Category: Aging

With changing and evolving time, human demographics such as age, gender, population density, mortality rates and even birth rates have changed. Some of these changes have been for the benefit on the society, while some can prove to be extremely harmful. The fluctuation in itself can become an issue. The one issue that has been seen in the recent past is of the aging population; the effects of this issue have been increasing drastically and are proving to be an impact of the negative kind for the society and a country as a whole.

Aging Population

As the name suggests, aging population or demographic aging is the movement of the age structure and distribution of world populations towards the older ages causing the majority of the world population to be elderly. This has been the direct impact and result of the continuous global fertility transition, which is basically the decline in the fertility rates of men and women. Additionally, another major reason is the mortality decline  normally, mortality decline is a sign of rising standards of living of a country; but this reduction of mortality rates is only at a higher older age which causes the older people to live longer leading to the general shift of the population towards older ages.

Population aging is becoming increasingly common in the industrialized nation beginning from the 21^st century and is now continuing to cause harm to the population. Countries and rural areas that had started experiencing the reduction in fertility rates are now clearly becoming aged. Population aging might not seem like such a big problem, but if this condition is analyzed from a socio-economic perspective, one will evidently realize that there is an increasing dependency ratio in the country. Along with the increasing dependency ratio, the health of the general population declines, causing them to become even more dependent on others. Increase in dependency ratio means that people increasingly less independent and have to rely on others to get their work done (Gavrilov & Heuveline, 2003). For example, an old man cannot be the bread winner of the family; he is generally to weak or sick to be able to perform an everyday proper job and to be able to feed himself, let alone his entire family. Such an individual is either dependent on his children or his other relatives for sustenance. However, with increasing progression in the world, the nature of the people becomes more and more detached from others with a sense of individualism instead of family life. Therefore, without family support, these aged and dependent people end up getting admitted to an old age home. This leads to the bankruptcy of Medicare Programs and social insurance and welfare programs because it is difficult for them to handle so many individuals at the same time. Also, this leads to a dwindling labor force causing the entire productivity or the organization to go below par leading the total output of the nation to fall  this has a direct affect on the Gross Domestic Product of a country and eventually its living standards and ranking in the world (Weil, 1997).

Measures of Aging Population

There are a few ways to determine or measure the amount of aging individuals and compare it with the general statistics of the world to see and analyze the situation of a certain country as opposed to the other countries and the general level of aging population in the world.

One of the measures is the one mentioned above, the elderly dependency ratio (EDR), which is the measurement and comparison of the number of people in their retirement age as against those in working ages. Another measure is the aging index, which is another way of measuring the same result, just captured in a different style. This is defined as the number of people aged 65 and over per 100 youths under age 15 (Demeny, 2003). If the aging index is higher than 100, then it means that the population is aging and elderly; but if the aging index is lower than 100, it means that the population is young.

An indicator of aging population is head-count ratios, another of which is the measures of location using the mode, mean, median. The percentile and the graphs of aging population can be represented using a population pyramid.

Conclusion

Currently, only a few countries are facing issues of an aging population; some of which are Italy, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Japan and Greece. But it is said according to a report that in a few years time, around a decade or so later, almost all developed countries will face this issue (UNDP, 2005). A report was written in 2002 by the Population Divison, for which the research was extended from the figures of 1950-2050; the report concluded that aging population is unprecedented, pervasive, enduring and has found profound impacts on a society in many respects.

Works Cited

Gavrilov, L. and Heuveline, P., Aging of Population, This is a manuscript of our article in The Encyclopedia of Population. New York, Macmillan Reference USA, (2003).

United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Report 2005: International Cooperation at a Crossroads-Aid, Trade and Security in an Unequal World, (2005).

Weil, David N., The Economics of Population Aging in Mark R. Rosenzweig and Oded Stark, eds., Handbook of Population and Family Economics, New York: Elsevier, (1997).

Theories of Aging

When theorizing the why and how of aging in relation to biology, I was most struck by Arbuthnott et al.s (2016) discussion on evolutionary theory and aging. The authors main aim was to explain why mortality rate rises with aging. One thing that stood out for me throughout the discussion revolves around the fact that Senescent is a characteristic of life that occurs because selection is weak and cannot maintain the survival of an organism.

Arbuthnott et al. (2016) further emphasized that aging evolves since selection cannot effectively eradicate detrimental mutations that occur during late stage of life. This prompted me to conduct additional research regarding the same and the findings termed this as the mutation accumulation hypothesis. It emerged clearly from the discussion that aging shortens lifespan which, in turn, is shaped by selection for a high number of long-term reproductive events. In essence, aging is associated with the reduction in the force of natural selection as it relates to mutation that generates negative effects in later stage of life.

