A growing number of aging people turns out to be a serious problem for many countries. From a biological perspective, people have to deal with different age-related diseases and changes. From an emotional point of view, older adults should learn how to live with a loss of autonomy and dependence on other people. Social or mental health issues of aging also vary, including the presence of additional help, support, and professional evaluation. A biopsychosocial assessment can be used to identify various factors of human development through aging. Still, even the most effective models cannot present enough credible information about what can make aging successful and unsuccessful. In this paper, special attention will be paid to the story of my grandfather and his style of life that turns out to be a strong example for me.
Example of My Grandfather
My father devoted all his life to the two most important things – his family and his teaching career. His education, career choice, marriage, and relationships with his family help me create a clear picture of successful aging. In some cases, I may doubt if it is correct to call him a real symbol of successful aging due to his social isolation. Anyway, my relationships with this man have considerably affected my attitudes and goals.
Symbol of Successful Aging
It is possible to identify a number of ways in which my grandfather can be a good example of successful aging. I cannot stop but admire his behavior and attitude to life. As a physical education teacher, my grandfather knows a lot about health and the role of physical activities at a different age. His medical and physical characteristics seem to be almost perfect for me. He does neither drink, take alcohol, nor use drugs. He visits a doctor every month just to check his blood pressure and take urine tests. I do not even remember if I have ever seen this person being sick or having a headache. Nowadays, at the age of 70, he starts talking about rare cases of fatigue and inability to do as many things as he could several years ago.
Though I have never compared my grandfather to such characters as Superman or Batman, I should admit that all those guidelines and help he managed to offer to my family and myself were highly appreciated. He visited all my concerts at school and supported my brother in his intentions to play guitar even though he had nothing in common with this skill. He continues communicating with my grandmother even though they divorced more than ten years ago when I was too young to understand their true reasons. Still, he never says some bad words about this woman. He is always ready to answer all my questions and clarify some points because he truly believes that there is no more important thing than a family. A family, as well as a school, is a priceless source of knowledge and experience, and people are wrong if they think another way.
Symbol of Unsuccessful Aging
Despite a number of positive sides of my grandfather, I should admit that there are several things that bother me. For example, I have never heard from him about his current friends or meetings he wants to participate in. Being so involved in family affairs and personal well-being, he rejects the importance of social life and outside communication. Though he has several friends from his work, they have not often seen after his retirement. I always think that aging is the time to spend it with friends and special communities. There is no need to get up early, go to work, and take many responsibilities. It is a time to become a part of civilian life, following personal demands and interests.
Successful aging is a combination of physical, psychological, and social factors in life. A person has to promote development from all these perspectives. My grandfather does not complain about poor communication with the outside world. He does not lack social and family support. Still, I have a thought and have already created a picture of a successful aged person. Older people should never be alone even if they think that they are better alone. My grandfather has to look through available social communities in our block and become a member of a society or even create his own group, and I am sure his skills and energy can be enough to complete this task. Regarding his good health and PE knowledge, he can help other people of his age to keep healthy living and deal with the limitations caused by age.
Impact of My Grandfather
Taking into consideration all knowledge, experience, and support I have already received from my grandfather, as well as several drawbacks in his social behavior and peer relationships, I believe that my grandfather is a good example to be followed. He made a decision to be a teacher when she was a student and took all necessary steps to be a perfect example for students and teachers. He created a good family, and even after their divorce, my grandfather did everything possible to prove the worth of family relationships in human life. Finally, this person shows that it is possible to achieve impressive goals in case there is a desire. I cannot neglect his impact on the development of my personal attitudes and behaviors.
In addition to a number of personal lessons, my grandfather continues helping me develop my professional skills. Our communication may not be regular, but every meeting is a chance to learn something new about old people, their hopes, and attitudes. I manage to develop clear expectations regarding working with older adults. It is not enough to underline that an old person is an individual with certain health problems and limitations. An older person is an individual with multiple interests and rich past experience that have to be identified and respected all the time. Sometimes, older people are not ready to ask for help. Therefore, support should be offered carefully, by insensible degrees. For example, it is possible to invite a person to a meeting as a guest or an expert so that they can hardly guess that the main goal is to reduce isolation in their life. By asking for a piece of advice, younger people can recognize what may bother older people. In other words, the task is to help without helping.
Conclusion
In general, my grandfather and his story serve as a strong and educative tool for me and my professional career as a social worker. Sometimes, it is not an easy task to talk to older adults and prove to them that additional help or social support is what they can actually need. Though my grandfather is not a pure symbol of successful aging, he has all chances to become such soon because he has never given up or quitted something. I want to believe that all older people must have at least one person to be admired by. In the case of my grandfather, he should be sure that he has one, and that is certainly me.
The older adult who is described in this assignment is my grandmother. She had a significant impact on my life, both in childhood and as I grew up. Although she died from lung cancer some years ago, she is still an example for me in many life situations.
Main body
I believe that my grandmother can be considered a symbol of “successful aging” in many ways. First of all, her behavior did not change to worse, which is typical of many older adults. She was lucky not to develop any mental diseases and preserved a clear mind until it was damaged by metastases in the brain. She was a lady for as long as I remember her and maintained the lady’s habits till the end of her days. She was never rude or harsh with people and was an example of decent behavior.
Secondly, her attitudes to life are worth mentioning. My grandmother believed that happiness and success in life depended on attitudes and that being positive is the right choice. I adored the way she handled problems. In fact, she tried to present any problem as a small misunderstanding. For example, when she was diagnosed with cancer, she did not give up the way many people do. She did not look doomed and behaved as if her treatment was a challenge or a game.
Thirdly, her peer relationships can be an example to follow. My grandmother was a leader, and people could follow her. She was ahead of the community center after she retired because she could not stay at home doing anything. They had a big volunteer project at the community center and helped elderly and disabled community members or those experiencing difficult times. She had many friends and acquaintances and was constantly on the move.
However, the aspect I can assess best of all is her family relationships. Despite her active social life, she always had enough time for the family and was our keeper of traditions. She was not only a grandmother but a good friend for me because we were very close and could share many secrets. When the cancer was diagnosed, she was afraid of being helpless and becoming a burden on her family. Still, each of us was eager to visit her at the hospital or help at home not because of the feeling of duty, but due to a desire to be useful for a close person.
My grandmother’s health habits almost did not change during her lifetime. She preferred traditional evidence-based medicine, took care of herself, and had regular examinations. She was doing her daily morning exercises for as long as I can remember. At weekends, we sometimes took long walks to the park. She believed that activity and movement are a contribution to health.
Finally, as for the sources of meaning in her life, I would mention the following. The major source of meaning in life for my grandmother was her family. She was attentive and caring with all of us. She valued every moment spent with her family, both close and distant relatives. Also, I can say that another source of meaning for her was life itself. She loved life and considered it to be one of the most significant values.
Nevertheless, there was an aspect in my grandmother’s life, which does not symbolize “successful aging.” The only age-related problem she had was hypertension, which developed despite her attention to health and regular examinations. Immediately after it was diagnosed, hypertension interfered with her usual activities and had a negative impact on the quality of life as a whole because my grandmother could not do the usual things as quickly as she did before. Still, the effective treatment plan helped her return to habits and the disease did not influence her much in the following years,
Conclusion
The experiences with my grandmother have an impact on my work with older adult clients. First of all, my attitudes to older adult clients are positive due to my grandmother. I realize that aging is not an easy process for a person both physically and psychologically because my grandmother shared her feelings related to changes occurring with her. The major objective of my work is to provide the best possible help for everyone. This principle was also formed under the influence of my grandmother. She was always eager to help, and I grew up with the belief that helping and doing one’s best are normal behaviors. Finally, my expectations regarding working with older adults were formed under the influence of my grandmother and her friends. However, this impact is sometimes negative because I expect my patients to stay positive and active as my grandmother did, and many older adults are not positive about aging and age-related health changes. Still, these experiences provide me with many examples from my grandmother’s life, which I can share with my patients. I should say that this sharing frequently helps to shift people’s negative attitudes and stimulate the adequate perception of aging in older adults.
