Aging: something society cannot avoid. Our body slowly gives into the aging process. This process can be overwhelming in every aspect of life, from changes in appearance to limited physical abilities to move that deprive us of our being. Everyone will all become older, but not all will be affected by the aging process in the same way (Huyck,1974, p.vii). In the 1900’s the life expectancy in the United States for women would be to live to 48 years and for men would be to live to 46 years, this study shows that the women in the United States live longer than men (1900-98"). As of now women live to 81years and men live to 76. The aging process not only affects individuals but the whole society. The elderly population has important implications …show more content…
This age group can be a negative and positive outcome. Women in these ages start to recognize that their hair is becoming more noticeable to see white or gray hair; their skin becomes a bit stretchy and wrinkled, and on some women they start to shrink in their height. Once again this is all part of aging. The Middle-old age group seem to be happy than the older group. Happy middle-old people are different from the less happy older age. When it comes to medical expenses for older people they can be expensive than the younger people. The average medical expenditure for persons 65 or over in 1972 was $981, nearly three times as high as the average for persons between the ages of 19 and 64 ($358) (Loether, 1975, p.37). This is one of the issues for older women. Which is why some don’t seek health care when it comes to being sick. Not only the women but as well as the men too. Since women outlive men; women tend to marry men who are older. Among people aged 75 or older, a 42 percent minority have experienced the death of a relative in the past five years (Yntema, 1999). Living through this trauma, in this case, a death of a loved one, is a common experience for the elderly. These women usually spend the rest of their lives …show more content…
Not only do women suffer from health problems like heart disease, cancer, or strokes they can also suffer from mental health. According to Milne, he notes that women in the oldest age group are twice as likely as men to suffer from depressive illness and observes that women are more likely to suffer from dementia (Fennell, Phillipson, & Evers, 1988, p.111). For these older women everything for them seems to be difficult and complicated. They are also tired and stressed out over everything and anything they think
Aging is very complex and highly individualized process which begins at conception and end with death. Variables such as physical or cognitive impairments, socioeconomic aspect, cultural values, and beliefs make an aging process unique to each individual. I interviewed an elderly woman using a set of guided questionnaires on the topic to further explore her aging experience. For the purpose of this assignment, I will refer to the client interviewed as a D.L., a changed name for a reason of privacy and confidentiality. During the interview, we explored a D.L. strategy to stay healthy, significant accomplishments of her life, hobbies and activities, retirement, and finally the goals for the future.
Gerontology as a field of scientific study can be traced back to the late 1800s; a time when research primarily focused on the negative attributes of aging, such as health decline. It wasn 't until the introduction of social gerontology in 1983 that researchers began to more rigorously study the psychological and social aspects of aging. In recognizing that “successful aging depends not just on the prevention of disease and disability, but also on the attainment of peak physical and psychological functioning,” (Quadagno,
I was intrigued by the amount of pill bottles that one patient had in his kitchen cupboard which made me reflect on the cost of health care produced by the older adult. I began to research the cost of living longer and found that as of 2011, 24 percent of the Medicare population were over the age of 80. I also found that Medicare spending for those above the age of 85 averages around $14,745 (Neuman, Cubanski, Huaung, & Damico, 2015). So I ended up learning that the older
The human species of the world are growing older, and existing longer. Research shows that the average life expectancy of humans living past the age of 80, since the 1800s to that of 2011, has increased by almost 10% per year, with women leading the way with a growth expectancy growing from that of 6.4% to that of 9.6%, surpassing their male counterpart whose life expectancy show an increase from 5.9% to that of 8.2%. As the human life expectancy increases, there also comes an increase concerns by individuals and government official alike in regards to elder care. This literature looks at what is being carried out by individuals as well as government officials to deal with the cost of living longer. We will examination approaches identified
The humanity of aging is a concept sometimes hard to grasp. Understanding why we are
This week, the lecture and additional articles were about the growing number of people reaching late adulthood and the problems that will be created for society. Society is not ready for the influx of elderly individuals needing assistance. In addition to discussing the amount of people reaching late adulthood, this week also touched on several models and theories in regards to aging. This week provided sufficient background information and vital knowledge for the introduction
It is not easy to come up with a working definition of aging; different academics around the world defined ‘aging’ from different perspectives. Based on the collected information I have, I define aging –a multidimensional process of physiological, mental and social changes that occurred over the course of life. Though it is beyond human control, aging experiences may vary between individuals. “In the developed world, chronological time plays a paramount role. The age of 60 or 65, roughly equivalent to retirement ages in most developed countries is said to be the beginning of old age. In many parts of the developing world, chronological time has little or no importance in the meaning of old age. Other socially constructed meanings of age are more significant such as the roles assigned to older people; in some cases it is the loss of roles accompanying physical decline which is significant in defining old age. Thus, in contrast to the chronological milestones which mark life stages in the developed world, old age in many developing countries is seen to begin at the point when active contribution is no longer possible." (Gorman, 2000)