Another thing that struck me the most when theorizing the why and how of aging is that Senescent is a side effect of genes that are involved with fertility and fitness. In this regard, aging occurs because the advantages of enhanced fertility during middle stage of life are connected physically to prolonged deterioration of the body (Bengtson and Settersten, 2016). In other words, aging is linked to enhanced survivability during early stages of life but this correlation is not always consistent. In addition to this, there is underlying inflammation that interferes with the skins defence mechanism (Xu and Kirkland, 2016). This in turn weakens skin structure which leads to degradation of collagen and elastin.

Scientific Discoveries

Theories of stem cell aging hold that the senescent process is marked by the inability of different types of stem cells to plenish the tissues of an organism with healthy ones. Therefore, the scientific discovery that I find most compelling revolves around the theories of stem cells advanced by Sousa-Victor et al. (2016). The authors discussed how scientists have been able to rejuvenate old satellite cells such as those related to geriatric age. The aim has been to restore traits of youthfulness with the objective of maintaining human health during aging. The interventions that delay the process of aging prompted scholars to conduct further research on systematic regulators of immune homeostasis.

Another discovery that I find compelling revolves around how aging leads to the loss of tissue and skeletal muscle function. For instance, the authors noted that skeletal muscle has unmatched regenerative capacity that depends largely on its satellite cells. However, this capacity tends to reduce with aging and the recent scientific discoveries shows why this occurs. One discovery showed that degenerative capacity declines due to age-related environmental and autonomous changes.

Troubling Issues

Senescent, according to the theories of stem cell aging, occurs when the cells grow old due to factors such as DNA damage. However, the issue that I find most troubling is the use of stem cells to delay aging process as evidenced in the discussion by Sousa-Victor et al. (2016). The main issue of concern is that the focus is generally on achieving a healthy lifespan as opposed to total lifespan. Delayed aging will work only if there is prospect towards restoring people to a physically sound and healthy status.

Reference

Bengtson, V. L., & Settersten Jr, R. (Eds.). (2016). Handbook of theories of aging. Springer Publishing Company.

Introduction

Aging is a life process that makes a person old. The aging process is associated with memory loss, skin wrinkles, weak muscles, and also trouble balancing. Aging is said to be a result of normal biological body changes. Aging can also be a result of some of the impacts people do on their body for instance long exposure to the sun will cause sunburns and skin wrinkles.

Aging has a different impact on our bodies. Firstly, there cellular aging is the wearing out of the body cells. The cells are damaged through radicals and other variables. Hormonal aging is a result of the hormone change in the body that is associated with each life stage like childhood, teenage, and old age. As a person moves from one stage to another, the level and the function of hormones also change. Accumulated damages caused by body toxins, radiation rays, unhealthy eating and environmental pollution cause our body tissues to wear out causing aging. Lastly, metabolic aging comes along during the process of metabolism. Some of the energy realized during the process causes damage to our bodies over some time. Scientists believe that slowing down the metabolic process through some method like calorie control may prevent early aging (Stibich, 2009).

The social construction of age states that aging occurs not because the mind and the bodies want to wear out, but because people explain in their mind and physical stages that the body changes are the aging symptoms. Aging is influenced by social factors in two ways. Firstly, is cognitive age, which is the thought of a person of how old he/she thinks is. Secondly, is the chronological age, which is a persons actual or real age. According to studies, aging people are now considering themselves as younger and they are using some of the ant-aging products that make them look young than they possibly are (Stibich, 2009).

Influence of aging by ethnicity

Ethnicity is in the current times is defined as the means of dealings between diverse cultural groups and the strategic positions of control within the social structure. Ethnicity emphasizes more on the society standard of behavior, social ties, memories of a common historic event, cultural heritage, tribal affiliation, and the social language.

Ethnicity has been seen to influence the process of aging. According to some of the ethnicity theories, ethnicity development, its survival in the society, the crystallization of solidarity, and its recognition are supported by the social structure. The values, motives social and psychological status given to certain members of the society for example the elders affect their aging process. In this elders social status, there is existence of rich status, structural positions and social beliefs. The society stress variables and personal resources influence the ethnic elders to have a quality life that also positively manipulate their health status. Therefore, the ethnic elders good health slows the aging process and makes the elders live long before they look old (Cruikshank 2003, p. 159).

Some ethnic groups have different life practices that expose them to poor health. For instance, the type of food eaten, the cultural practices and the exposure to the environmental toxins influence the society to high morbidity and mortality. For example, the majority of black people in Africa are said to be poor which makes them eat poorly and have poor health behaviors. The Japanese people are said to have high life expectancy and low aging rate because of the healthy food they take.

Value and behaviors from a certain ethnic group, adapted by an individual in his or her early development stages are important later to the aging issues of the person. The person will to some point want to go back to the ethnic values when having some physical and duty changes. The determination to apply the early learned values in the aging life is to create a life continuation.

