Late Adulthood: Documentary Analysis

Late adulthood is generally considered to begin at about age 60 and although was seen as a period of universal and continuous decline in physical and mental functions in the past, it is now more carefully studied based on individual differences within this age group. Whereas life expectancy varies worldwide, the industrialized nations claim an increase in longevity in the past few decades due to improved nutrition and medical care. In 2014, there were 46 million people (15% of the population) age 65 and over living in the US, amongst which 6 million were over age 85 (FIFARS, 2014).
While the overall progress in science and technology allowed for better nutrition and the eradication of many infectious diseases, resulting in an increased lifespan, the prevalence of chronic disease correspondingly rose …show more content…
Increased success rates in bypass surgeries and organ transplants, bettered medication and therapy provide populations of all ages with hope for a longer and healthier life for themselves and loved ones. Although this seems to benefit everybody, however, many of the octogenarians have multiple chronic diseases that alter their quality of life. The documentary presents Estelle, a 94 years old lady, a former stockbroker, who is alert, full of life, and healthy, in contrast to other older adults that aren’t so fortunate and whose health is very precarious. They suffer from severe arthritis, deafness, dementia, muscle atrophy, amputations, etc. and often need medical care and assistance around the clock. Some of the older adults presented in the documentary, were in very poor health, unable to move or feed themselves, or even having a hard time breathing because of chronic pain episodes, but were kept alive because their children try to keep them alive as long as