Largest among the growing populations is the age group 65 and older. This course required us to complete Dr. Woolf’s myths of aging quiz. This quiz has 25 questions all about aging issues. In our textbook, “Adult Development and Aging,” Cavanaugh and Blanchard-Fields (2011) state, “Everyone does not grow old in the same way. Whereas most people tend to show usual patterns of aging that reflect the typical, or normative, changes with age, other people show highly successful aging in which few signs of change occur” (p. 16). An analysis of Dr. Woolf’s myths of aging quiz will show several different areas to consider in regards to the
The US population is beginning to see a significant growth in the proportion of Americans who are 65 and older. In 2011 the first of the baby boomers began entering the age of 65. The last of the baby boomers will turn 65 in 2030, and it is projected that one in every five Americans will be elderly at that time (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013; Ortman, Velkoff & Hogan, 2014). Also adding to the reason for the increase in proportion of aging individuals in the population is the declines in fertility and the dramatic increases in longevity, which means the number of generations of a family alive at one time has continued to increase. At each stage of the life the post war baby boomers, because of the sheer size of the group,
In today’s world, the older generations are living longer than ever before. Prior to recent times, seniors were not expected to reach their 70’s or beyond. Now, the 85+-year-old age cohort is becoming the fastest growing cohort in the United States (Transgenerational). Therefore, it is essential for the government, researchers, as well as the individuals in the growing age cohort, to fight the negative stigmas of growing older, as well as preserve their health in order to lead happy and healthy lives.
Aging is a universal phenomenon and humans are no exception. Gerontology deals with the psychological, social and biological aspects of aging process. A recent study shows that people aged 85 years and older are expected to augment from 5.3 million people to 21 million as the world reach 2050. In today’s world Gerontology has an enormous role to play so that the senior citizens could be analyzed and their needs may be addressed with compassion and empathy.
Another supporter of changing the way aging is conveyed is author, Margaret Cruiksbank, of the book, Learning to be Old. In her book she is a proponent of changing the way the aging process is described. Her position is that the underlying meaning of popular terms to describe aging weakens its value. She denotes that the term “successful aging” is a false phrase for the elderly as it “masks both the wish to continue mid-life indefinitely and the white, Middle-class, Western values of researchers, causing them to emphasize productivity, effectiveness and independence” (Cruiksbank, 2009, p. 2). She also concludes that the term “productive” aging symbolizes “economic usefulness and social conformity” (Cruiksbank, 2009, p. 2), especially for the female gender. More importantly, these terms can be used to measure. This ability to measure is subjective to the questioner and an individual’s self-worth. She suggests the term “aging comfortably” as it signifies easiness, and a “faint hint” of pleasurable self-indulgence which may not have been possible in younger years (Cruiksbank, 2009, p. 3).
It is a medically proven fact that after a certain age, usually in our middle years, physical and cognitive health will start declining. Our bodies simply begin shutting down when we reach a certain age, regardless of how well we have taken care of them. For some, old age is synonymous with dread and foreboding. For others, it is only a number representing another phase of life and it should be enjoyed thoroughly. This prescription for successfully aging is applicable to both the individual aging as well as those who interact with elderly individuals. Every person will have their own definition of what it means to successfully age. Theories of successful aging developed over the years attempt to explain what it means to successfully age.
Aging is described as a sequential, irreversible, progressive, and non-pathological process of maturation in an organism and that translates to a gradual decline in the ability to perform activities optimally. Aging is an individual process that can be a period of stress for individuals especially following their retirement (Hiller & Barrow, 2015). The current study sought to understand the process and experience of aging from the perspective of elderly individuals. In discussing matters of aging and retirement, many assume that women are always eager to retire, and adjust well, as compared to their male counterparts (Bauger & Bongaardt, 2016). Many people assume that since women are generally made as homemakers, they are willing and happy to retire while men, whose nature is to be the main source of family income, find it hard to be out of work (Moody & Sasser, 2014). Indeed, there exists very little literature that sheds some light on this area, particularly on the attitudes of each gender towards retirement and process of aging. Given the significance of retirement to this life stage, the study sought to understand the emotions and views of individuals regarding their retirement through the lenses of (1) Physical health and wellbeing, (2) Friends, Family, and Community, (3) Work and leisure, (4) Finances and lifestyles, and (5) Living
According to the UN World Health Organization definition of aging over 65 years as "elderly", when the population of a region or country, the ratio of the elderly more than 7%, referred to as "aging society."