CHAPTER 4CHAPTER 4

COGNITIVE PROCESSESCOGNITIVE PROCESSES

““Cognitive perceptual health pattern deals Cognitive perceptual health pattern deals with the ways people gain information with the ways people gain information from the environment and the way they from the environment and the way they interpret and use this information”.interpret and use this information”.

Perception involves collecting, interpreting, Perception involves collecting, interpreting, and recognizing stimuli, whereas cognition, and recognizing stimuli, whereas cognition, along with physical health, as having a along with physical health, as having a major role in maintaining independence in major role in maintaining independence in later life, particularly as it relates to later life, particularly as it relates to everyday competencies.everyday competencies.

Competencies would include:Competencies would include: Managing financesManaging finances Taking medicationTaking medication ShoppingShopping Using the phoneUsing the phone Carrying out housekeeping choresCarrying out housekeeping chores TransportationTransportation Meal preparationMeal preparation

Specific ChangesSpecific Changes

INTELLIGENCEINTELLIGENCE

LEARNING AND MEMORYLEARNING AND MEMORY

CREATIVITYCREATIVITY

INTELLIGENCEINTELLIGENCE

A common procedure used in the A common procedure used in the measurement of intelligence is the measurement of intelligence is the administration of standardized tests administration of standardized tests such as WAIS (Wechsler Adult such as WAIS (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale).Intelligence Scale). Divided into 2 categories: verbal & Divided into 2 categories: verbal &

performance.performance. Verbal: vocabulary, comprehension, & Verbal: vocabulary, comprehension, &

mathmath Performance: picture completion, block Performance: picture completion, block

design, & digit symbol.design, & digit symbol.

These tests have been the focus of much These tests have been the focus of much criticism for a variety of reasons and are unfair criticism for a variety of reasons and are unfair to older persons:to older persons: Test content may not be relevant to older peopleTest content may not be relevant to older people Older people may not be in the habit of being testedOlder people may not be in the habit of being tested Older individuals may have developed test wisdomOlder individuals may have developed test wisdom Test anxiety may make concentration difficultTest anxiety may make concentration difficult Factors such as nutrition may influence test scoresFactors such as nutrition may influence test scores Older people may respond more slowly than Older people may respond more slowly than

youngeryounger Older individuals may be less likely to guess at Older individuals may be less likely to guess at

answers than younger folksanswers than younger folks

LEARNING AND MEMORYLEARNING AND MEMORY One of the greatest fears of many older One of the greatest fears of many older

individuals is Alzheimer’s disease and the individuals is Alzheimer’s disease and the loss of independence. As a result, memory loss of independence. As a result, memory lapses are accompanied by anxiety and lapses are accompanied by anxiety and dread. It is crucial that leisure service dread. It is crucial that leisure service providers be aware of the normal changes providers be aware of the normal changes in memory with age and be prepared to in memory with age and be prepared to address issues relating to memory. In address issues relating to memory. In addition, leisure service providers must addition, leisure service providers must base their programs on a realistic base their programs on a realistic perspective of memory and learning in later perspective of memory and learning in later years. Hence the fact that a number of the years. Hence the fact that a number of the programs offered for older adults are based programs offered for older adults are based on routine.on routine.

What’s the difference?What’s the difference?

Learning and memory are closely Learning and memory are closely related:related:

Memory involves the ability to retrieve Memory involves the ability to retrieve information stored in the braininformation stored in the brain

Learning is the process of encoding Learning is the process of encoding information into memoryinformation into memory

InterventionsInterventions

Factors associated with age-related Factors associated with age-related learning and memory differences are learning and memory differences are amenable to intervention. There are amenable to intervention. There are a number of strategies used to a number of strategies used to facilitate learning and memory that facilitate learning and memory that can be effective in developing can be effective in developing teaching strategies to use in program teaching strategies to use in program development:development:

1. Face the individual with whom you are 1. Face the individual with whom you are communicating so they can see our lips communicating so they can see our lips and facial movementsand facial movements

2. Speak slowly and keep the tone of your 2. Speak slowly and keep the tone of your voice lowvoice low

3. Present one idea at a time3. Present one idea at a time 4. Whenever possible, focus on concrete 4. Whenever possible, focus on concrete

rather than abstract materialrather than abstract material 5. Provide sufficient time for individuals to 5. Provide sufficient time for individuals to

respondrespond

Cont.Cont.