Class and aging

A person, social status is important in the determination of how long one lives. Social-economic status of a person is said to shorten the life expectancy of that person. Social status is said to create an influence on health. Low social status is said to be the cause of the increased risk of diseases, infant mortality and lifespan of individuals. According to research conducted, the aging process can be accelerated by the social status for seven years. Scientists believe that stress that a person may have because of lack of money or good social class can be blamed for aging.

According to scientists, telomeres are said to have an impact on a persons biological aging. The length of Telomeres in the DNA chromosomes is said to cause social class aging. The telomeres are said to belong and as individual ages, the length of the telomeres decreases. The telomeres function of protecting chromosomes from damage, decreases making the chromosomes to be in danger of damage. The stress associated with the strain of a person being in a poorly paid job, the low effort paying situations, the low self-esteem and the increased depression an individual has for not having a good social class, makes the telomere length reduce, therefore, accelerating aging process.

Gender and aging

Gender makes people think differently about their aging bodies. Both men and women have different views of old age which they associate with their body image. Women at the age of sixty years are said to be more conscious of their aging body than their women counterparts of the age between twenty and forty. Aging women not only experience decrease in beauty but also a decrease in public visibility and authority. On the other hand, mens aging affects their objective capabilities and function.

When aging, some gender differences occur in certain specific cognitive patterns. Women aged more than 65 years are said to participate more in the daily cognitive roles than men of the same age, for instance touring in the parks. On the other hand, community roles are said to affect cognitive progress (Cruikshank 2003, p. 155).

Gender differences can be found in the socioeconomic and psychosocial variables of mortality. Men are affected by their lower levels of learning, apparent control, individual commitment, and moreover their bodily functioning. Womens predictors are their minimum social support and their social commitment to various activities.

The differences in gender role development at a young age continue to exist in men and women even at an older age. The gender role is seen more in men than old women and this influences the age of men making them age fast. Social roles are good for the well-being of a person. Performance of several duties is said to be important for both genders health although sometimes several roles may create stress. Women of the age above fifty years are said to be more committed to performing and satisfying roles than their men partners. Most women at this age add extra roles for instance going back to school to reduce health problems and slow down the aging process.

Political influence on aging

Nowadays, there are a large number of aging populations in many countries. The increased number of old people has been influenced by the improvement in science, technology and the medical status of a country, which is enhanced by the governments. The progress in this area has also seen a decrease in the mortality rate, diseases and improvements in nutrition and eating habits (Cruikshank 2003, p. 95).

Different countries have their policies for the aged. For instance, American policies state that all should work unless one is disabled. Every person in America is supposed to stand on his/ her own and the persons hard work, independence, and egotism are meant to make a person live well. This policy would then affect the aging people and since they needed to survive, they deny the fact that they are old and go back to work. Although America and most of the countries have come up with policies addressing the old peoples needs and adaptation to the aging process, some of the aged individuals still find it hard to accept the situation. Increased number of old people in the country has also influenced the voting process. Since most of the old people are said to have homogenous thoughts towards politics, it is found that they influence the leaders of the country through their majority votes (Cruikshank 2003, p. 95).

The economic environment on the aging

The countrys economic status positively or negatively influences the aging system. For instance the industrially developed countries are said to have stable economies which means that they have enough money to support programs of the aging people. A country like Japan has a high GDP that has made it possible to establish policies that have seen her elderly to be well catered up to their last days. Since the old people are prone to too many diseases as compared to the young people, it becomes difficult for a poor country to support a large number of the aged. The economic stability of a country also makes the old people retire early from the working class, but still continue to enjoy the financial benefits that allow them to live well therefore, reducing the rate of aging (Cruikshank 2003, p. 95).

On the other hand, economically stable countries have more the environmental pollution coming from their industries. The polluted environment harbors long-term health risks and effects that make people age early. Although some of these developed countries have controlled their pollution rate, it still remains a challenge to some.

Conclusion

The aging process is a biological stage of a persons life that has some bodily and mental changes. Aging has been seen to be affected by certain factors as ethnicity, class, gender, political and economic environment. The perception of aging can be seen to be different among many aging people depending on these factors that affect aging.

References

Cruikshank, M. (2003). Learning to be old: gender, culture, and aging. USA: Rowman and Littlefield publishers.

Stibich, M.(2009). What is Aging? Web.

When a person ages, their skin becomes less smooth and firm, body parts begin to ache, muscles lose their strength, and other issues like forgetfulness or inability to do daily activities with ease may appear. Overall, since it is impossible for all living creatures to avoid aging, peoples purpose is to age healthily. Various factors, including environment, lifestyle, and genetics, can cause some genetic disorders linked to premature aging. The purpose of this paper is to talk about the genetic basis of the normal aging process.

