ABSTRACT
As an individual makes the transition into later life, the person generally has to cope with a variety of changes, including retirement, illness, loss of others, relocations, and possibly even institutionalization. These transitions pose challenges for all who are aging. This chapter explores the effects of these transitions on the lives of persons with developmental disabilities. It discusses the nature of coping. R. Lazarus and S. Folkman define coping as “constantly changing cognitive and behavioral efforts to manage specific external and/or internal demands that are appraised as taxing or exceeding the resources of the person”. Coping strategies can be cognitive, behavioral, or emotional. The process of senescence or aging is multifaceted, involving chronological, biological, social, and psychological aspects. One of the most stressful transitions in later life involves coping with illness. It is common in later life to experience a variety of chronic illnesses. Central to retirement is the issue of pre-retirement planning.
