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401(k) plan
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common retirement plan in the United States, in which employers match employees’ contributions but individuals are responsible for investing their own retirement account
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activity of daily living (ADL)
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action required to care for yourself, such as feeding yourself, bathing, dressing, using the toilet, and moving around your environment
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activity theory
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theory that suggests being more active and socially engaged is beneficial for older adults
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adult daycare
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facility that provides supervision and activities for older adults who are not capable of safely staying at home unsupervised
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ageism
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discrimination against or different treatment of someone solely due to their age
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aging in place
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effort to live safely and comfortably at home while maintaining as much independence as possible
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assisted living
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institutional housing for individuals who have physical and/or cognitive limitations that prevent them from living independently or at home
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bridge employment
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paid work after retirement, either in a similar job as before or in a new profession
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caregiver
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individual who looks after and assists those with health problems and functional needs such as ADLs and IADLs
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congregate housing
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residential community or facility that offers older adults more access to resources, including common areas, that typical independent living communities may not provide
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continuing care community
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housing facility that provides a wide range of types of care for older adults, often ranging from independent living to nursing home care
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disengagement theory
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theory that describes shrinking social networks as evidence that separating yourself from your social ties is a normal part of aging
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elder abuse
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mistreatment or neglect of older adults
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home health aide
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individual who travels to older adults’ homes and provides assistance with health care, ADLs, IADLs, and other tasks needed to help the individual live at home
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instrumental activity of daily living (IADL)
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task essential to functioning independently, such as using the phone, shopping, preparing meals, performing home maintenance and housekeeping, doing laundry, using transportation, managing medications, and dealing with finances
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integrity versus despair
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[definition needed]
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kinkeeper
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family member who takes on the responsibility of organizing family events, maintaining family traditions, and helping family members stay in touch
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life review
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someone’s reflection on the life they have lived, their behaviors, accomplishments, relationships, and decisions
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locus of control
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extent to which we believe we have personal control over our own life and life outcomes
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negative affect
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extent to which someone experiences negative emotions such as anger or sorrow
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nursing home
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institutional housing similar to assisted living but for residents who need medical care and supervision, including skilled nursing care
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pension plan
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traditional retirement plan in the United States, in which employers provide a lifelong financial benefit to retired employees
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phased retirement
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process of decreasing hours and responsibilities at work to retire gradually over a period of time
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positive affect
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extent to which someone experiences positive emotions such as joy
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selection, optimization, and compensation (SOC) theory
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theory suggesting that older adults become more selective in the activities they pursue, engage in activities to enhance their performance, and change their strategy to adjust for declines
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social convoy
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analogy for the way in which social networks change over time as some new members join and others fall away
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social network
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complex variety of people with whom individuals are socially engaged
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social support
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practical or emotional support provided by people with whom we interact socially
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socioemotional selectivity theory
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theory suggesting that increased focus on emotional goals makes older adults more selective in their social partners, leading to a smaller social network that is more emotionally satisfying