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¶ … person's life, the common goal is to be successful at whatever it is that one does in his or her professional life, have a family, ensure the success of said family, and retire to the "golden years." No one ever considers the idea that perhaps maybe those golden years aren't so glamorous and bright after all. Most don't consider the complications that come from achieving such an age, and all the stressors, expectations of family roles and responsibilities that come along with it. Older adulthood isn't always what we consistently dream of, there are a lot of health complications that arise, and the quality of life may not be as good as it once was; however, it has been noted that with the presence of love and support from family and friends, the livelihood of these adults could be considerably better. Progressing into older/late adulthood incorporates a lot that changes, and they aren't always the easiest changes to accept.

In the text, the authors, Joan Granucci Lesser and Donna Saia Pope, define older adulthood as "the final transitional stage of development. Definitions of life stage include later adulthood and old age" (Lesser & Pope, 2010). This definition on its own offers the implication that there is not another milestone to look forward to, and while some individuals find this final milestone to be celebrated, others fear that it marks their decline in health, social status, and an increase in stressors in their lives. A study was conducted by A.J. Bishop and two others regarding the satisfaction of life in older adulthoods, and he mentions that "health, socioeconomic, and social support are key resources that shape subjective well-being in late and very late life, and they are used as salient predictors of life satisfaction" (Bishop, Martin, & Poon, 2006). As mentioned, it is widely noted and understood that many older and elderly adults progressing through this stage of life have declining health, and as a result, they have several health related problems such as heart disease, loss of vision, and decreased (and at times, depleted) mobility occur. Many of the adults included in this community and/or study thus become heavily dependent on those who are closest to them to offer them the help and support they need. Often times, their children have to step in and assume the role of a caretaker due to the unfortunate circumstances that these individuals are unable to care for themselves. Without the support of family and friends, this could dramatically reduce the quality of life for those who are continuing through older and late adulthood, and could even contribute to the symptoms of depression that are commonly found in adults of this age.

In a study regarding behaviors for reducing stress in older adulthood, D. Schneller mentions that "the elderly of the in-decline group were more likely to exhibit depressive symptoms; disabled elderly could maintain emotional health in the short-term but were unable to do so in the long-term" (Schneller & Vandsburger, 2008). This result also attributes the quality of life to be directly related to the idea that without the social support of family and friends, elderly adults tend to lose an appreciation for life, and easily slip into a depressive status, usually not particularly caring whether or not they continue to exist, which is incredibly disheartening. This is why there are so many in-home medical care groups available to patients who are gravely ill, because it allows the patient to be in the comfort of their own homes, and many times it offers the ability to have 24/7 support from the loved ones, which prolong their life a while, even if just for a few days.