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Later Adulthood

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Later Adulthood Development Report
Adults that are faced with the transition between adulthood and later adulthood, reaching their “golden years”, are faced with social, physical and mental changes. These changes affect them in every area of their lives. Moving from adult to the category of “senior citizen”, can be a difficult transition for many people. The age of 65 has usually been cited as the dividing line between middle age and old age (Santrock, 2008). It is during this crucial age that people will begin to experience life changes, it is important to note that there are resources, tools that can be used to make this transition easier for both the client and the family.
There is a very permanent stereotype that assumes that because a person is reaching older age, they are in both physical and metal decline. This is not necessarily true, as there are people that can live independently well into later adulthood, without ongoing medical care or supervision. Older adults will be subject to discrimination by others, especially in the workforce, they are deemed to be slower and with dwindling critical thinking capabilities, this stereotype perpetuates discrimination in the workforce. Aging adults can also fall victim to increased levels of crime. Others may take advantage of them, as they, along with children, are some of the most vulnerable in our community.
There is another set of aging adults who are under difficult circumstance and do need extra help and assistance in order for them to move forward with everyday tasks like caring for their own personal hygiene, dressing, walking and cooking. It is important to note that those who are in this kind of need, do have resources that can be provided for them. For those who chose to live independently, there are resources such as “meals on wheels”, that can provide them with their daily meals, delivered to them

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