Anti-aging products and numerous advertisements associated with the products are clear signals of an aging population that desires to remain youthful. Ageing is associated with many complications, and very few people are ready to embrace the complications. Wrinkled skin, muscle weakness, bladder issues, decreased libido in men, and weakened bones are some of the major signs of aging. However, the invention of anti-aging products acted as a solution of most of the problems in spite of associated side effects. While the beauty industry floods the market with skin anti-aging products, some physicians publicize the hormonal products that facilitate anti-aging.
Apparently, the beauty realm assures people that all wrinkles can become plump, and no spot is too dark to brighten. While the subject on anti-aging products is politicized over time, the manufacturers of the products defend themselves by saying that the customers are informed, they understand the risks associated with anti-aging products, and they choose to accept to use them provided they look youthful. This paper will give a detailed discussion of the pros and cons of anti-aging products and the numerous advertisements that come with the products.
Pros
Staying youthful
People desire to remain youthful for the rest of their lives, and the anti-aging products are always present to fulfill their desires. The products offer a delightful experience of having moisturized, and extremely attractive skin. The light and pleasant smell of the anti-aging products enhances the users’ self-esteem. The hydrated complexion and relaxed skin free from wrinkles keeps users youthful for as long as they want. Aged people have always found a reason to smile, as the anti-wrinkle products rejuvenate their skin to give them an attractive youthful look (Bulger 13). The confidence that comes with a youthful look enhances the productivity levels, and others can even increase their retirement age without much difficulty.
It is worth noting that anti-aging hormonal products work perfectly in dealing with aging problems like muscle weakness, bladder issues, decreased libido in men, and weakened bones. As long as the users use the products correctly, and under maximum care of the physicians, they will experience positive results and live as if they were young.
Manageable prices
The manufacturers of anti-aging products aim at availing the products to all people with the desire to remain youthful. They pack the products in all sizes to reach consumers of all classes. Some anti-aging products would cost a consumer less than $10 while the high-class consumers can purchase expensive products according to their ability (Rana and Brett 972). Apparently, dealers of anti-aging products make massive sales because people are happy with the beauty products that reverse the natural aging process. From a literal point of view, using anti-aging products is more economical than maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Anti-aging products would save users from the hustles of maintaining a balanced diet, exercising, and keeping away from sun, which is almost impossible during summer.
Instant results
In the contemporary world, people like instant things, and anti-aging products are instantaneous. Unlike the highly proposed healthy lifestyles that take ages for one to experience visible results, most anti-aging products have the ability to portray visible results within a few weeks. Although the instant results would be superficial, the users become satisfied that they are able to appear youthful. Whenever aged people obtain a product that can make them look young, they regain their confidence, and some even get the attention that they need in their errands. The compliments from friends and family may not work towards reversing the concept of aging, but the contentedness elongates their life.
Easy availability and reliability
One of the greatest fears that people have is discovering an effective product, and lacking it on the shelves in their subsequent purchase. Such cases are rare in anti-aging products, as the products are readily available in malls, pharmacy stores, and beauty shops among other places. It is worth noting that some reliable anti-aging products have existed in the market for more than 40 years. Manufacturers are constantly producing the same products and making improvements on products that do not attain certain standards (Olshansky 72). Moreover, medical practitioners and cosmeticians are working tirelessly to understand the anti-aging concern and the best products to address the associated issues. Drug companies are indeed investing in research and development to ensure that they manufacturer safe and effective anti-aging products.
Safety of the products
Most anti-aging skin care products contain prescription elements such as Retin-A, Differin, and Avage, which are derivatives of vitamin A. Other than being the best remedies for aging skin, the products have existed in the market for over 40 years, and the customer satisfaction levels are high. These products are harmless to the body, as they only facilitate stellar resurfacing of the skin, increased cell turnover, and thickening of the skin without affecting other functions of the body. The few cases that portray the dangers of the products arise from people who failed to adhere to the rightful prescriptions given by the manufacturers and physicians. The same applies to the hormonal products that are perfectly safe to use as long as users adhere to the physicians’ prescriptions.
Cons
Wasters of time and money
Occasionally, the anti-aging products do not produce the desired results, and the consumers become frustrated. Cases have occurred where sellers make fraudulent advertisements that assert that products have the capacity of producing certain results, but in real sense, the results are inferior to the expectations of the customers. Such cases oblige users to keep on trying different products before finally finding those that work perfectly on their skin. The entire process is tedious and frustrating, and it wastes much time and money.
It is worth noting that dermal fillers are some of the anti-aging products that do not last long; therefore, users have to seek their treatments from one time to another, which is very expensive. Users ought to become slaves of such products to maintain their youthful appearance, and failure to adhere to the prescriptions would result in hurting the normal functioning of the body. An average person may give up on the way, and consequences of surrendering are fatal (Davis 22). The worse experience occurs when the entire process backfires, and a person ends up looking worse than expected. Most people have criticized anti-aging products with collagen, as they give adverse reactions to the users. Some anti-aging treatments involve the use of harsh drugs, which hurt the skin instead of improving it in the end.
Side effects
It is worth noting that manufacturers use dangerous chemicals to make most anti-aging products. The products, which may seem to work perfectly immediately, can have adverse side effects on the body of the users. Some products can cause skin irritation while some can cause rashes and serious medical conditions. In one or more occasions, people have experienced redness and sun sensitivity whenever they use over-the counter anti-aging products. Some people have even experienced some blistering when they start using the vitamin A-based products owing to the hastened cell turnover rates. Some anti-aging products can even facilitate aging by drying out the skin dramatically and obligating consumers to seek medical treatment. In fact, some people have experienced cases of having serious burns and scars after using certain anti-aging products (Holliday 24).
The overuse of retinoid causes too much skin inflammation, and users may develop lined and sagged skin, which is a very depressing experience at a tender age. It is worth noting that any inflammation damages the skin in the end, as the skin becomes brittle. People with thinned skin are unlikely to survive in case they have to go through surgeries, as the surgical wounds require thick and healthy skin to heal.
Fighting aging using anti-aging injections is very risky, as the consequences may be fatal. An overdose, for example, can weaken the muscles and affect the respiratory system. Whenever cosmeticians overuse the injections, the overall physical appearance of the customer changes over time. Some cases have occurred where users can develop medical conditions like stroke and abnormal growth. The fact that manufacturers disallow pregnant women and people with allergic reactions to use the anti-aging products is a clear indication that the products are more harmful than supposed.
Prolonged use of anti-aging products prompts the penetration of the products into the skin, which affects the normal functioning of the body organs. Cases of skin cancer have occurred owing to the prolonged use of anti-aging products (Stock, Callahan and Grey 32). Although chemotherapy and other procedures can helpful in cancerous cases, treating cancer at an advanced age is almost impossible, and most affected people end up dying painfully. The unpleasant side effects bring guilt, and the affected people regret having ever used the anti-aging products.
Conclusion
From the discussions, it is evident that aging is a bitter truth that most people fail to accept. The anti-aging products have done so much in making the lives of the aging population as comfortable as possible. Other than replenishing their aging skin, the products can even rejuvenate the functioning of their body organs. However, the negative effects such as the associated costs, side effects, and the fatal consequences are worth considering. People with the desire to look young should always make efforts to consult dermatologists and physicians before attempting to use any anti-aging product. Moreover, people ought to know their skin type to match with the right type of anti-aging products.
