SWK 513 Ch14

Understanding Human Behavior and the Social
Environment
Eleventh Edition
Chapter 14
Biological Aspects of
Later Adulthood
Copyright © 2019 Cengage. All Rights Reserved.

Learning Objectives
• LO 14-1 Define later adulthood
• LO 14-2 Describe the physiological and mental
changes that occur in later adulthood
• LO 14-3 Understand contemporary theories on the
causes of the aging process
• LO 14-4 Describe common diseases and major
causes of death among older adults
• LO 14-5 Understand the importance of placing the
highest priority on self-care.

LO 14-1
• Define Later Adulthood
– What Is Later Adulthood?
 Later adulthood is the last major segment of the lifespan.
 The age of 65 has usually been cited as the dividing line
between middle age and old age.
– Gerontologists
– Young-old and old-old
– A New View of Aging
 It is a mistake to view later adulthood as a time of inevitable
physical and mental decline.

LO 14-2 (1 of 4)
• Describe the Physiological and Mental Changes
That Occur in Later Adulthood
– Senescence
 Changes in physical appearance include increased wrinkling,
reduced agility and speed of motion, stooping shoulders,
increasing unsteadiness of the hands and legs, increased
difficulty in moving, thinning of hair, and the appearance of
varicose veins.
 The acuity of the senses generally deteriorates in later years.

LO 14-2 (2 of 4)
 As people grow older, their gums gradually recede, and the
teeth increasingly take on a yellowish color.
 In later adulthood, the voice may become less powerful and
more restricted in range.
 The skin in many older people becomes somewhat splotchy,
paler in color, and loses some of its elasticity.
 A person’s maximum height is reached by the late teens or early
20s. In future years, there is little or no change in the length of
the individual bones.
 Homeostasis becomes less efficient in later adulthood.

LO 14-2 (3 of 4)
 After age 30, there is a gradual reduction in the power and
speed of muscular contractions, and the capacity for sustained
muscular effort decreases.
 Although there is little functional change in the nerves with
increasing age, some of the nerve tissue is gradually replaced
by fibrous cells.
 With increased age, there is a reduction in the amount of
enzyme action, gastric juices, and saliva, which upsets the
digestion process.
 As people age, their lungs decrease in size, resulting in a
decrease of oxygen utilization.

LO 14-2 (4 of 4)
 The heart and the blood vessels are the body parts in which
aging produces the most destructive changes.
 Under ordinary circumstances, people do not use their body
systems and organs to their limits.
 Masters and Johnson (1966) identified four stages of sexual
response in females and males: excitement, the plateau stage,
orgasm, and resolution.
 It is true that both sexual interest and sexual activity gradually
decline among older adults. However, many older people
continue to engage in sexual activity.

LO 14-3 (1 of 2)
• Understand Contemporary Theories on the Causes
of the Aging Process
– What Causes Aging?
 Genetic Theories
 Nongenetic Cellular Theories
o This category of theories postulates that changes take place
in cellular proteins after they have been formed. Such
changes cause some cells to die, which results in aging.

LO 14-3 (2 of 2)
 Physiological Theories
o These theories explain aging as being due to either the
breakdown of an organ system or an impairment in
physiological control mechanisms.
 Evaluation of Theories of Aging
 How Far Can the Life Span Be Extended?
o Some people are now living beyond 100 years. Today, people
over 100 are a fast-growing segment of the population.

LO 14-4 (1 of 2)
• Describe Common Diseases and Causes of Death
Among Older People
– Diseases and Causes of Death Among Older People
 Most older people have at least one chronic condition, and some
have multiple conditions.
– Factors That Influence the Aging Process
 A large number of “biological insults” hastens the aging process.
Such “insults” include accidents, broken bones, severe burns,
severe psychological stress, and severe alcohol or drug abuse.
Poor eating habits also accelerate aging.
• Is Genetic Testing Desirable?
 Health Practices and Longevity
 Leading Causes of Death Among Older People
 Alzheimer’s Disease

LO 14-4 (2 of 2)
– Life Expectancy
 The average life expectancy in ancient Rome and during the
Middle Ages was between 20 and 30 years.
 Some people lived to be 70 or 80, but infant mortality was very
high, and famine, diseases, and wars took the lives of many
more.
 The life expectancy for Americans has gradually been
increasing due to better sanitation, nutrition, and disease
control.
 In the middle of the 19th century, Americans lived for an
average of 40 years.
 At the turn of the 20th century, the average was 49 years.
 The average life expectancy in 2015 was 79 years

LO 14-5 (1 of 4)
• Understand the Importance of Placing the Highest
Priority on Self-Care
– Wellness: The Strengths Perspective
 If social workers do not care for themselves, their ability to care
for others will be sharply diminished or even depleted.
– Physical Exercise
 For people who have had poor health-maintenance habits, it is
nearly never too late to change.

LO 14-5 (2 of 4)
– Mental Activity
 Our society needs to put more emphasis on ensuring that older
people are exposed to intellectual stimulation.
– Sleep Patterns
 Many older people have one or more sleep disturbances, such
as insomnia, difficulty in falling asleep, restless sleep, falling
asleep when company is present, frequently awakening during
the night, and feeling exhausted or tired after a night of fitful
sleep.

LO 14-5 (3 of 4)
– Nutrition and Diet
 The majority of older people have inadequate diets.
– Stress and Stress Management
 Learning how to manage stress is important for the physical and
emotional health of all age groups.
 Conceptualizing Stress
o Stress can be defined as the physiological and emotional
reactions to stressors.

LO 14-5 (4 of 4)
 Traumas and Stress Disorders
 Empowerment Approaches to Stress Management: Application
of Theory
 Application of Theory to Client Situations
o Social workers are one of the groups of helping professionals,
along with psychologists, psychiatrists, and guidance
counselors, who are involved in developing and providing
stress management programs.
o Social workers have a variety of roles in stress management

SWK 513 Ch14

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SWK 513 Ch14