The process of aging and the role genetics plays in it are studied by many biologists. In their article titled Genetic and Epigenetic Regulation of Human Aging and Longevity, Morris et al. (2019) mention the latest data on the contributions of genetics to human longevity and aging. This academic piece may be considered reliable and credible since its authors have degrees in Geriatric Medical Sciences or Molecular Biology.

This article is rather valuable for the field of genetics. According to the authors, approximately fifty-seven gene loci are involved in lifespan (Morris et al., 2019). They believe that dysregulation of transcriptional and chromatin networks is likely a crucial component of aging (Morris et al., 2019, p. 1718). The authors also outline the normal genetic process of age and state that the interaction of several phenomena contributes to it.

First, previously inactive genes leak because highly regulated chromatin marks drift towards an entropic middle-ground between active and repressed. This process is connected with the replication of young well-differentiated cells into their eventual senescence (Morris et al., 2019). Further, chromatin connectivity is broken, and constitutive heterochromatin changes to senescence-associated heterochromatin, defining the process of aging (1731). In addition, Morris et al. (2019) also discuss one of the most prominent longevity genes: the apolipoprotein E gene, and mention that some researchers argue that this is actually a frailty gene (p. 1721). Finally, implications for further research are also provided. It is necessary to consider the sex-specificity of longevity associations and racial differences, reach a consensus on the set of lifespan-related and multi-biomarker aging phenotypes, and explore possible interventions.

Reference

Morris, B. J., Willcox, B. J., & Donlon, T. A. (2019). Genetic and epigenetic regulation of human aging and longevity. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Molecular Basis of Disease, 1865(7), 1718-1744.

Death is perceived as natural and an inevitable part of life. We may not be sure about the outcomes of our lives, but one thing we are confident of is that we are all going to die. Although funerals help the living by giving them a chance to understand the finality of death, it does not guarantee the assurance of someone being in a better place. In this multi-paragraph essay, I will outline several thoughts based on cultural, psychological, and religious beliefs that will aid individuals in reflecting on their mortality.

Growing old is a privilege many do not experience because of circumstances such as an untimely death. As we grow old, we tend to slow down our productivity, become stagnant and explore life less vigorously. According to Erickson, integrity and sorrow are often seen in the latter stages of human development (Orenstein & Lewis, 2021). Integrity is the ability to take pride in ones accomplishments and hence the ability to prepare for death in a calm and worry-free manner. Discouragement is experienced by older persons who dwell on what they might, could, or should not have been and who thus face death with a sense of dread, regret, and sadness.

Death might be viewed as either spiritual or physical. In the physical aspect, a persons demise might take a long time, even in the middle of a life-threatening medical condition. If the patient receives excellent care, this may be a peaceful moment when the body is ready to let go of life (Health direct, 2021). Every individual is different; thus, this is not a universal rule. Psychologically, the heart stops beating, and the person eventually ceases to breathe. His brain immediately quits working, and his skin cools down (Renz et al., 2017). An individual has expired at this point and is hence declared dead. Spiritually, there are different ways to think of life after death based on individual beliefs. These include but are not limited to reincarnation, resurrection, immortality and obsolete. The locations our souls rest are further classified into heaven, hell, purgatory, sleep and a state of unconsciousness.

Reincarnation is the process through which an individual undergoes a second birth after physical death (McClelland, 2018). It might be the mind, awareness, or even the soul, but it could also be another. Individuals who believe in reincarnation affirm rebirth. Reincarnation is a doctrine that can be found in theology as well as in philosophy. It asserts that after a persons physical death, their spirit or soul will return to the physical world to take on a new body of a different species, shape, or nature, depending on how morally excellent they were in their previous life (McClelland, 2018). The idea of reincarnation is closely linked to karma. In every action, there is an equal and opposite response. When a person dies, they are reincarnated because they wish to enjoy a body that cannot deliver eternal happiness or calm. Every human eventually grows unhappy and seeks higher levels of bliss through spiritual experience after numerous incarnations. When there is nothing left for a person to want, they will never be born again. A person is believed to have achieved freedom after breaking free from the endless cycle of birth and reincarnation.

In the Religious aspect of Christianity, individuals believe that the earth is just a temporary world, but heaven is the ultimate goal of our lives. Walker (2018 Phil. 1:21) says, for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Therefore, when we die, we either go into a deep state of unconscious existence and wait until the second coming of Christ, or we go to purgatory. Purgatory is a state where our souls undergo purification from worldly sins before we can go to heaven to be with the maker. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the lord (Walker, 2018 2 Cor. 5:8). Death is referred to metaphorically as sleep; hence when we die, our physical body is what remains, but our souls go immediately to heaven. Our physical body is what is buried; therefore, it returns to dust.