Most importantly, people with allergic reactions and special medical conditions should avoid the products altogether. Apparently, the best way to fight the aging is keeping fit, eating healthy foods, keeping away from the sun, and exercising. People who stay happy use fewer muscles than those who frown daily, and interestingly, they are not likely to develop wrinkles. People should take plenty of water and stay away from stress to facilitate their skin glow instead to becoming servants of anti-aging products. It is important for people to know that their health and appearance in their old age is a choice that they have to make right from their youthful age.
Works Cited
Bulger, Adam. “Want to Live Forever? The Human-Life-Extension Movement Sees a Glorious Future for Us All.” Hartford Advocate 8.1 (2008): 10-14. Print.
Davis, John “Collective Suttee: Is It Just to Develop Life Extension if It Will Not Be Possible to Provide It to Everyone?” Annals NY Academy of Sciences 1019.1 (2004): 11-26. Print.
Holliday, Robin. “The Extreme Arrogance of Anti-Aging Medicine.” Biogerontology 10.2 (2009): 22-26. Print.
Olshansky, Jay. “In Pursuit of the Longevity Dividend: What Should We Be Doing to Prepare for the Unprecedented Aging of Humanity?” The Scientist 20.1 (2006): 67-76. Print.
Rana, Sobh, and Martin Brett. “Feedback Information and Consumer Motivation: The Moderating Role of Positive and Negative Reference Values in Self-Regulation.” European Journal of Marketing 45.6 (2011): 963-986. Print.
Stock, Gregory, Daniel Callahan, and Aubrey Grey. “The Ethics of Life Extension.” Rejuvenation Research 10.3 (2007): 24-45. Print.
In our current youth-obsessed society, stories about the lives of the old individuals are not very common; thus, when movies on old age are released, they are fraught with social meaning. The 1993 American comedy movie, the Grumpy Old Men, is one of these (Burr, 1994).
The movie is a complete interdisciplinary content in social gerontology as it explores various issues related to old age and scrutinizes changes in social roles, relationships as well as all the processes that take place as the age of individuals’ advances. The superb comedy movie also looks at the major life changes, such as retirement and life of widowhood, transformations in living arrangements, and economic and political issues that define the habits of the old people in the society.
The movie tells of the life of two men, John Gustafson (Jack Lemmon) and Max Goldman (Walter Matthau), who have enjoyed a strong bond of kinship for the most period of their lives. The lifelong friends are living as neighbors and they frequently trade jibes on one another.
Widowed and retired, the two main actors in the movie sustain a relationship that seems to be nothing more than a give and take of acerbic cynicism. As the film starts, John and Max are seen to be practicing the disengagement theory of aging as both are depicted as grumpy and old hermits (Quadagno, 2011).
Withdrawn from the society, they spend their seemingly boring and lonely lives competing and arguing with one another over a number of issues. And according to institutionalization theory, John and Max were living secluded lives because the American society had been embedded by the thought that old people should live a quiet life away from the normal activities of everyday life. Consequently, their lives in old age followed this established norm.
However, the coming of Ariel Truax (Ann-Margret) into the neighborhood drags the two friends into the activity theory of life. Due to John’s and Max’s inner fears of leaving their comfortable, yet boring lives, they are slow to accept the friendship of Ariel and it takes the efforts of their friend, Chuck (Ossie Davis), to convince them otherwise.
Thereafter, both John and Max start competing for Ariel’s love. This activity way of life makes the two men to remember the feelings they had when they were young and it shows their need for intimacy and romance.
Soon, John and Max demonstrate dementia. In their quest for Ariel’s love, a wedge is further driven between them as they continue their constant quarrels uncontrolled. In this, they show that they are not able to think properly so as to solve their lifelong problems with one another. Furthermore, they are unable to control their emotions, become irritated quickly, and sometimes see things that are not even there.
The movie is very reflective of the current society. Even though it was mainly focused on the American society, it represents how aging is dealt with around the world. As people age in many places around the world, they face many changes in terms of their life habits. Flooded with numerous one-liners, ideal release of abuses, and never-ending humorous scenes, Grumpy Old Men is realistic in its portrayal of transformations in social roles, relationships and the biological as well as the psychological processes that take place during aging.
Reference List
Burr, T. (1994). Grumpy Old Men. Entertainment Weekly. Web.
Quadagno, J. S. (2011). Aging and the life course: an introduction to social gerontology. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Socialization is a crucial aspect of the lives of aging people since it provides them with an opportunity to feel a part of the community despite possible challenges associated with health and mobility. Online sites allowing senior citizens to engage in the active dialogue, particularly, online dating sites, can be seen as an important opportunity for retaining socialization rates at the needed level. However, I believe that the specific sites still provide only a substitute for an actual dialogue that aging people need desperately to feel welcome in the community. Therefore, it seems to me that a combination of online and live communication is necessary for aging people to feel active in the community.
Main body
However, as a woman of non-American descent, I understand the appeal of dating applications as the means of selecting a partner that comes from the same ethnic background and, thus shares a range of common characteristics. The concept of dating affects me since, being a Korean immigrant in the U.S. and having to support my grandchildren, I often feel that my personal life has been impaired significantly due to economic and social challenges. Being deprived of an opportunity to spend an extensive amount of time socializing in the community, as an aging person, I need dating sites geared toward older people in order to build my personal life.
Considering the benefactors of the relationships that aging people develop through dating sites and applications also helps to determine the actual value of the tools in question. The idea of benefit may be seen as slightly misconstrued in the described scenario since the success in using dating applications and sites hinges on a range of factors. These factors include being technologically perceptive to have the required tools and financial resources to purchase them. Nevertheless, it seems that the consumers of the service, specifically, the people that have difficulties with finding partners offline, benefit to the greatest extent from the services provided by online apps and dating sites (Mehrotra, & Wagner, 2018). Thus, introducing the tools in question as a supplement to live communication will be a sensible step toward improving the opportunities for communication for aging people (Menkin, Robles, Wiley, & Gonzaga, 2015). Personally, I have used similar sites several times in order to find a partner and, while not having succeeded, I feel that these tools provide enough support to aging people.
However, dating is not the only activity that I have been enjoying to keep my social life saturated and satisfying. I also talk sometimes to my neighbors and discuss community-related issues with them. For example, I have contributed several ideas to a recent fundraising fair in our community and participated in setting it. However, with my grandchildren demanding a lot of attention, my levels of participation in community life have dropped over the years. Still, I believe that there is the motto of Florida’s “The Villagers” needs to be updated due to the increase in the connection between different communities and the resulting information sharing owing to dating sites and applications.
Conclusion
Since the current level of technological development makes dating sites only a crutch for keeping the communication process consistently flowing, I think that the described activity should not replace the actual live dialogue between aging people and the rest of the community. Even though I understand why dating sites and applications may seem attractive to aging people, especially those of diverse backgrounds, I still think that the elderly should use it as a supplement to live communication and not vice versa.
References
Mehrotra, C., & Wagner, L. S. (2018). Aging and diversity: An active learning experience. New York, NY: Routledge.
Menkin, J. A., Robles, T. F., Wiley, J. F., & Gonzaga, G. C. (2015). Online dating across the life span: Users’ relationship goals. Psychology and Aging, 30(4), 987-993. Web.
The process of aging is acknowledged by all human beings across the world. Throughout our existence, we have developed certain perceptions towards aging, influenced by written materials and media sources.
