who study aging and the associated features are now presenting a slightly unconventional and different picture.

“Late adulthood is seen as a stage in which people continue to change- to grow in some areas and, yes, to decline in others” (Feldman 2009). This picture is painted keeping in view many individuals in late adulthood who are capable of continuing vigorous exercise and normal daily activities and leading a healthy active life. There are many myths yet several realities linked to the process of ageing and late adulthood. Late adulthood is described to begin after 65 years and continues to death (Feldman 2009).

My grandmother who recently celebrated her 69th birthday is living a healthy and active lifestyle in spite of entering into the late adulthood years of her life. Although she has become frail as compared to the earlier years of her life and ageing signs are evident through her face wrinkles and grey hair, but my grandmother has not lost her active routine and still manages to do every daily activity without being a burden on anybody. There are several myths associated with late adulthood that people who cross the age of 65 have defective memory, are sick most of the time and cannot work as effectively as younger people (Feldman 2009).

However, when I take my grandmother as an example, I find no traces of truth or authenticity in these age-related myths. She has not shown any decline in her memory and she remembers everything as vividly as before. Furthermore, she has not experienced any major health problem as she eats well and is active which is keeping her immunity intact. However, as it is said that with passing years the physical strength of the older people decline which I find to hold true in case of grandmother. Since, her physical strength has declined when I compare to her previous years of life.

As people enter the late adulthood years of their life they slow down in their reactions and different activities. Many explanations are given for this slowing of reactions. Peripheral slowing hypothesis explains that the peripheral nervous system becomes less efficient with the process of ageing. The generalized slowing hypothesis explains that not only the peripheral nervous system but also the brain works less efficiently thus affecting the whole body’s functioning (Feldman 2009). It is believed that sickness and ageing are strongly linked to each other.

Disease like cancer, heart diseases are more dependent on genetic predispositions, environmental factors, lifestyle options and psychological factors (Feldman 2009). Illness is not unavoidable during late adulthood and the myths that say that old people are always sick do not hold true. With healthy and active lifestyles sickness and various diseases can be avoided and healthy years can be spent. Memory capacity changes during the later years of life. Furthermore, personality changes are also experienced.

This includes short-term memory loss which becomes more severe after the age of 70. However, not every person loses their memory in the later years of life. Many explanations are given for the memory changes which are described by environmental factors like prescription drugs, biological factors like body and brain deterioration (Feldman 2009). As I mentioned earlier, my grandmother is 69 years old but has still not faced any defective memory issues.Late adulthood is characterized by both external ageing and internal ageing.

People in the later years of life not only change in their physical appearance but also experience changes in their body functioning and mental capabilities. Nevertheless, the perception associated to old people has changed in the recent years as old people are now carrying on with their daily activities, maintain active lifestyles and even carry on with vigorous exercise. The myths of ageing should be cleared on grounds of reality and facts. Furthermore, the individuals in later adulthood should be understood and given the patience they demand as they are passing through a changing period of their life.

Works CitedFeldman, R S. “Discovering the life span”. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson. 2009.