According to Islam, when an individual nears death, two angels of death are sent to pick up his soul. During that state, Islam believed that if you were a dutiful Muslim, then your tongue would be able to declare Allah as your God and Prophet Mohammed as his last and final messenger (Ahaddour, Broeckaert, & Branden, 2018). If you were in the wrong, your language would not be able to express those words. During this period, the angel of death takes your body and ascends towards the heavens. When the body is prepared for burial, the soul is taken back to the body for questioning. The body shall remain in the tomb till the Day of Judgment, Yawm al-din. All individuals will be resurrected on that day and brought before Allah to answer for their earthly deeds, on which they will be judged (Ahaddour, Broeckaert, & Branden, 2018). The term resurrection of the body refers to this idea. Jannah, or Paradise, is reserved for those who have done better than harm. Islam describes Jannah (also known as the Garden of Eternal Bliss) as an eternal paradise and a sanctuary of tranquilly. There will be no disease, agony, or sorrow in the hereafter, which Muslims call Jannah (BBC, 2022). Those who have done more wrong than right will be sent to Jahannam or Hell, according to their level of good actions. This is where bodily and spiritual pain is felt.

In conclusion, people view death differently; hence there is no particular formula for viewing death. Additionally, it is an integral part of life and is considered the final stage of an individuals life span. People usually align themselves with the concepts that make sense to them; thus, what happens when we die is deeply rooted in the specific beliefs and ideologies different individuals conform to.

References

BBC. (2022). What does Islam teach about life after death?  Life after death  GCSE religious studies revision  BBC bitesize. BBC Bitesize. Web.

Health Direct. (2021). The physical process of dying. Web.

McClelland, N. C. (2018). Encyclopedia of reincarnation and karma (3rd ed.). North Carolina: McFarland.

Walker, G. A. (2018). Modern Literal Version Bible. Modern Literal Version Bible Official Site. Web.

Orenstein, G. A., & Lewis, L. (2021). Eriksons stages of psychosocial development  StatPearls  NCBI bookshelf. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Web.

Renz, M., Reichmuth, O., Bueche, D., Traichel, B., Mao, M. S., Cerny, T., & Strasser, F. (2017). Fear, pain, denial, and spiritual experiences in dying processes. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®, 35(3), 478-491. Web.

Introduction

My interviewee was Mr. Specter, a 65-year-old African American man. He is a recently retired college lecturer and an African American culture advocate. His childhood was filled with happiness and he grew up in both a nuclear and extended family. His parents gave their best to put him through college where he worked very hard and became a lecturer. He loved his career and made sure his knowledge impacted young people positively. He is a family man, married to one wife, and has three daughters, one son, and six grandchildren. He is a healthy person and has not struggled with any illness. He hopes to live a healthy, fulfilled life surrounded by family.

From my interview, I have learned that aging is inevitable. However, not many people critically think about aging or what they intend to do with their later years, especially after retirement. Many people spent their midlives socializing, working, and raising children. On the other hand, aging comes with various life changes and it is mostly characterized by fear of the unknown future, illnesses, alterations in social circles, and mental health. This work intends to highlight the developmental, psychological, professional, and social alterations that come with aging.

Discussion

From the interview and my understanding of Vygotskys sociocultural theory, I have learned that both nature and nurture play an important role in a persons growth and development. My interviewees culture greatly influences his career choice and lifestyle. Growing up as an African American young man impacted his zeal to teach his community about their culture. He has mentored many young men and women from his community. He intends to ensure that disseminating and imparting knowledge of African America heritage continues. Though many African American communities during his time as a young man were associated with drugs and crime, he beat all odds to become a successful man who only wants what is best for society.

According to the stages of development by Erik Erikson, my interviewee is in the Late-adulthood stage characterized by either integrity or despair. It is the phase of development where people have time to reflect on their lives. Adults, who feel fulfilled, either through success in the family or a meaningful career, reach ego integrity. On the contrary, those who feel like they failed in life risk falling into despair. My interviewee has achieved integrity, he has successfully raised a family and effectively worked in a field that he was passionate about, and retired honorably. He is happy with what he had done so far and looks forward to a good life.

I have also learned that aging comes with reduced social ties. Most people who are lucky to have families around them spend most of their later years around family. My interviewee worked as a college lecturer where he interacted with many people and visited various states on official duty. However, these interactions have reduced since he retired, and he currently spends most of his time around family. His social status has changed, and his number of interactions with people has reduced tremendously now compared to his midlife.

Further, aging comes with retirement, at this stage; many people completely stop working while others like business owners transfer their responsibilities to other people and should be enjoying after-work benefits. My client has retired, and this gives him plenty of free time. Failure to plan for retirement results in confusion and stress because people get bored with free time, as many do not know how to keep themselves occupied. My interviewee wants to live a healthy life in his retirement. He intends to keep physically fit and enjoy his old age.