Introduction
Aging relates to the natural deterioration of physical and mental body organs. Bodies begin to collapse, soon after reproductive years have passed. The elderly can not function fast, think fast, or resist disease as well as it did when they were young. Moreover, one’s physical appearance changes significantly with age: The hair color changes, muscles weaken and the skin becomes wrinkled. At a more subtle level, shoulders broaden in men, hips broaden, they experience changes in beard growth and changes in voice pitch. In women, shoulders become broader, their voices change and hair grows around the mouth area.
This paper seeks to identify and outline how the media and written materials have influenced the attitude towards aging. The report will also discuss the feeling and thoughts of people, regarding aging.
Personal Aging Process
In discussing the feelings and thoughts of people towards aging, it is essential to apply ageism’ to stereotypes. Ageism may be defined as, systematic, stereotyping and discrimination against people because they are of a specific age. Although the term is mostly used to describe negative discrimination against the old, it can also be applied where there is discrimination against the young because of their perceived immaturity. A good example of youth ageism’ is where it is perceived that young mothers are poor or incapable of raising children properly. In comparison, it is perceived that older mothers, who are perceived to be more responsible, are more competent to raise children.
Stereotyping of the old is done differently in different societies. For example, in Asian and African countries, the young are expected to respect the old since their traditional custom entails filial piety. In these societies, the old are perceived as wise and blessed for having lived for so long. As a result, the old are naturally the leaders of the society and are even expected to make the most consequential decisions that affect the entire society. In some countries e.g. Afghanistan, the old are even awarded underage girls as wives as a sign of honor and respect. In these societies, the elderly enjoy positive ageism. In this society, people look forward to aging since the elderly are loved, respected, and honored.
Ironically, in western culture, it is quite the opposite. The aged are perceived as slow in performing daily activities, resistant to change, weak, and unproductive. Hence, in anticipation of old age, in older years, the young join retirement pensions, Medicare, and devise many other policies and practices that take into account the age change that will inevitably occur. Current stereotypes about aging teach us to ignore the aged because they are a non-productive group in society. In fact, in this society, the young expect the old to be grateful for pensions and benefits which are given to them by the rest of society. In this society, old age is an independent phase in the life cycle in which an individual lacks power, independence and autonomy. The aged are faced with negative ageism in this society.
The media and written sources have impacted profoundly the attitude of people towards aging. In the aging process, a person’s physical appearance changes significantly, due to the deterioration of physical organs. For example, during aging, the skin naturally becomes thicker and wrinkled. Dr. Gary Cole states in the News Article on Health on 13 April 2012
You are sick of having those deep lines on your skin! You are looking for proven ways to remove wrinkles so you can look and feel better, too. While it may sound superficial, there is no denying that people treat you differently based on your appearance, and how they treat you will be reflected in how you feel about yourself….(Cole, 2012, p.34).
As much as the doctor is offering a solution, this article gives the perception that as one age, they become less attractive. This will make the aging person feel low self-esteem since they think that the appearance of wrinkles makes them look less attractive. This article impacts negatively the attitude of aging.
Luo (2012) reveals that results from a Taiwanese study found positive attitudes held by the elderly people were related to high hope and determination to work into their old ages, as predicted by the ‘‘Theory of Reasoned Action’’. This article promotes a positive attitude towards aging. In addition, it found that “more positive daily personal experiences with non-older people enhanced intentions to continue working in older age through fostering more positive attitudes towards aging…(Luo, 2012)’’.
There is evidence that adults can evaluate their own aging and future in negative and anxiety provoking ways. The prospects of one’s aging and future can be a troubling issue for many adults. Coupland (2009) also found that, most nurses viewed their identity, appearance and choices in their later years in very negative ways (Coupland, 2009).
Conclusion
Majority of the stereotypes view old age negatively to the extent of provoking anxiety. Positive attitude towards aging promotes healthy aging. Supportive study indicates that those aging with a positive attitude are able to work into old age.
References
Cole, G. (2012). Ways to remove wrinkles. Web.
Coupland, J. (2009). Handbook of Communication and Aging Research. New York: Routledge.
Luo, L. (2012). Attitudes towards aging and older people’s intentions to continue working: a Taiwanese study. Career Development International, 17(1), pp. 83 – 98.
The primary concerns raised in the interview I conducted connected with financial stability. Initially, the interviewee said that she has a fear of being financially taken advantage of. Her concern is interconnected with the discussion topic of this paper. The concern I have chosen for this assignment is a lack of financial satisfaction. When people get to retire, the financial situation changes for many. The reason for that is that it is more difficult for older people to earn money than the younger generation, who has more energy and new opportunities. Other concerns discussed in class are those associated with staying healthy and physically active. The difference between these and the issue mentioned in the interview is that she gives more value to the material matter than non-material (health and physical state). All of the mentioned issues may bother the aging population since they might be negatively affected by economic, environmental, and social factors.
Perspectives
The reason for me choosing this specific concern to analyze is that it is interesting for me. Being financially literate and considering your retirement when young is rather important if one wants to live comfortably materially. The financial and economic factors are among those aspects that put the aging population at risk of physical and mental complications and expose them to health inequalities (Garcia-Ramirez et al., 2020). Insufficient financial means significantly affects the possibility for older people to take high-quality medical services. Moreover, overworking may lead to an unstable mental state due to increased stress. Lack of physical activity is another factor that negatively impacts physical and mental health. An active lifestyle helps the human body to function better and stay more energetic with time. The one discovery about the interviewee was that she was very much still sexually active, which was not surprising, as she looks much younger.
The one concern the interviewee alluded to was not being able to retire from her job as financially comfortable as she would have liked. However, this issue seemed less burdensome to her in comparison to earlier years. Such a concern is reflected in the literature on the topic, which suggests that a significant segment of the aging population faces fear and anxiety related to financial independence after retirement (Horwitz et al., 2019). Thus, the primary concern of the interviewee is commonly observed in their peers.
Historically, the place of concern changes because of the changing economic situations in different periods. For instance, the economy of the United States underwent significant changes during the past 20-30 years. According to the financial reports, US citizens’ personal savings increased 4-5 times from 2008 to 2021 (Council of Economic Advisers, 2022). Thus, people became more concerned about the importance of saving, and they could do so.
Social, economic, and environmental factors influence the financial well-being of the old person. For instance, the quality of social services and paid pensions depend on the country. Some countries provide more financial and social support for retired people, while some provide less. It depends on the public policy and economics of the specific place. In terms of improvements in the protection of the vulnerable aging population, specific pension strategies are being implemented, including encouraging voluntary savings and detailed retirement plans (Horwitz et al., 2019). Indeed, to ensure that one will have enough financial means when older, there are some protective factors. For example, one can create a retirement fund for themselves as earlier as possible. In this case, a person will not depend on the government’s payments when they retire. It is related to developing financial literacy and savings for the future.
Primary Concern
The first recommendation worth mentioning to ensure financial stability when getting older is to think and plan about it in advance. Indeed, as evidenced by Horwitz et al. (2019), at the psychological level, retirement planning is stressful and is often avoided; however, the recommendation might be implemented through workplace financial education and encouragement of saving for a pension. Therefore, it is essential to plan what savings are needed to have a comfortable retirement. In such a way, older people will be less affected by the sharp changes when they are retired. In some countries, governments do not pay enough for pensions, so people cannot rely roughly on them. Moreover, one can invest money so that when they are retired, they have bonuses from the investments, which is also a good source of income. In addition, some people still run their businesses when they are retired and earn good money. Thus, if an older person has enough energy and chances to do so, they can start their projects. However, it is important to note that not all elderly have this many health conditions to continue working.
The current perspective of people on being financially stable at old age has changed since the new generation tends to emphasize saving more for retirement. This concern impacts people’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being in both positive and negative ways. For example, if one is materially comfortable when old, they can afford medical insurance and services, be more relaxed emotionally, and afford different facilities. On the other hand, if one is too bothered with the idea of becoming extremely rich until retirement, that may lead to overworking and mental and physical health problems.
