Comparative Assessment of Older Adults and Adults with Autism - Essay Example

Comparative Assessment of Older Adults and Adults with Autism Comparative Assessment of Older Adults and Adults with Autism Older adults have several needs that are unique to them and that set them apart from other adults. Similarly, there are certain needs that are only a characteristic of adults with autism. Assessment for these two populations compares in different ways and different issues affects the population segments. Executive functions Executive functions include elements such as planning, attention, initiation, and flexibility. Lin et al (2007) studied executive functions of a population of healthy Chinese older adults, and reported that aging causes difficulty in planning, attention, and initiation among older people. When assessed for ability to ignore distractions during a task, older adults score lowly. Education may however affect the assessment of elderly adults because it improves certain components of executive function including initiation and flexibility. Similarly, gender affects assessment of older adults’ functions and males perform better than females. Chronic illness is also a factor to an older adult’s cognition, interfering with their executive functioning. Adults with autism show deficits in planning and cognitive flexibility that is almost equivalent to those observed in non-autistic older adults. Ability of autistic adults to plan is relatively better, especially for those aged between 51 and 83 years of age. Empirical results show that effect of age in reducing the volume of the brain cortex is less in autistic adults than in non-autistic adults. Additionally, relatively better planning skills in autistic adults are associated with the acquisition of compensatory strategies due to their cognitive challenges. Components of attention and working memory in autistic adults are similar to those of non-autistic adults hence there might not be a difference with older non-autistic adults (Geurts & Vissers, 2012). Similar to older adults, education influences assessment of adults with autism. Uniquely though, the choice of assessment tool is important in the effectiveness of assessing executive functions of this population. Sleep Sleep is another unique need in older adults. Birath and Martin (2007) noted that non-autistic older adults experience shorter sleep durations, especially in the third and fourth stages of sleep. Many older adults can sleep several times during the daytime, and this has adverse effects on quality of their lives. Environmental factors, the patient’s social interactions, and physical activity are some of the issues that affect assessment of sleep needs in older adults. Noise would disrupt assessment while quality social interactions and physical activity would enhance it. Oyane and Bjorvatn (2005) discovered that sleep problems are more prevalent in adults with autism and Asperger syndrome. Autistic adults experience inefficient sleep that last for short periods, with sleep onset latency. There is no proof of early awakening among autistic adults, and factors such as Asperger syndrome affect assessment that should be modified to take care of an accompanying factor. Physical activity Advancement in age leads to physiological changes that reduce physical activity in older adults. Some older adults exercise to levels that are close to those of younger adults but they use physical activities of relatively lower intensity. These include low-impact aerobic activities, golfing, gardening, and walking. The reduction in the volume and intensity of physical activity in older adults is associated with the decline in skeletal muscle performance that is characteristic of old age, and a change in tolerance for physical activity accompanies that decline. Another change that results from physiological aging and that affects physical activity is the accumulation of body fat that is then redistributed to central and visceral depots in old age. Assessment for physical activity in older adults would be affected by the presence of a chronic disease that both hinder physical activity and that could help reduce its risk (Chodzko-Zajko et. al., 2009). Heller and Sorensen (2013) revealed that only very few adults with autism engage in physical activity, and that cognitive, and social emotional factors are significant barriers to heath promotion, such as through physical activity in adults with autism. Poor self-efficacy, lack of motivation and poor outcome expectations are examples of these cognitive and socio-emotional factors. Assessment for physical activity in adults with autism should therefore take into account factors of social inaccessibility such as lack of social acceptance, inadequate community, and personal support, insufficiency of financial resources and lack of transportation. In addition, this assessment should consider that poor nutrition and the higher risk of falls among adults with autism could reduce an individual’s initiative to get into physical activity. Financial security Many elderly people live below the poverty line, and some older adults lack occupational pensions, especially women. Interestingly, older adults do not think of themselves as being in poverty because of their reflections on memories of when they were younger and more productive. Older