Moreover, aging involves changes in physical, social, and professional spheres. The inability to emotionally handle these alterations results in poor mental health. Cognitive behavioral theorist helps in understanding emotional and cognitive changes that happen during the aging stage resulting in adopting certain behaviors. The alterations occurring between midlife and late adulthood require cognitive restructuring for proper adaptation. However, many people are not able to adapt well to the changes hence becoming stressed and in severe cases depressed. My interviewee is happy with his achievements, his aging does not bother him as he plans to enjoy his retirement and spend more time with family.

Conclusion

I have understood that the quality of later life is linked with lifestyles and financial decisions made in young adulthood and mid-lives. People who work hard, invest or save while young have a high probability of successively transitioning to late adulthood as compared to people who have little or nothing at this stage. The latter is so because they can invest in family and save or have insurance for later life. For instance, a financially and family-stable person will transition better to aging than a financially and family wise unstable person.

My interviewee is aging successively, he has taken care of a family, had a fulfilled career, lived a healthy life, and intends to enjoy his retirement together with his family. From conducting this interview, I have learned that I have to begin preparing for my later years as early as possible. Secondly, I have also understood the importance of investing in the community and family because they are people who will be there for me in my old age. How people live their current lives today reflects on how they will live in old age.

Demographic metamorphosis leads to significant economic and social impacts affecting labor and capital markets, goods and services, social protection, health care, and pensions. The consequences of a shrinking working-age population are lower labor productivity and aggregate savings, and thus slower investment, demand, and economic growth. Therefore, population aging is a critical issue, and its solution requires effective and constant coordination between health care and aging systems.

A combination of well-coordinated, high-quality services delivered by appropriately qualified health professionals to address older peoples specific needs and act on their health risks is required. A considerable part of the effort is to strengthen informal help from relatives and friends in order for people with functional limitations to continue living at home for as long as feasible (Bishop, 2022). Furthermore, there is a growing emphasis on the preventive work of doctors, especially GPs. The focus on broad socio-prophylactic measures and the onset of illnesses have particularly elevated the doctors role in the general system of preventive measures.

Moreover, it is generally acknowledged that lifestyle has a vital role in longevity. In this case, physical health is one of the essential factors determining the way of life of an aging person and their ability to adapt to new living conditions (Bishop, 2022). However, successful implementation of any wellness measures is only possible if the population understands and promotes them properly. The lack of a qualitative relationship between programs and the level of awareness among the population is still an unresolved issue in the course of integration. Although medicine has not yet discovered how to prevent aging and correct individual genetic characteristics, there are already considerable recommendations for healthy lifestyles that prevent premature aging (Bishop, 2022). These include eating a healthy diet, maintaining a wholesome bodyweight, avoiding obesity, getting regular exercise, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol intake. The level of integration still cannot be called thorough, but efforts to promote mindfulness are practical and encourage quality modifications.

The general philosophy is that healthy aging should focus on prevention and wellness, emphasizing maintaining functional capacity rather than curing illness. Remote care and telemedicine, including video conferencing with healthcare providers, and tablet-based patient education, have been shown to create benefits for healthcare system, resulting in lower costs and improved patient outcomes (Solhi et al., 2022). The proper combination of technology and healthcare has incredible potential to engage patients in managing their health, early detection, and diagnosis of chronic conditions and, therefore, healthier and more active aging.

The USPSTF is taking active steps to counteract the concerns of aging. However, it is worth noting that these measures have been insufficient and ineffective for an extended period. Considerable USPSTF efforts concentrate on treatment through early detection of specific diseases with distinctly specified risk aspects or prospects for early intervention. This USPSTF procedure for older individuals has been questioned, as multiple conditions have multifactorial risk aspects, interventions, and typical effects (Solhi et al., 2022). Moreover, there was an incomplete sample of older people in clinical practices, and essential developments were not generalized to interpret the evidence accurately. In order to secure the prominence of its measures, the USPSTF suggested a unique approach aimed at collecting data specific to older individuals.

The USPSTF subgroup is operating to handle other methodological matters critical for evidence-based guidance. Their considerations include a further review of non-traditional outcomes, such as the influence on careers. Furthermore, the group strives to identify approaches to authorize more confident and compatible extrapolation of evidence from younger populations into older ones (Solhi et al., 2022). Current undertakings include assessing the evidence to determine the quality of life measures, values, and attitudes to prevention. The primary focus of the USPSTF is on promoting the critical role of physical activity in fall deterrence, which is undoubtedly valuable. However, it is essential to note that the aging program is still incomplete and needs improvement to be more effective. Population aging is a significant challenge for society, but it can be prevented by implementing quality measures and integrating systems.

References

Bishop, C. E. (2022). Economics of aging: New insights. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 77(4), 735-738. Web.

Solhi, M., Pirouzeh, R., & Zanjari, N. (2022). Middle-aged preparation for healthy aging: A qualitative study. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 1-8. Web.