Moreover, older and younger generations should find a balance between material wealth and health. Of course, in this capitalistic time, thinking about money is essential to survive and live a high-quality life. Nevertheless, people should not sacrifice their mental and physical health for material things. It is vital to provide yourself with a comfortable financial state at old age by considering other important factors, including family, health concerns, and inner peace.
Communication
Special online and offline seminars, training, and campaigns should be organized to communicate health information to aging people. Social advertisements in newspapers and magazines may also provide the information. Health-related information and information connected to financial stability can be effectively communicated to the older population. Moreover, research evidence demonstrates that older people search for health-related information online more frequently compared to earlier decades, which validates the use of both off- and online communication channels (Magsamen-Conrad et al., 2018). Seminars and raining about financial literacy are good tools because they are accessible and comfortable ways for people to gain new related information. Advertisement in newspapers and magazines is a beneficial tool since older people are usually used to acquiring new knowledge from such mass media elements.
Conclusion
Raising awareness of older people is crucial because a lack of knowledge about the risk factors or protective factors that influence their physical and mental health complications or other concerns associated with aging may lead to problems. If communicated effectively, more older people will start to take care of themselves and organize their lifestyles more efficiently. Some factors like lack of enough information, lack of life-work balance, or toxic habits may put the older generation at risk of different issues.
Garcia-Ramirez, J., Nikoloski, Z., & Mossialos, E. (2020). Inequality in healthcare use among older people in Colombia. International Journal for Equity in Health, 19(1), 1-15.
Horwitz, E. J., Klontz, B. T., & Zabek, F. (2019). A financial psychology intervention for increasing employee participation in and contribution to retirement plans: Results of three trials. Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning, 30(2), 262-276.
Magsamen-Conrad, K., Dillon, J. M., Verhoff, C. B., & Faulkner, S. L. (2018). Online health-information seeking among older populations: Family influences and the role of the medical professional. Health Communication, 34(8), 859–871.
The elderly and aging process has always been under intense discussion due to the constantly changing social values and perceptions. It remains evident that the attitudes and tendencies change over time. Nonetheless, the similarities exist due to some values, which remain the same. The primary goal of this paper is to compare and contrast modern American society with the Vikings concerning their attitudes about the elderly and the aging process. Each aspect will be assessed differently to be able to display a coherent cross-cultural study. In the end, the conclusions are drawn to understand the significance of elderly and attitudes towards the aging process in each society.
Attitudes towards Elderly
Firstly, the attitudes towards elderly have to be compared due to the potential existence of significant differences between modern American culture and Vikings’ society. It remains evident that the differences might have a tendency to exist due to different cultural peculiarities, customs, and traditions. Moreover, living in different eras might also be a cause of the various attitudes towards the elderly as the values have a tendency to change over time.
Firstly, it is evident that the old people were considered as being wise and valuable members of society among the Vikings. In this case, the youth was highly interested in the ancestral roots, and the elderly were given an opportunity to expresses their opinions and views in front of the other members during the reunions (Dyczewski, 2002). It remains evident that the Vikings cherished relationships with the senior representatives of the society and sought to acquire the information about their heritage and learn more about cultural preferences. It could be said that the elderly played a significant role in the decision-making process and contributed to finding solutions to the critical issues. In this case, their significance cannot be underestimated, and it remains on the high level among the younger Vikings.
As for the American society, it is evident that the elderly are located in the period of decline of their biological characteristics and personal traits. However, different attitudes are present in the American culture. On one side, the elderly remain a privileged group and get various discounts concerning the usage of public transport and income tax (Mahmud, 2005). Moreover, the assignment of pension is another attribute, which determines the respect towards the elderly, as they receive financial support from the government. Nevertheless, the elderly are considered as being the crime victims due to their vulnerability and inability to respond to the aggressive actions of the other individuals (Mahmud, 2005).
It has to be mentioned that this attitude starts gaining popularity among the members of the American society due to the popularization of materialism and vehement change in perceptions of being right or wrong among different social groups. In this case, it could be said that the condition of the old people is only partly satisfied due to the existence of the risky situation in their lives., The personal traits of the seniors are only partially respected in the United States of America in comparison to the Vikings’ culture, and the lack of respect makes their existence vulnerable.
In the end, the attitude towards the elderly had to change over time. It remains evident that the elderly were highly respected during the Viking’s era, as they were considered as the valuable and knowledgeable members of society due to their ability to find relevant solutions to the problems. However, nowadays it could be said that the elderly are respected. Nonetheless, the adverse situations, which involve the elderly, have a tendency to occur since the particular social groups consider them as the potential crime victims.
Attitudes towards Aging Process
In turn, the attitudes and social perceptions concerning the aging process have to assessed to determine similarities and differences in this aspect. It is apparent that perceptions of aging vary depending on the cultural differences. Firstly, the process of aging is highly evaluated from various perspectives, and it is presented in the form of the system of well-established ideas and dogmas, which are created by the society (Kokenhoff et al., 2009). Additionally, aging implies the modifications in physical and cognitive abilities of an individual, as they have a tendency to change over a particular period (Kokenhoff et al., 2009).
As for the American culture, it is considered in two perceptions. One of them implies the peaceful existence, maturity, and spending significant time on the hobbies and relatives (Mahmud, 2005). On the other hand, the aging process is considered as the inability to get involved in various physical activities and lack of energy. Furthermore, the scientists try to develop potential solutions to prevent, terminate the aging process and propose different tips to enhance the situation (U.S. Department of Health and Services, 2012). It could be said that the aging process in the American society is assessed from the negative perspective, and this situation is determined by the continuous development of technology.
As for the Vikings, despite the fact that the elderly were highly respected in the society, the aging process was not appreciated, as Vikings preferred to die during the battles while protecting their motherland (Wolf, 2004). It is evident that the average age of Vikings is 40-years-old (Wolf, 2004). This fact contributes to the understanding of the reasons for the lack of respect towards the aging process due to the inability to survive the severe battles. In this case, the aging process is considered as being more respectful towards the elderly in the American society, as people can devote their lives to their family and hobbies while reaching the final stage of their lives. It could be assumed that the absence of wars and development of technology contributes to the new perception towards aging and considers it as one of the natural processes and the stage of new opportunities.
Conclusion
In the end, it remains evident that differences between modern American society and the Vikings tend to exist due to its presence in different historical periods and locations. Nonetheless, it remains clear that some similarities are present since some core principles and values stay unchanged and cannot be disregarded. It could be said that the attitudes towards the elderly remain the same in the Vikings’ and American societies, as the seniors were highly respected and had particular privileges.
Nonetheless, the elderly often become the first crime victims due to their vulnerability in the modern American society. As for the aging process, nowadays it is regarded from positive and negative perspectives, as aging is associated with maturity and the last stage is filled with opportunities to discover new hobbies and spend more time with the family members. Nonetheless, the modern technology tries to prevent the aging process. In turn, the aging process is not respected due to desire to die while protecting the motherland among the Vikings. In the end, it could be said that these changes are determined by the technological and social development of the modern world.
References
Dyczewski, L. (2002). Values in the Polish cultural tradition: Polish philosophical studies, III. Washington, D.C.: The Council for Research and Values and Philosophy.
Kokenhoff, C., Alcalay, L., Allik, J., Avdeyeva, T., Barbaranelli, C.,…Ahn, H. (2009). Perceptions of aging across 26 countries and their cultural level associates. Psychology and Aging, 24(4), 941-954.
Mahmud, J. (2005). Development psychology. New Delhi, India: A.P.H. Publishing Corporation.
U.S. Department of Health and Services. (2012). Can we prevent aging? Tips from the National Institute on Aging. Web.
