One of the problems that older adults face is social isolation. As they grow older, they become lonelier and more isolated from the rest of society. At old age, a person’s spouse and most of their peers are dead. The person is also likely to be in a nursing home, where their family visits every once in a while. Due to these factors, isolation among the elderly is rampant in many societies. Loneliness among the elderly can be solved by considering the issue from multiple theoretical perspectives.
Social isolation among the elderly in the US can be reduced through the application of the activity theory. This theory suggests that individuals enjoy old age by finding new activities to do to substitute the statuses they used to occupy in society (‘Theoretical perspectives on aging’, n.d.). It posits that social engagement is the key to being happy in old age. Keeping older American citizens engaged will help to prevent them from feeling lonely and isolated.
America can borrow from Japan’s theoretical approach, where members of society cater to elderly people. The younger and middle-aged generations actively involve older people in day-to-day activities. For instance, older people teach origami classes to the young (‘Aging in Japan’, n.d.). This is an example of the theoretical activity perspective where happiness in old age is derived from participating in societal activities. In America, old people are isolated because they are placed in nursing homes, where they do not get much interaction with the general public. Japan’s approach is better because it ensures the elderly are kept occupied and are not isolated.
The subculture of aging theory has been applied to the aging population. This theory suggests that since they are isolated by the larger community, the elderly form their own communities. This is witnessed in societies, such as the American one, where older people are placed in homes for the aged. Here, they interact with each other and form a separate community from the one outside. A different approach that can be recommended utilizes the age stratification theoretical approach. This theory asserts age is used as a factor to determine the number of social resources accessible to a person (‘Theoretical perspectives on aging’, n.d).
Using this perspective, the government can expand Medicare benefits to include services such as counseling. This will be beneficial for the older generation since loneliness negatively impacts mental health. According to studies, social support activities such as counseling and therapy help to alleviate loneliness in older people (Fakoya et al., 2020). Therefore, the federal government should utilize the age stratification theory to provide a solution for isolation among the elderly.
The disengagement theory will be harmful if applied to the aging population. This theory suggests that growing old is part of being human, and as human beings grow older, it is natural that they will withdraw from society (‘Theoretical perspectives on aging’, n.d). Their social relationships will crumble as they disengage from society. This theory is harmful because it is defeatist, theorizing that isolation is a natural and unavoidable part of life. It would not provide positive solutions to loneliness among the older generation.
The experiences of Anna Halprin can best be described by the continuity theory of aging. This theory holds that the elderly should make the choice to maintain consistency in internal and external structures throughout their lives (‘Theoretical perspectives on aging’, n.d). They should uphold their personality and maintain the relationships they formed. At 85 years old, Anna still performs and teaches dance (‘Reflections on aging’, n.d.). She is happy because she continues to do what she began in her earlier years. Ultimately, the continuity theory urges the older generation to maintain everything that gave them joy when they were younger.
The article under consideration is a work that identifies the importance of physical appearance in the aging process in women. The authors initially identified two possible approaches to the problem from different angles: the popularity of youth in society and the lack of respect for older people, and they outlined the inverse proportion of the visibility of signs of aging to the visibility of a person in public (Clarke & Griffin, 2008). Each of these approaches can explain the craving of aging women for cosmetic procedures in the pursuit of preserving appearance, and some of these procedures are permanent.
An interesting fact is that the mindset of the entire array of interviewed women is almost identical. Most of them take their appearance very seriously or have done so in the past, and along with the arrival of aging, they suffer psychological and stereotypical damage. Many of them ” began feeling a little bit threatened” at the appearance of a younger woman nearby (Clarke & Griffin, 2008, p. 666). This unanimity in general ideas and many details highlight the inequality and abundance of prejudice in today’s society that shapes the thinking of its members.
The authors’ arguments and main ideas are quite logical and legitimate based on the interviews provided. Although the study’s primary purpose is to analyze the impact of cosmetic procedures on the self-determination of aging, there is a more global theme of socialization at the heart of it, according to Clarke and Griffin (2008). It is likewise rightly expressed and covered by the researchers because it is the cornerstone or basis for understanding the problems that arise from people’s dependence on other people’s opinions.
The arguments and conclusions provided by the authors are based on the findings from observation and communication with a control group. The work has fairly convincing claims because they are supported by vivid examples and social observations, as well as fundamental psychological analysis. However, not all conclusions can be universal – the sample of test takers is not significant and diversified enough. Diverseness and heterogeneity in the data obtained due to the choice of the interrogation method of data collection can likewise affect the validity of the research thesis outside of a particular group of interviewees.
Reference
Clarke, L. H., & Griffin, M. (2008). Visible and invisible aging: Beauty work as a response to ageism. Ageing and Society, 28(5), 653–674.
Societies need to function optimally to meet the needs of all people. The working population is critical since it produces adequate resources and food for itself and other members. Demographic dividends will tend to reshape the effectiveness of existing systems due to the issues of supply, demand, individuals’ needs, and economic goals. A country with many inactive members will be unable to record positive development outcomes.
This predicament explains why the Old Age Dependency Ratio (OADR) model has become a powerful tool for economic planning. This paper seeks to describe how the use of this metric can become an evidence-based approach for formulating new policies and frameworks to maximize the economic output of the elderly, engage them in productive activities, and reduce the implications of dependency on the overall health sector.