Introduction

Human life expectancy has continuously increased in the past two centuries, closing in global aging. Multiple losses, such as financial, psychological, personal, health-related, and loss of autonomy, cognition, and functionality, have contributed to the anxiety that comes with advancing years. The cybernetic theory of stress, coping, and well-being holds that stress is a difference between an individuals perceived and desired conditions, which is especially crucial for aging adults. At the age of 70, the same elements that induce negative aging create negative personality changes due to bad habits, terrible marriages, maladaptive defenses, and sickness. The paper focuses on providing research about the Physiology of stress and its impacts on the process of aging.

Stress and Adversity in Aging

Adversity is a part of life for everyone, and it can harm ones health and well-being. There is a lot of variation in the trajectory of health and function in old age. In the context of aging, stresses include chronic illnesses, cognitive impairment, the psychological stress of caregiving, independence, and money (Liguori et al., 2018). Adversities affect people in a variety of ways. Some get depressed and even die young due to hardships, while others manage to overcome them and live a life of personal fulfillment (Wimalawansa, 2019). Chronically ill patients, bereaved spouses, and family dementia carers have all been considered to have severe stress exposure that generates mental illness in older adults.

Physiology of Stress and Its Effects on the Aging Process

Because of weakened resistance to stress, aging physiologically alters a persons response to it. Ferrucci et al. (2020) affirm that an accumulation of everyday and significant life stressors that relate with a persons genetic composition and influencing early life experiences can be regarded as the source of individual variances in the aging process. Allostasis was the initial name given to the process by which the core environment changes to encounter the perceived and expected demand in the adaptive biological response to critical stress (Liguori et al., 2018). The idea of a set point that fluctuates due to the bodys attempt to maintain homeostasis has been added to this term through research. Allostasis, which means maintaining stability during change, is mediated by the neuroendocrine system, the autonomic nerve system, and the immunological system (Wimalawansa, 2019). The endocrine, autonomic, and immunological systems can all be affected by the aging process, leading to a loss of homeostasis.

Liguori et al. (2018) found a link between higher levels of cumulative stress and biological markers, including insulin resistance and hastened aging as measured by Grim Age. It further showed that emotional regulation lowered the impact of stress on accelerated aging, and self-control was found to mitigate the association between pressure and insulin resistance. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is well-known for its harmful impact on the neuroendocrine function when experienced acutely. Glucocorticoids such as cortisol are released when this feedback loop is activated, allowing the body to function at a higher level of alertness (Liguori et al., 2018). Animals need to have the HPA response to stress to survive. However, high amounts of glucocorticoids can cause hypertension, depress anabolic processes, and even hippocampus atrophy if they remain elevated for an extended time. In both normal and pathological aging, the volume of the hippocampus decreases.

Sex differences may have a role in how stress affects people. Ferrucci et al., (2020). Argues that women have double chances compared to males to suffer from emotional disorders in the years following puberty and before menopause. Age 55 appears to bring this disparity to a close. Estradiol, the primary gonadal steroid, is one of the strongest contenders for a role in this gender difference (Wimalawansa, 2019). Women who have never experienced mood swings before perimenopause begin to experience them due to changes in estrogen levels, and this link has been established conclusively. Depression and female suicide attempts have been linked to greater estrogen levels during the menstrual cycle.

Stress hormones, including cortisol, may interact with the estrogenic effects on cognition. Cortisol is the quintessential stress hormone in response to psychological and social stress. Ferrucci et al. (2020) argue that older women tend to have higher levels than younger ones. Cortisol levels in the elderly are connected with increased psychosocial stress, decreased cognitive performance, and the atrophy of memory-related regions in the brain, such as the hippocampus (Liguori et al., 2018). Because of the harmful effects of stress hormones on cognitive performance in normal aging, elevated estradiol levels may be frustrating and have peptide levels and ratios. It is critical to preserving neuronal integrity and overall health in the brain. Wimalawansa (2019) argues that cortisols effects on the brain circuits essential for cognitive function and mood regulation have yet to be fully understood in psychosocial stress.

Conclusion

Their close relationship broadly researched stress, inflammation, sex hormones, and aging. Assessment of the biological factors that influence anxiety and resilience might assist in identifying possible neurobiological systems as targets for intervention to improve flexibility at both individual and community levels. Stress responsiveness and stability may be influenced by various factors, including neuroendocrine, immunological, brain circuitry, genetic, temperamental, and environmental variables. New preventative treatments are being tested and implemented in research and community care in stress and aging. It has become an essential resource for disseminating information about the dangers and benefits of depressive and cognitive illnesses at an old age.

References

Ferrucci, L., Gonzalez-Freire, M., Fabbri, E., Simonsick, E., Tanaka, T., Moore, Z., Salimi, S., Sierra, F., & de Cabo, R. (2020). Measuring biological aging in humans: A quest. Aging cell, 19(2), e13080. Web.