Wolf, K. (2004). Daily life of the Vikings. Westport, CT: The Greenwood Press.
A country’s workforce is its engine and it determines the country’s success or lack thereof it. The American workforce is slowly shifting to include a higher number of older workers as a result of various reasons amongst which are: failing economy and lack of social security to name but a few. In general, older workers are viewed as being a liability to the employer. This paper shall discount this notion by demonstrating that the merits that an aging workforce presents outweigh the demerits. The discriminations that older workers are subjected to shall be outlined and highlighted to be mostly from outdated stereotypes. In conclusion, this paper shall then demonstrate that an aging workforce is not only necessary for the wellbeing of the US economy but also greatly advantageous for the employer.
Introduction
Over the past few centuries, human civilization has advanced tremendously giving rise to significant social and economic changes. This has resulted most notably in the creation of a large group of working-class members of the society and their employers. It is this class that has been primarily responsible for the creation of immense wealth and therefore the growth of the nations.
The working conditions have changed significantly and while the earlier years of industrialization were characterized by appalling work conditions, low wages and discriminatory practices, recent times have been marked by employers embracing good practices. These good practices among other things are aimed at combating any discrimination that maybe they’re in the workplace. The United States as most other developed countries has endorsed the Equal Employment Opportunities (EEOs) which are policies that are intended to “eliminate workplace discrimination on the basis of age, color, disability, race, religion or sex” (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2011).
Despite the apparent positive changes that have been made for the working class, there have been recent developments that have resulted in the presence of an aging workforce. People falling under this workgroup have faced some difficulties as well as discrimination because of their ages. This paper shall argue that the US workforce is in transition and rapidly aging due to a multiplicity of factors including the economy, population composition and the mandatory retirement laws of many foreign nations but age does not translate to incompetency. To reinforce this claim, this paper shall showcase the merits that an older workforce possesses so as to demonstrate that an older workforce is necessary for the continued well being of our economy as a county.
Factors Contributing to the Aging Workforce
There are a number of factors that have resulted in the growth of the aging workforce. The most pervasive one has been the economic realities of the present times. In the past, people were able to save up and invest in solid pension schemes that provided them with the income needed during their retirement years. In recent times, the pension schemes which guaranteed the older workers a steady income on retiring have been littered with scandals and scams leading to their collapse.
Reynell (2006) bleakly points out that “workers are being led into retirement plans that will fail them”. The government, on the other hand, has been plagued by massive debt and continued spending. This compounded with the high unemployment rates which have led to even more people being reliant on government handouts has meant that older people who would ideally by retired are forced to fend for themselves. As a result of this, the number of older employees is on the increase and Eberhard et al. (2009) record that the proportion of employed individuals between the ages of 55 and 64 has increased steadily from the mid-1990s.
Another factor that has contributed to the prevalence of the aging workforce in America is the demographic changes that are being experienced. Statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau (2008)reveal that the country is facing a radical demographic change and that by the year 2040, “19.7 percent of the population, or about 71.5 million Americans, will be 65 or older, compared with just 12.4 percent in 2000”.
This phenomenon has major implications on the labor market since it is highly likely that there will be labor and skill shortages in the coming decades should all the older workers retire at the traditional age. This is because, in the past, the rate of retirements has been more gradual in nature. As a result of this, the younger workers have been able to gradually fill in the spaces left by the older workers. The changing demographics have offset this and as it currently stands, the older population in America is one of the fastest-growing age cohorts in the United States (Fernia, Zarit & Johnsson, 2001). The older workers are therefore going to be obligated to remain in the labor force since they are no new entrants to replace them.
The emergence and subsequent growth of the older workforce have also been catalyzed by the decrease in social security with the system being projected to disappear in the near future. Eberhard et al. (2009, 24) state that the Social Security system which was originally structured to “provide relief to individuals with disabilities and those considered to be advanced in age may be unable to deed the growing numbers of older Americans in the next decade”. This is a bleak reality considering the fact that Social Security constitutes the core source of income for 20% of retired Americans. To counter this, the pre-retirees have opted to carry on working even after the traditional retirement ages so as to sustain themselves.
Another reason for the growing older workforce is that most of the older people continue working even after they have reached the traditional retirement age. A study by AARP (2003) found that nearly 70% of pre-retirees foresaw working either part-time or never retiring. Almost half planned to work into their 70s or beyond. Part of the reason why this is possible is that mandatory retirement no longer exists meaning that older workers are no longer forced out of employment at a particular age.
In the early years of the last century, there was mandatory retirement which meant that people were necessitated by law to retire at a given age. This is no longer the case today and a person’s age is no longer a limitation to his working. This is because the Federal government passed a law that made all age discrimination illegal (Lawrence, 2008). The older workers who desire to work for longer years, therefore, have an opportunity to do so resulting in the additional growth of the older workforce.
Advantages of Older Workforce
The modern-day work setting is characterized by increased rates of turnover as people seek “greener pastures” from other employers in the industry. This results in a firm losing its most adept workers to the competition which offers better pay or benefits. This is one of the areas in which an older workforce may be beneficial since older workers tend to be loyal to their employers. Research conducted by the Unum CMO (2008) revealed that there is “a lower turnover rate among older workers”.
While the reasons for this were not straight forward, it was suggested that it could be as a result of older people being more hesitant about changing jobs later in life as well as the sense of belonging and loyalty that the older workers felt. It is therefore evident that the older workforce presents a huge advantage in terms of dependability as compared to the younger workforce who can change jobs with little prompting. A firm that invests a lot of training efforts into its staff will, therefore, gain more from the older workforce who are more likely to stay with the firm, therefore, ensuring that the employer reaps the benefits from the investments made in the employee.
Old age is traditionally associated with maturity, wisdom and accumulated experience. This holds true for the older worker and in most cases, this worker will have gathered a lot of experience over the years and will, therefore, be very skilled and efficient in carrying out his work. This is especially true in some occupations such as the construction industry where one develops his skills while on the job. This means that the older workers possess more skills and knowledge which are relevant to the industry.
Brotherton (2010, p.24) reveals that in such industries, “skills are learned on the job and transferred from employee to employee”. Doing away with the older workforce will, therefore, have a negative impact on the productivity of a company. Even if one were to replace the older workers with younger ones, recruiting competent applicants is at best hard and it is up to the older workforce to not only train the new applicants but also transfer their knowledge to the same. In some fields, the older worker is more productive than the younger one as a result of the accumulated experience. A US Senate Report (2005) revealed that older workers have few on the job accidents as compared to the younger workers.
Another merit that is contained in the older workers is that they are knowledgeable about the organization. The older workers can, therefore, pass on the organizational values and practices to the new recruits leading to a well functioning organization. Rendall (2004) reveals that this organizational knowledge combined with the ability of the older workers to mentor and coach the younger workers is especially significant in organizations that have a well-structured manner of doing business. In addition to this, research reveals that older workers are more willing to assist their colleagues. Rendall (2004, p.9) reveals that the reason for this is because the aging workforce has a “greater willingness to share experiences and is less competition”.
Disadvantages of an Older Workforce
Arguably the most significant demerit presented by the aging workforce is that of medical problems. As people grow older, their physical well being deteriorates and they are more prone to ailments than when they were younger. A report by the British United Provident Association states that as a result of the prevalence in the aging workforce, employers will be obligated to work with governments to “cope with and manage the challenges of aging, much less healthy workforce in the future” (Paton, 2010, p.1). This is a fact that is corroborated by Eberhard et al. (2009, p.31) who reveal that the “age cohort of individuals 65 and older are recorded as having the highest number of disabled persons”.