adults spend based on necessity and they are less likely to spend on luxuries than their younger counterparts are (Price, 2008). Lack of employment because of retirement makes it difficult for older adults to cater for their social services hence the need for aid such as Medicare. Assessment for the financial security of older adults should consider availability and accessibility of help from family relatives and agencies. Individuals with disabilities make up the largest percentage of the unemployed. Individuals with ASD are largely unemployed and the employed ones work in sheltered places or do voluntary jobs. Their tendency to change jobs frequently and the hardship they encounter while adjusting to new workplaces affect finances of older adults. Individuals with ASD who are in supported employment perform better and lead better quality lives (Friedman, Warfield & Parish, 2013). The finances of autistic adults are further strained when those that have capacity to work lack skills and competencies that would warrant their employability. The lack of such skills and competencies among autistic individuals derive from the lack of educational qualifications similar to those of non-autistic persons. The presence or absence of system-level interventions that can help customize employment opportunities for autistic individuals can influence assessment for the financial security of autistic adults. Social and community needs of the individuals can also affect assessment. Social isolation and participation Social isolation among older adults manifests in being lonely. Many older adults are lonely because their children have relocated and some have even lost their spouses. Social isolation occurs in older adults because they maintain small social networks. Even in these social networks, older adults have minimal contact with their peer. The lack of diversity in these social networks is another cause of social isolation on older adults. Older adults register the lowest participation levels in activities such as religious attendance and volunteering and this is a factor of their social disconnectedness (Cornwell & Waite, 2009). The impact of social isolation on the health of older adults would affect assessment for social isolation among older adults. Personality can also affect the outcome of this assessment. On the other hand, social isolation in autistic adults relates to social functioning. This manifests in difficulty in understanding non-verbal communication, limited social and emotional reciprocity, stereotypical gestures and problems maintaining eye contact. Autistic adults have been noted to have self-injurious behavior and this predisposes them to social isolation (Friedman, Warfield & Parish, 2013). Some of them exhibit problematic communication that hinders social relationship. Assessment for social isolation among autistic adults should consider whether there are systems in place to encourage social inclusion. In conclusion, both older adults and adults with autism have difficulties with executive functions including planning, initiation, and cognitive flexibility. Adults with autism rate better than older adults are on attention. Older adults sleep less than other adults do and they sleep during the day. Adults with autism, however, have inefficient sleep and difficulty waking up early, but members of both groups experience reduced incidence and intensity of physical activity. Unemployment due to retirement is the cause of financial insecurity in older while adults with autism are largely unemployed due to mental disabilities. Minimal contact with peers and death of spouses are some of the reasons why older adults are socially isolated, while problematic communication and impaired social functioning cause social isolation on adults with autism. References Birath, J. & Martin, J. (2007). Common Sleep Problems Affecting Older Adults. Annals of Long-Term Care, Clinical Care and Aging, 15(12). Chodzko-Zajko, W., Proctor, D., Singh, M., Minson, C., Nigg, C., Salem, G. & Skinner, J. Exercise and Physical Activity for Older Adults. (2009). Official Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, 2009: 1510 – 1530. Cornwell, E. & Waite, L. (2009). Measuring Social Isolation Among Older Adults Using Multiple Indicators From the NSHAP Study. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci, 64B(Suppl 1): i38 – i46. Friedman, N., Warfield, M. & Parish, S. (2013). Transition to adulthood for individuals with autism spectrum disorder: current issues and future perspectives. Neuropsychiatry, 3(2): 181 – 192. Geurts, H. & Vissers, M. (2012). Elderly with Autism: Executive Functions and Memory. J Autism Dev Disord, 42: 665 – 675. Heller, T. & Sorensen, A. (2013). Promoting Healthy Aging in Adults with Developmental Disabilities. Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews, 18: 22 – 30. Lin, H., Chan, R., Zheng, L., Yang, T. & Wang, Y. (2007). Executive functioning in healthy elderly Chinese people. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 22: 501 – 511. Oyane, N. & Bjorvatn, B. (2005). Sleep disturbances in adolescents and young adults with autism and Asperger syndrome. SAGE Publications and The National Autistic Society, 9(1): 83 – 94. Price, D. (2008). Financial Issues Facing Older People. London, UK: Institute of Gerontology, Kings College. Read More