Normal Psychosocial Changes

1. Normal Psychosocial Changes In this section you will be able to: • Describe age related changes in intelligence, memory and learning. • Relate personality traits of the elderly to the problems of adjusting emotionally to aging. • Describe reactions of the elderly to increased stress and defence mechanisms that may be employed.

2. Intelligence • Most elders remain intelligent, adaptive and learning individuals. • Elderly who attended college/university as young people are more likely to enrol in classes when they are retired.

3. Age Related Change in Memory • Memory will deteriorate some but not too severe (90% keep their alertness and memory). • Normal age-related memory loss does not affect daily living.(Comparison to Alzheimer’s :Someone might forget part of an experience with normal memory loss with Alz. Individual would forget everything). • Person will remember info eventually. • Individual can still follow directions.

4. Learning • Individuals continue to learn. • Their perception to conversations slows with age however.

5. Emotional Adjustment to Aging • Self Concept, thinking and morale are stable. • Individual may feel that it does not need to conceal underlying thoughts. • Older individuals have same emotional needs as younger individual.

6. Reactions of the elderly to increased stress • Western world places less significance on older individuals. • May not want to admit age, loneliness, displacement. • Individuals cope with issues of self esteem with withdrawal.