For these reasons, the employer who has an aging workforce will have to come up with ways of managing absence that is bound to occur as a result of the health and wellbeing of the employees. This will invariably have a negative effect on the productivity of the organization as a whole as a result of the reduced input by the workforce. The report by BUPA suggests that firms should invest more in the health of their workforce to counter the declining health that is as a result of age (Paton, 2010). Such actions will result in the increase in a firm’s overhead, therefore, rendering it less profitable.
A significant disadvantage of older workers is that they require more flexible work hours and schedules than their younger counterparts. This is because older workers need to model their work-life to fit into their lives. A Report by the US Senate (2005, p.21) showed that “older workers are asking for more flexible hours, schedules, or assignments”. Older workers have different work-life balance needs than younger workers. Rendall (2004, p.21) states that work-life balance means that “both employers and employees recognize the pressures of work and, wherever possible seek to balance them with time away in other pursuits”.
To the older worker, the work-life balance will involve reducing workforce participation and possibly considering retirement. Considering the fact that the business environment is growing increasingly competitive and an employer may wish to have employees who are willing to work longer and on tight schedules, the older workforce presents an obvious obstacle. The younger workers, on the other hand, make no such demands on the employer and are willing to work odd hours at the convenience of the employer. A recent study revealed that employers are not enthusiastic about retaining older workers as a result of their flexibility demands (US Senate Report, 2005).
Another disadvantage of older workers is that they have higher salary demands than younger workers. Fernia, Zarit, and Johansson (2001) theorize that the reason for this is because of the experience they have accrued over the years. This theory is corroborated by the US Senate report (2004, p.21) which quips that “older workers may expect more paid time than newly hired employees based on previous employment benefits packages”.
The older workers are therefore more costly to the employer in terms of salary and may, therefore, be forfeited for the younger workers who do not make such demands from the employer. In addition to this, contributions to the older worker’s pension schemes by the employer are not productive since the older worker is bound to leave work sooner than later. Loretto, Vickerstaff, and White (2007) state that most employers are reluctant to pay pension contributions for older jobseekers. This resistance is from the reality that older workers are highly likely to leave their work after a few years of the pension contribution, therefore, costing the employer.
As has been noted in this paper, part of the reason why some of the older workers choose to remain in the labor market is that they need to sustain themselves. These people are therefore part of the workforce as a result of the harsh economic realities rather than their love of the profession. Rendall (2004) reveals that since the older workers are in work for longer than they wish as a result of the economic realities, they are not as motivated.
This being the case, the older workers will not demonstrate the same enthusiasm and commitment that the younger workers exude. Rendall (2004) goes on to assert that the fact that the older workers are “winding down for retirement” may further contribute to their non-committal nature in the affairs of the firm. This will undoubtedly result in lower productivity as compared to the younger workers who are wholly committed to the success of the organization.
Discrimination an Aging Workforce May Face
The aging workforce is subjected to discrimination in the employment field as a result of their age. Most of the discrimination and negative attitude towards the older workforce comes from the perception that they are aversive to change and generally sicker than the younger workforce. McGregor and Gray (2002) note that persistent stereotypes are hugely responsible for this discrimination which arises from social prejudices against older people in general. A study by McGregor & Gray (2002) revealed that older workers were perceived to have problems with technology, rigid (resistant to change) and less willing to work for longer hours, therefore, reinforcing the claim that discrimination against older workers is mostly as a result of stereotypical views held about them.
A very evident form of discrimination is the lack of training or career advancement opportunities for the older workforce. Research by McGregor and Gray (2002) indicates that most employees fail to provide work training or professional development opportunities for older workers and this ends up having a serious implication to the workplace in general. This is because lack of training translates to a decrease in work performance and since the older worker feels marginalized, his/her morale is greatly lowered hence less productivity. The rationale behind the lack of training for older people is since the firm reasons that these employees will only serve the firm for a limited time during which the firm may not have obtained a return on its investment (the training efforts).
This flawed approach results in a decrease in the productivity of the older workers both to the disadvantage of the individual and the firm. Unum CMO (2008, p.4) states that employers can gain a lot by investing in employees of all ages and “questioning outmoded practices based on prejudice or stereotype”. Kesselman (2004) argues that the notion that firms train their workers with the prospect of deferred compensation is faulty given the rapid obsolescence of workers’ skills. As such, training is a recurring process rather than a one-time event. As such, a firm can invest in training of older workers with some expectations that they will receive adequate returns before the said worker decides to retire.
As it currently stands, most employers do not offer flexible work plans for their workforce. While the younger workers may cope favorably in such conditions, the older workforce cannot cope with the tight schedules and fixed work hours that an employer may impose on them. A US senate report on the aging workforce revealed that flexible work arrangement and customized employment can help to make the older workers more productive to the organization (Senate Report, 2009). By offering flexible work options, the work environment will be more conducive for the older workers, therefore, leading to higher productivity.
Tackling Discrimination
The government can play a major role in ensuring that the aging workforce is treated fairly. At present, the United States is hailed as a model in terms of encouraging older workers. Loretto, Vickerstaff, and White (2007) note that in the US, “age legislation has been associated with significant increases in post-retirement age employment rates”. This clearly demonstrates that the role of the government in combating discrimination in the workplace cannot be overstated.
Left to themselves, the Mulgan and Aimer (2004) suggest that most employers would be at best reluctant to enforce any policies that did not positively yield to addition in their profits. The welfare of the workers would, therefore, take a back seat to profitability leading to an undermining of favorable work conditions for the works. As such, the government has to step in and in this case, combat discrimination based on age, the government has not only enacted policies that outlaw this practice but it has also made it mandatory for employees to create environments that promote the wellbeing of aging employers.
From the arguments presented in this paper, it is evident that the older workforce is necessary for the economic well being of our nation. While it has been advanced that government policies can be used to avoid discrimination of the aging workforce, Wrench (2003) suggests that broader social issues such as changing attitudes should be focused on to tackle the issue.
As such, campaigns that involve the production of media material that sensitizes people on discrimination issues should be undertaken. Education has played an important role in the reduction of discrimination in the workplace. This is especially true in gender discrimination whereby the reduction in the gender pay gap has been accredited to the increase in female education in the country. The same approach can be taken with regard to the older workforce so as to negate the stereotypes that currently result in discriminatory practices against the older workforce.
Discussion
It is a fact that most countries can no longer afford to support the older population through pension schemes and other plans as was the case in the past. As such, the world has to be prepared to deal with an increasing aging workforce. Only by effectively utilizing this group will a nation be able to improve its economic well being. A report by Unum CMO (2008, p.3) authoritatively states that “getting the best out of older workers depends more on having progressive employment policies applicable to the workforce as a whole than it does on specific measures targeted at this group in isolation”.
As such, while affirmative action and taking legal action may have a positive bearing on the older workforce, adopting workplace cultures that value the contribution that the older workforce makes have a greater impact and lead to productivity by the older workforce. A report by Unum CMO (2008) reveals that “the stereotype of the older worker as one who is unable to master information technology, always sick and more expensive than younger colleagues” is greatly flawed. Older workers are known to be open to changes in some instances and embrace information technology. In addition to this, the commitment to the firm, loyalty, and discipline generally offsets the expenses that may arise as a result of failing physical abilities.
However, it should be noted that some of the stereotypes held hold true. While it is true that older workers are at times unfairly discriminated against because of their age, Loretto, Vickerstaff and White (2007, p.290) suggest that discrimination as a result of age may have some merit since there is truth in the “performance declining with age” assertion. This is a valid fear since there has been an established relationship between aging and work performance in some occupations. Therefore, as a result of the stereotyping and the actual “performance declining with age” reality, older workers find themselves being marginalized. This combined with employees failing to provide work training or professional development opportunities for older workers negatively affects the older workers.
