Aging in Marriage and

1
Chapter 17

• Aging in Marriage and
• Family Relationships

2
Chapter Outline

• Age and Ageism
• Caregiving for the Frail ElderlyThe Sandwich
  Generation
• Issues Confronting the Elderly
• Successful Aging
• Relationships and the Elderly
• Grandparenthood
• The End of Ones Life

3
True or False?

• The process of death, rather than death itself,
  is the primary fear of the elderly.

4
Answer True

• The process of death, rather than death itself,
  is the primary fear of the elderly.

5
True or False?

• Good physical health is the primary determinant
  of an elderly persons reported happiness.

6
Answer True

• Good physical health is the primary determinant
  of an elderly persons reported happiness.

7
True or False?

• Mastery/competence is the way elderly
  grandparents describe the experience of taking
  care of grandchildren.

8
Answer False

• Musil and Standing (2005) reported on the diaries
  of grandmothers who revealed stress in their full
  time role of grandmother as they coped with their
  grandchildrens daily activities.
• Bullock (2005) studied 21 grandfathers over the
  age of 65 who were involved in the active care of
  at least one grandchild. Powerless was the
  term used by these grandfathers to describe their
  experience.

9
The Concept of Age

• A persons age may be defined
• Chronologically
• Physiologically
• Psychologically
• Sociologically
• Culturally

10
Age

• This couple is in their 80s, and they have been
  married for over 60 years (they met on a train)
  they meet the cultural definition of being old.

• Pg. 481

11
Ageism

• Every society has some form of ageismthe
  systematic persecution and degradation of people
  because they are old.

12
Question

• When are people considered old?
• when they begin to collect Medicare
• all of these choices.
• when they develop an elderly self-concept
• when their physical capabilities diminish

13
Answer B

• People are considered old when they begin to
  collect Medicare, when they develop an elderly
  self-concept and when their physical capabilities
  diminish.

14
Question

• The persecution and degradation of people due to
  their age is called
• elder abuse.
• gerontophobia.
• gerontology.
• ageism.

15
Answer D

• The persecution and degradation of people due to
  their age is called ageism.

16
Life Expectancy
Year Caucasoid Males African-American Males Caucasoid Females African-American Females
2000 74.9 68.3 80.1 75.2
2005 75.4 69.9 81.1 76.8
2010 76.1 70.9 81.8 77.8
17
The Sandwich Generation

• The number of individuals in the sandwich
  generation will increase for the following
  reasons
• Longevity
• Chronic disease
• Fewer siblings to help
• Commitment to parental care
• Lack of support for the caregiver

18
Your Opinion?

• Suppose your father has Alzheimers and is in a
  nursing home.
• He is 88 and no longer recognizes you.
• He has stopped eating.
• Would you have a feeding tube inserted to keep
  him alive?

19
Caring for the Elderly

• Because this womans mother and brother were n a
  nursing home, she felt comfortable moving to one.
  
• In this photo, the daughter-in-law (who lives out
  of state) is visiting her.

• Pg. 486

20
Issues Confronting the Elderly

• For most individuals, the end of life is
  characterized by reduced income.
• About 94 of elderly Americans, live in a
  noninstitutionalized setting.
• Good physical health is the most important
  determinant of an elderly persons happiness.

21
Issues Confronting the Elderly

• Elderly persons often have a reduced capacity
  for
• processing information quickly
• cognitive attention to a specific task
• retention
• motivation to focus on a task

22
Issues Confronting the Elderly

• A blurred retirement means the individual works
  part-time before completely retiring.
• Levitra, Cialis, and Viagra are prescription
  drugs that help a man create and maintain an
  erection.

23
Question

• Which of the following is the most important
  determinant of an elderly person's self-reported
  happiness?
• finances
• health
• strong family ties
• adequate housing

24
Answer B

• Health is the most important determinant of an
  elderly person's self-reported happiness.

25
Factors in Successful Aging

• Not smoking or quitting early.
• Developing a positive view of life and lifes
  crises.
• Avoiding alcohol and substance abuse.
• Maintaining healthy weight.
• Exercising daily.
• Continuing to educate oneself.
• Having a happy marriage.

26
Your Opinion?

• What do you think the position of the government
  should be in regard to physician-assisted-suicide?
  

27
Relationships at Age 85 and Beyond

• Relationship with Spouse
• Marriages that survive into late life are
  characterized by little conflict, considerable
  companionship, and mutual supportiveness.
• Relationship with Siblings
• Relationships with siblings are primarily
  emotional (enjoying time together) rather than
  functional (the sibling provides money or
  services).

28
Relationships at Age 85 and Beyond

• Relationship with Ones Own Children
• In regard to relationships of the elderly with
  their children, emotional and expressive rewards
  are high.
• Actual caregiving is rare.

29
Grandparenthood

• Grandchildren report enormous benefits from
  having a close relationship with grandparents,
  including
• development of a sense of family ideals
• moral beliefs
• work ethic.
• Divorced grandparents have less contact with
  grandchildren and participate in fewer shared
  activities with them.

30
Grandmother

• Pg. 500

• This grandmother delights in her new grandbaby.

31
Grandfather

• Pg. 501

• This grandson benefits form the happiness he sees
  in and adoration he feels from his granddad.

32
Death of Ones Spouse

• The death of ones spouse is the most stressful
  life event individuals experience.
• Most women who live to age 80 have lost their
  husbands.
• Patterns women use to adjust to this lopsided
  man-woman ratio include dating younger men,
  romance without marriage, and share-a-man
  relationships.

33
Question

• The elderly fear __________ more than __________.
• loss of a spouse dying themselves
• the dying process death
• nursing homes long illness
• dying in their sleep dying in a hospital

34
Answer B

• The elderly fear the dying process more than
  death.

35
Preparing for Ones Own Death

• Thoughts in the last year of life
• Most thought about death and saw their life as
  one that would soon end.
• Most did so without remorse or anxiety.
• Behaviors the last year of life
• Aware that they are going to die, most simplify
  their life, disengage from relationships, and
  leave final instructions.