ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at some of the issues relevant to middle adulthood and ways in which social workers might assist people in improving their quality of life. Middle adulthood, in general, can be a time when physical and cognitive development have stabilized, such that people often enjoy productivity and relative health. Although middle age is a time when energy, eyesight, hearing, metabolism, memory, and reaction time begin to decline, many people usually do not notice a marked difference from when they were younger. Many of the physical issues that may arise during middle age can be treated, and even prevented, so this becomes a time when people need to get regular checkups and pay attention to their lifestyles. Obviously, many of the physical changes that occur in middle adulthood can be explained through the medical model. In contrast to their physical appearance, the cognitive capacities of most healthy, intellectually active middle-aged adults do not show much decline.