Conclusion
This paper set out to argue that age does not translate to incompetency with regard to the aging American workforce and as such, older workers should not be discriminated against. To reinforce this claim, the paper has articulated the need for the aging workforce as well as the various advantages that the group brings to the job market. This paper also has demonstrated that the popular stereotype that older workers cost more for the employer and produce less is flawed and outdated and should therefore not be used as the basis for discriminating against older workers. However, the paper has also taken care to acknowledge the inherent demerits that an aging workforce presents. It has however been shown that these demerits can be dealt with resulting in favorable results both for the aging worker and the employer.
Judging by the demographical trends that are currently in place, it can be projected that the percentage of older people is going to increase in the US. It is, therefore, a reasonable assumption that as the years pass by, the aging workforce will have many human resource implications in the United States. From this paper, it can be authoritatively stated that the challenges that the older workers pose are easily outweighed by the benefits that they bring.
References
AARP. (2003). Workforce trends: staying ahead of the curve 2003: the AARP working in retirement study executive summary. Web.
Brotherton, P. (2010). Aging Workforce Worries construction Industry. American Society for Training & Development.
Eberhard, S. et al. (2009). “The Aging Workforce”. 34th Institute on Rehabilitation Issues.
Fernia, E. E., Zarit, S. H., & Johansson, B. (2001). “The Disablement Process in very late life: a Study of the Oldest-old in Sweden”. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 56B, 12-23.
Kesselman, R. J. (2004). Challenging the Economic Assumptions of Mandatory Retirement. Center for Public Policy Research.
Lawrence, L. (2008). “Retiring Retirement”. Nature Commentary, vol 453: 29.
Loretto, W., Vickerstaff, S. & White, P. (2007). The future for older workers: new perspectives. The Policy Press.
McGregor, J. & Gray, L. (2002). Stereotypes and Older Workers: The New Zealand Experience. Social Policy Journal of New Zealand, Issue 18.
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Paton, N. (2010). “Report Predicts Future with an Aging less Healthy Workforce”. Occupational Health, Vol. 62 Issue 7, p5-5, 2/3p.
Rendall, R. (2004). Facing an Ageing Workforce: Information for Public Service HR Managers. State Services Commission, Wellington.
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This paper aims to critique the article “The Fiduciary Responsibility of an Aging Owner” by Tom Maccianti. The framework used in the critique is to evaluate the options available regarding Michael and to attempt to trace the cause of the present problem for the purpose of possibly preventing a similar situation in the future.
Analysis and Discussion
The options that Company A has regarding Michael are as follows: The first one is to allow Michael to continue to work while the company continues to pay completely his salaries without rendering the corresponding service. The other option is creatively make a way for him to retire.
As to which of the two options is the best should be based on an objective criteria by considering what is beneficial to Company A and its stakeholders. There are many stakeholders of the company whose interest may be conflicting but the conflict must be resolved on what is just to every stakeholder in the context of the decision that must be made using the given options. These stakeholders include the stockholders, the company officers and employees, the customers, the creditors, the management, the government and the general public. Under the given the case study, the ones that are mostly affected are the management, the stockholders or the owners and the employees. Thus the effect on decision to be made will have to consider these groups of stakeholders.
If the first option is chosen, what are the advantages and disadvantages that may ensue? The advantages may include the fact the company’s management may be showing some respect to the man who became an important of Company and possibly this would afford the company of paying back the man who was helped much in bringing success to the company.
There are however disadvantages on the other side of the side, which must be brought out. First, the company may be paying him what is not fair to company and this could be a bad policy of the company since payment is not made in the basis on what is necessary but on what is charitable. Case facts say that Michael has been observed to be spending 3-4 hours a day 3-4 days a week and the company is already lucky to have the same. Case facts say that in addition his spotty attendance and combative nature at time set people back and distracts them from tasks at hand (Maccianti, 2008). In other words, Michael is becoming a liability rather than an asset in the workplace
A business should be run on the basis of sound management practices and any wrong decision what would deviate from such practice or policy could eventually bring the company to its knees. The second disadvantage is that it would is that management would be run inefficiently since it would be paying for some from which it would not get the value in return. A business organization like Company is basically for profit and any action to treat the case of Michael with emotionalism will make the company a charitable organization not a profit-oriented one. The company can only chose what is in accordance with its nature.
Going by the second option, which is to make a creative way for Mr. Michael to retire is necessarily different from the first option. The advantages of this option include facing and doing what is just and fair for Mr. Michael. Allowing him to retire would not be unfair to Mr. Michael since Mr. Michael is still a major stockholder. Making him retire may not affect his being stockholder. Since making him retire would only affect his employment, then said retirement would be the reasonable thing to do since it is an acknowledged business wisdom that a company must be able to hurdle the challenges in the industry brought by the changing conditions.
Another advantage of retiring him now is to make the business to be professionally run in order to compete in the environment where it is in. This would also make employees more satisfied by witnessing the fact that the management is doing what is right and fair for every body and the management cannot afford to lose money where it does not get the fair value in exchange on the matter of Michael’s services.
The disadvantage of this option may include the loss of a precious experience of a man that has done much for the company. This is however balanced by management responsiveness to react to changing conditions. The fact the Michael owns 35% or almost 1/3 of the total stocks of the company does not leave him without choice when he is retired. He will still have his share of the profits of the business. Profitability will however come easier if decisions are right and profits are maximized for the company. Not to retire him would be contrary to a profitable nature of the company that would provide Michael the just share in profits.
Could Company A have planned along time ago about the retirement of Michael? Since it is a business reality that everybody will get old, it is every company’s concern to plan for the retirement of its employees. Case facts say that the business had undergone events which required the company to adjust accordingly. Case facts further say that there were times that services and experience of Michael were very valuable and useful to the company until the market of the company’s products in the US experience a downtrend (Maccianti, 2008).
The company had to make choices because of changes such as balancing the manufacture of semiconductor inspection equipment and domestic sales. Needing to look at its cost structure in order to improve profitability, the general manager found that running a production shop was costing the company too much. Thus the company needed the scaling back manufacturing and better resort to outsourcing at it would save the company big cost which was needed in bring up profitability. At this point Michael started to feel the decrease demand for these skills which affected the way he does his job for the company.
The time frame within which decision was made was too short as case fact say that it was about five (5) years ago that there was a down turn in the demand for company product in the US and then there was a decision to outsource. In other words, there was great need for the services of Michael at a certain point and by the passage of so short a time, suddenly his services was not as useful as before. To say therefore that Company A could have anticipated providing retirement to Michael in such eventuality seems to sound too simple.
To plan for retirement of an employee it is assumed that an employee must be rendering at least 10 to 20 years of service, thus, it would appear that time was too short to plan for retirement of Michael. Moreover, Michael was one of the founders and major stockholder thus, the plan to retire employees including himself rest more on him than on present management.
Conclusion
The best option is to creatively make a way for Michael’s retire. After weighing the advantages and disadvantages, it was found that making him retire is the best thing to do since the same is consistent with the nature and purpose of the business of Company A. The same decision will also more probably assure Michael to get his just share of the profits as one of the major stockholders since the same would make the company pay for just expenses. The decision is also fair to all concerned stakeholders as the same will allow professionalism to be observed in the company.
As to the possibility of preventing the kind of situation that the company had, it could be asserted that proper planning on the part of Michael and the management of the company should have been done at the most earliest possible time for the retirement of the employees. The situation however in the case has only described the very past turn of events that necessitated the company to make decisions and which eventually resulted to finding the situation where Michael was in. Thus planning should have been broad and long term enough to anticipate changing business conditions.
Reference
Maccianti, T. (2008) The Fiduciary Responsibility of an Aging Owner.