Liguori, I., Russo, G., Curcio, F., Bulli, G., Aran, L., Della-Morte, D., Gargiulo, F., Bulli, G., Testa, G., Caccaiatore, F., Bonaduce, D., & Abete, P. (2018). Oxidative stress, aging, and diseases. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 13, 757.

Wimalawansa, S. J. (2019). Vitamin D deficiency: Effects on oxidative stress, epigenetics, gene regulation, and aging. Biology, 8(2), 30.

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is a service and advocacy organization that primarily makes no profit. NCOA combines efforts made by other nonprofit organizations, businesses, and the government to better the lives of elderly persons. The organization focuses on building up services and creative solutions that assist elderly peoples lives using different programs (What Is the National Council on Aging  USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, 2021). Therefore, the NCOA aims at increasing the elimination of challenges experienced by old persons using programs, advocacy, and services.

Some of the programs offered by NCOA comprise Benefits Checkup; this is a confidential service provided freely online for elderly individuals. It enables them to access state and private benefits programs. This program provides funds to cater for transportation, training for employment, taxes, in-home services, housing, utilities, healthcare, legal, food, and medication for old people (What Is the National Council on Aging  USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, 2021). The other program is Savvy Savings Seniors; this is a toolkit meant for elderly persons that require assistance in managing their funds, making profits, and evading scams. Through Savvy Savings Seniors, NCOA has designed training guides that assist other community organizations in formatting workshops.

There is also Home Equity Advisory and Reverse Mortgage Counseling. These are services that assist elderly people gain equity in homes faster than traditional mortgages (What Is the National Council on Aging  USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, 2021). There is also the Restart Living program that contains various resources such as videos. These resources equip elderly people with knowledge to manage their ongoing health problems (What Is the National Council on Aging  USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, 2021). These self-management workshop resources explain the appropriate ways that elderly persons can live a better and healthier life. Therefore, services offered by NCOA are vital because they help enhance the lives of many elderly persons in America specifically those disadvantaged and living in vulnerable conditions.

References

What Is the National Council on Aging  USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. (2021). Web.

Currently, the population of the United States is swiftly aging which poses challenges to healthcare system. It is estimated that approximately 20% of American people will reach the age of 65 within a decade (Rowe et al., 2016). It implies that they will excessively use medical services due to chronic and severe diseases. As a result, the patient base is Therefore, social and healthcare services are facing serious problem in delivering care.

The start of the following decade will be marked by a dramatic demographic shift which presumes that people will massively get older and their number will exceed the younger generation. The population boom will significantly affect health care services delivery. There are significant differences among older people in the society now which will become more acute in future. Divorced or widowed men and women, members of racial minorities, and immigrants are most likely to be exposed to chronic diseases, poverty, and inaccessibility to adequate services as they get older (Rowe et al., 2016). Hence, as the population grows, so will the segment of aging individuals who require more support that the others.

As a consequence, there is a need to develop a policy which will guarantee health care services availability and accessibility to the older adults. Even though the policy may be not complicate to develop, it is indispensable to prove its effectiveness. Most likely its success depends on several stakeholders: the government and the medical workers. In case they collaborate to increase health status of aging generation, the policy may have an effect on the target group.

The first part of the policy framework would be recognizing senior citizens needs and values and measuring their economic, social, and other statuses. The next step would be developing policy itself by compiling all the data and choosing the adequate options to help the vulnerable group. This policy must be implemented at the state level since the government is the primary stakeholder which must undertake a principle responsibility to provide financial security to the aging population.

Nonetheless, there is a possibility of a long-term valuation process since the policy must be thoroughly assessed at all levels. The slow pace of change in the organization is often seen as a prior challenge to make policy work. The evaluation process will consider policys efficacy, relevance, and feasibility to ensure it bears practical meaning (Czaja, 2019). However, the date of this procedure may barely be stated since each stage of assessment may last for an extended period. Yet, the regular process of policy implementation takes up to six months or longer.

In case if the policy is inconsistent with some conditions and does not fulfill its intended purpose, the stakeholders should revise it. Primarily, they must alter the initial intent, add new information to understand the policy statement, modify the structure, and update the guidelines (Czaja, 2019). Healthcare policies are vital for the society; hence, they must be reviewed or revised carefully to benefit population.

In conclusion, it seems relevant to state that healthcare reforms are vitally needed for the vulnerable segments of population. The aging generation is in the risk group since they demand more medical services which become more expensive. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a policy granting these individuals financial and social security. However, the process of its implementation may take longer than expected and demand re-evaluation.

References

Czaja, S. J. (2019). The healthcare challenge for an aging population: The role of technology. Innovation in Aging, 3(1), S32. Web.

Rowe, J., Fulmer, T., & Fried, L. (2016). Preparing for better health and health care for an aging population. JAMA, 316(16), 16431644. Web.