6. Keep distractions to a minimum6. Keep distractions to a minimum 7. Use a variety of cues, auditory, 7. Use a variety of cues, auditory,

visual, and tactile, to enhance visual, and tactile, to enhance learninglearning

8. Connect new learning to things 8. Connect new learning to things learned in the past.learned in the past.

9. Use creative teaching strategies.9. Use creative teaching strategies.

AARP StrategiesAARP Strategies The American Association of Retired Persons The American Association of Retired Persons

suggests the following:suggests the following: Establish a comfortable environment for learning Establish a comfortable environment for learning Assess the older person’s expectations and take Assess the older person’s expectations and take

advantage of the older adult’s interestsadvantage of the older adult’s interests Emphasize the older person’s abilities and experiencesEmphasize the older person’s abilities and experiences Establish the connection between new information and Establish the connection between new information and

old knowledgeold knowledge Use reassurance, but do not talk down to the older personUse reassurance, but do not talk down to the older person Try to retain attention by minimizing distracting Try to retain attention by minimizing distracting

background noisesbackground noises Repeat information when needed and emphasize Repeat information when needed and emphasize

important pieces of materialimportant pieces of material Learn to interpret nonverbal signsLearn to interpret nonverbal signs

Develop a Memory ProgramDevelop a Memory Program

These recommendations can used to assist These recommendations can used to assist an older person with developing a memory an older person with developing a memory program:program: Pay attentionPay attention Rehearse and repeatRehearse and repeat Chunk-grouping items togetherChunk-grouping items together Use cuesUse cues Be organizedBe organized Increase use of external aids: notes, appt Increase use of external aids: notes, appt

books, etc.books, etc.

Aging wellAging well

Individuals who age well in the cognitive Individuals who age well in the cognitive domain share common characteristics:domain share common characteristics: Internal focus of control-the ability to maintain Internal focus of control-the ability to maintain

self-directionself-direction Education-continued exposure to formal learningEducation-continued exposure to formal learning Physical activity-particularly aerobic type of Physical activity-particularly aerobic type of

exerciseexercise Favorable environmentsFavorable environments Absence of chronic diseasesAbsence of chronic diseases Marital statusMarital status Flexible personality stylesFlexible personality styles Satisfaction with life accomplishmentsSatisfaction with life accomplishments

CREATIVITYCREATIVITY Important component for leisure service Important component for leisure service

professionals when working with older people.professionals when working with older people. Creative suggestions for activities:Creative suggestions for activities:

Make a parody of a nursery rhymeMake a parody of a nursery rhyme Name 5 practical inventions that have not yet been Name 5 practical inventions that have not yet been

inventedinvented List 10 new ways to use Scotch tapeList 10 new ways to use Scotch tape Take 2 objects as different as possible—a sock and a Take 2 objects as different as possible—a sock and a

lawn mower for example—and identify how they might lawn mower for example—and identify how they might be paired in creative waysbe paired in creative ways

Suggest 3 or 4 historic people and describe how their Suggest 3 or 4 historic people and describe how their meeting would create a bizarre, ludicrous, or comical meeting would create a bizarre, ludicrous, or comical conversationconversation

Describe 3 new uses for a computer.Describe 3 new uses for a computer.

The potential for Ulyssean living in The potential for Ulyssean living in the later years is greatly increased in the later years is greatly increased in individuals with high levels of individuals with high levels of cognitive functioning, learning, cognitive functioning, learning, memory and creativity are powerful memory and creativity are powerful tools for enhancing the quality of life.tools for enhancing the quality of life.