Lifespan development is the complete process of the human being’s development from conception until the time of death. It is also referred to as a holistic approach to better understand all the physiological, emotional, cognitive, and fundamental social changes that normal human beings undergo. Therefore, this discussion will extensively look at the declines that occur in late adulthood, the measures and techniques of curbing these effects, and most importantly, the appropriate method of dealing with these changes.
Aging is a gradual, continuous process of the natural changing of the body that begins in early adulthood. In the Middle Ages, most human body parts gradually declined as aging is often associated with dynamic biological and even behavioral changes. In most cases, getting old leads to the loss of memory, poor intellectual function, decreased mobility rate, and higher rates of disease infection. Late adulthood is the stage of life where an individual is 60 years and above, and it entails the last phase of the physical changes (Santrock, 2019). During this stage, the skin loses its elasticity, the body’s reaction becomes much slower, and the muscle strength also diminishes or fades away.
Nonetheless, at around 20s, the hearing and vision are so sharp, but it also begins to fade away at this stage. Furthermore, changes in the brain are also noticeable and there is a high probability of a human encountering or facing memory loss and a further decreased intellectual function. Nevertheless, the most appropriate way of curbing these changes and declines is by encouraging the affected individuals to act physically active and functionally maintain their minds. They should also practice eating healthy foods, and, most importantly, stay connected with social activities (Santrock, 2019). However, reducing the risk of cognitive decline with age can be achieved by involving the aged individuals taking enough sleep, actively enjoying their leisure, and getting an early start in their lives.
In conclusion, it is clear that during the old age stage, there is a loss or decline in memory that arises from the decrease of the speed that encodes the storage and the retrieval of the memory. However, most old-age adults tend to struggle with shame, guilt, and depression, especially in the areas where old-age adults are perceived as burdens. This condition can be curbed by having enough sleep, being physically fit and getting enough rest.
Reference
Santrock, J. W. (2019). Lifespan development (17th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.