Class 12 - Middle and Older Adult

Question 1

What does climacteric mean?

Answer 1

• the years of middle or late adulthood in both men and women during which reproductive capacity declines or is lost

Question 2

What occurs in male climacteric? (5)

Answer 2

• extremely gradual with a slow loss of reproductive capacity
• quality of viable sperm declines slightly
• Testes shrink gradually
• Volume of seminal fluid declines
• Incidence of erectile dysfunction increases

Question 3

What can help restore sexual function?

Answer 3

• lifestyle changes and medication

Question 4

What occurs in female climacteric? (4)

Answer 4

Menopause:
- the cessation of monthly menstrual cycles in middle-aged women
- usually occurs when a woman is between her late 40s and early 50s
- estrogen and progesterone which are high with menstruation begin to decrease

Question 5

What are the phases of menopause? (3)

Answer 5

1. Premenopausal (late 30s to early 40s)
2. Perimenopausal (40-55)
3. Postmenopausal (>55)

Question 6

What occurs in premenopause? (3)

Answer 6

• estrogen levels begin to fluctuate and decline
• Experience anovulatory cycles, which causes progesterone to decline
• Period becomes irregular

Question 7

What occurs in premenopause? (7)

Answer 7

• can last up to 6 years
• Transition phase
• Estrogen levels drop
• Extreme variations in periods
• hot flashes
• Sleep deprivation
• Mood swings

Question 8

What occurs in postmenopause? (3)

Answer 8

• no menstruation for 1 year
• Both estrogen and progesterone drop to consistently low levels
• Effects on tissues and genitals (collapsed uterus, etc)

Question 9

What is menstrual hormone therapy for? (2)

Answer 9

• symptom management, not prevention
• consider family hx

Question 10

What are the pros of menstrual hormone therapy? (2)

Answer 10

• reduce mood swings
• decrease bone loss of osteoporosis

Question 11

What are the cons of menstrual hormone therapy? (2)

Answer 11

• Increases rate of cancers
• Higher risks of heart attacks and stroke

Question 12

A middle-aged person in good health often functions as well, and has as much energy as younger adults.
True or false: Mid-life is the era during which the poor health habits and risky behaviours of earlier years begin to catch up with us

Answer 12

true

Question 13

During middle adulthood, there is an increase in what factors? (4)

Answer 13

• Frequency of annoying aches and pains
• The number who are unhappy with their bodies
• Chronic diseases and disabilities
• Disease-related death

Question 14

Why is physical activity important? (2)

Answer 14

• Promote longevity, as well as the reverse
• Help women prevent osteoporosis so they will not have mobility issues in the future

Question 15

What is a sandwich generation? (4)

Answer 15

• AKA multigenerational caregivers
• middle-aged adults who are caring for both elderly parents and young children at the same time
• Caregiver burden vs satisfaction
• Extra expenses, absent from work more often, reduced quality of life

Question 16

How do parents feel about an empty nest? (3)

Answer 16

• Shaped by ethnocultural values, relationship quality, living arrangements, and financial circumstances, not about losing their central role of “mother”
• Age when the last child is born and longevity together increase the likelihood of experiencing the empty nest
• The role of parent does not cease when the child leaves, but the content of the parental role is quite different

Question 17

What does “failure to launch” mean?

Answer 17

adult children may remain at home longer

Question 18

What does “revolving door” mean?

Answer 18

adult children who return after living elsewhere independently

Question 19

True or false: Conflicts between parents and resident adult children are common.

Answer 19

true

Question 20

Why is there an increase in young adults staying home?

Answer 20

• financial difficulties associated with unemployment, schooling, delayed marriage, and a rise in the divorce rate

Question 21

What do “friends” look like in middle and older adults? (3)

Answer 21

• The social network of middle-aged adults is relatively small
• Relationships are just as intimate as they were at earlier ages
• associated with better psychological health and wellbeing