Issues Affecting the Aged

Gatrad, A. R. (1994). Muslim customs surrounding death, bereavement, postmortem examinations, and organ transplants. Bmj, 309(6953), 521-523. doi:10.1136/bmj.309.6953.521

When an individual dies, their death can greatly impact the loved ones they leave behind. Each mourner may feel and perceive the death differently from one another, but one common factor that can influence the mourner’s beliefs, values, and views about a person’s death is their culture. Their culture can regulate the way the mourner copes with the death of a loved one, what they do with the physical deceased body, and how they may honor the dead afterwards (Cartaret, 2011). For me, my culture is relatively related to the Catholic, Hispanic American culture, which is a broad and subjective category, but it is what I believe that guides my views towards life and death. I have additionally chosen to learn about the cultural practices of Hinduism of Indians on death

This paper explores the many ways cultures deal with death, both before and after. Most cultures have different practices when it comes to rituals before and after death, but some rituals and beliefs are surprisingly similar. When it comes to health care, nurses need to be aware of any cultural needs of a client in this emotional time. Asking questions about what the patient and family want to happen is very important. For example, Muslims would like the same sex washing their loved one, and they would like the family to do it themselves. The nurse needs to know this to provide culturally competent care.

Passing away has continuously been to a majority of people a prohibited subject in any conversations. Nevertheless, among African American societies death is one of the essential characteristics of culture. It is established that the manner in which death practices are handled among Africa Americans is completely different from other Americans of a different race. Furthermore, death amid the black populations is not viewed to be the moment of sorrow, but the moment to celebrate because the dead will no longer experience the hardships in the world. Although there is mourning at the funeral since the dead will be greatly missed, this moment is similarly time for celebration .Several African Americans might not be informed that a great number

As adults age there are many changes that one may be challenged with. Aging adults begin to face cognitive, physical, and emotional issues that can present a challenge to health care professionals who are providing care. As one enters older adulthood, he or she is faced with potential memory loss. A struggle of forgetfulness can be a daily challenge that comes with aging. Degradation of the body can make everyday tasks increasingly challenging. With this degradation, simple activities such as walking, dressing oneself, eating, and showering can be limiting and difficult. Depression, loneliness, and a sense of

Analyse theories of loss and grief in respect of their relevance for social work practice Both grief and loss are an inevitable part of human existence and are at the heart of life and growth (Walter and McCoyd, 2009). Some losses are painful and consequently trigger grief, however some losses are natural and a part of development, such as maturation, and usually seen as progression but can also present as a loss. An element of social work is to assist service users in their growth, for example from childhood into adolescence, and offer support through difficult losses. Loss can occur within a wide spectrum of experiences; such as death and bereavement; loss of identity - for example losing something defining, for instance faith or religion;

Grief and bereavement for the dead could be seen as something which occurs universally however the scale at which the responses to a respective death in different areas of the world may indeed vary. Discussion of how grief or bereavement is experienced, expressed, and maintained in certain regions of Asia, will facilitate the notion that grieving responses are not as universal as some may think. By concentrating on specific Asian regions, one can identify the similarities or differences between the experiences and expressions of grief within areas of Asia, contrary to a Western perspective of grieving responses and reactions. Through the discussion of the experience and expression of grief in certain Asian societies such as the Torojan people in Indonesia and general accounts of grieving expressions in countries throughout Asia including Japan, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines as well as Korea, comparison can be

Americans are submerged in an individualistic and materialistic society and as more people die in a hospital setting, death has become more isolated and lonely. Discussion of death is often forbidden and avoided, and Americans are expected to recover quickly from a loss, as a prolonged grieving process is seen as weakness and becomes suspicious of depression. In China, death is more widely accepted and their deep family ties help them cope. Chinese culture recognizes heaven, fate, and spirit, but relies on their family, whereas American culture looks to God for individual salvation. There is a distinct cultural difference between the way Americans and Chinese come to terms with death. Chinese believe that there is in an existence that is deeply embed into one’s self and their family, and that mourning the death of a loved one shows ignorance and betrayal of their destiny. Due to these cultural beliefs and perceptions, the Chinese are able to cope with death in ways that Americans can not with an emphasis on fate and family that helps them

Therefore, there cannot be an anthropological study of death, but only of behavior toward death as it affects those who survive. It must be a study of “how others die”; examining the reactions of survivors and interpreting these reactions through ceremonies, ritual practices, ideological rationalizations- in short, as “folklore” (Robben, 52). Death-related behavior will then be placed at a safe distance from the core of one’s own society. Anthropologists also see mourning as a transitional period for the survivors. However, mourning requirements are based on degrees of kinship and are systematized by each people according to their special way of calculating that kinship (Robben, 214). During mourning, social life is suspended for all those affected by it, and the length of the period increases with the closeness of social ties to the deceased, and with a higher social standing of the death person. For example, if the dead man was a chief, the suspension affects the entire

The fear felt is undoubtedly common, however, the ways in which it is dealt with are varied and diverse. Death comes in different cultures and is celebrated differently around the world. Most cultures have specific and meaningful traditions and customs around death. American culture encompasses the customs and traditions of the United States. The United States is one of the most culturally diverse country in the world.

Dealing with death has changed with each ethnicity or culture. For example, North Americans minimize the process

Our bodies experience many changes as we age. The body can develop depending on a person’s genetic pattern of aging. Also, the choices you make in life can have a more deeper impact on your bodily changes as well. These changes can also be mental or physical. Because of the aging body, older adults may use medication to maintain the liability of their functions and abilities due to aging. Many elderly adults may be unaware of the physical changes caused by drug usage and their bodies may become tolerant to the medications. There can be ways to monitor medication with older adults. Our cognition changes as we age. We tend to react differently to certain life situations and the information that we input in our brains are in a more complex process.

As individuals age changes occur physiologically that are part of normal aging. These changes occur in all organ systems and can impact an individual’s quality of life. The changes related to aging can be attributed to an individual’s genetic make up, lifestyle, physical activity, and dietary lifestyle. Being able to differentiate between normal changes in aging against disease process is important because it can help clinicians develop a plan of care (Boltz, Capezuti, Fulmer, & Zwicker, 2012). Creating an accurate plan of care for older adults will greatly impact their quality of life.

In my 46 years of existence I have noticed a few basic commonality amongst all living thing, one being death. Although the death process is universal, the end of life experience and behaviors associated with expressing death and grief are very much culturally bound. As Robert Kastenbaum (XXXX) some of earliest memories as child is of death. At first glance I thought this notion was ridiculous as I thought of some my childhood experiences. However upon further reflection I started to remember the death of my great grandmother when I was about eight years old. I made an unconscious decision to suppress this life-altering event. It would be 34 years before I observed death again as an insider with the cognitive skills to comprehend. From my perspective

As the body ages it suffers many changes, the muscle size and the bone thickness diminish, and you become less active and inclined to injuries and bone breakage.