The Old Age Dependency Ratio
The OADR is a widely utilized ratio for comparing the number of inactive members of a given country or society vs. the working ones. The numerator usually considers or captures the unproductive age whereby an individual is unable to engage in meaningful economic building activities. This will include the elderly who are aged around 65 years and above (Balachandran and James 3). These individuals should receive adequate support and care through the existing social systems and facilities. The denominator for this ratio will include the productive or working individuals of the selected society.
This value tends to denote all members of the entire population who are aged between 15 and 64 (Sanderson and Scherbov). The derived number will portray the level of pressure a given economy will encounter while trying to support the nonproductive members or citizens. Koettl writes: “Old-age dependency ratio measures the number of those aged above 65 years (currently defined as old age) as a share of those between 15 to 64 years (currently defined as working age)” (p. 1).
Social, Cultural, and Economic Values
The social values of the OADR model are powerful attributes that many people cannot ignore. When a specific percentage of the population ages, many factors change that force all citizens to transform their behaviors, aims, and practices. Firstly, as the field of health as the social function becomes strained there are more individuals in need of personalized or specialized services. The government must present the relevant resources to improve the life experiences and outcomes of such individuals. Secondly, social security is one of the unique areas that developed nations do not take lightly.
The elderly will be in need of additional support and resources that their immediate family members might be unable to deliver. The government is, therefore, mandated to launch appropriate security funds that will fulfill such demands. Thirdly, human beings are social in nature and will always move from point A to B to greet their friends and relatives (Sanderson and Scherbov). In old age, new changes take place whereby people are forced to consider new ways of exercising and eating. Medical experts begin to propose superior or healthier diets that resonate with the demands of the elderly. Fourthly, individuals above 50 years of age begin to receive timely updates and information regarding how they can prepare themselves in the future.
Sociologists can utilize the OADR model to analyze various cultural values. For instance, the development or demographic stage of a community will reshape the cultural practices of its people. For instance, any increment in the number of people aged above 65 years means that entertainment will no longer be a priority. Aging members of society will also tend to engage in less risky sporting activities, such as golf (Sanderson and Scherbov). The nature of consumption will change whereby the working generation will be focusing on emerging technologies. The elderly might begin to consider new ways of passing across their cultural values or norms to the younger members of society.
The OADR metric presents a wide range of aspects that researchers and policymakers can consider to improve economic performance. The first value that stands out is that of reduced production. At the age of 65, many people will retire and stop contributing to the welfare or growth of their respective countries. Those who decide to use this model can go further to introduce superior measures to allow more people to undertake less strenuous or complicated roles in their respective fields. Such an initiative can make it easier for a given country to reduce the level of dependency (Balachandran and James 4).
The second one is that countries can accept the fact that such individuals will require additional welfare and social support. This means that the existing economy will have to be strained in an effort to meet their changing demands. Koettl believes that the productivity of the other members of society can decrease significantly since they will be required to take good care of the elderly. Relatives or friends of older people will tend to be affected the most. These attributes show that the OADR metric is an opportunity for understanding the potential economic values that can either promote or hinder the growth of a specific nation.
Benefits and Pitfalls: Losers and Gainers
The described metric has become one of the widely used frameworks for economic planning and decision-making. Some benefits will emerge that many analysts and policymakers tend to take seriously (Koettl). Firstly, this model will guide government agencies and other stakeholders to appreciate the level of dependency in a given community or country. This knowledge will empower them to make informed decisions that can result in superior systems and resources to meet the demands of the elderly.
Secondly, when the working population becomes small in comparison with the aging one, the government finds a reason to introduce superior measures for reabsorbing retirees and encouraging them to become more productive. For instance, Koettle asks: “If we all work longer, should we adjust the threshold of the old-age dependency ratio?” (p. 3). This approach can ensure that the level of dependency reduces significantly.
Thirdly, such a metric supports the establishment of social welfare programs and incentives that support the sustainability of the economy for a very long time. This becomes a reality since the available resources will be distributed in such a way that they can fulfill the needed of the identified beneficiaries. The end result is that the country will enjoy the outcomes of a fully functional social welfare system (Balachandran and James 5). Finally, this metric is essential since it informs the government when the other functions of the society need to be expanded or decreased, such as mental health for the elderly, geriatric health care, and psychological support.
On the other hand, some drawbacks will emerge when the government decides to consider this model as the best tool for planning. The first possible pitfall is that the practice can result in panic investments that might be aimed at meeting nonexistence needs. For instance, a population with many people aged between 65-70 years might not be a reflection of increased medical demands or expectations. The second one is that the metric fails to consider the proportion of individuals between 1-14 years of age (Balachandran and James 7). Such members of society are usually unproductive and do not contribute to the economy.
This means that the government can go further to pursue specific projects and social support systems that do not resonate with the demands of the wider population. The third possible pitfall is that a given society will not get a true picture of the number of people in need of social support at old age. This is possible since the metric only generalizes the demographics of the selected country.
Similarly, the adoption of the OADR model will benefit or affect certain members of the wider society. Firstly, the metric can result in the formulation of programs and policies that will tackle the predicted or existing challenges of the elderly. These members of the population will become more empowered and eventually lead high-quality lives. Secondly, the majority of the working population will benefit from evidence-based laws that are aimed at improving efficiency and making them more productive and successful in their respective fields (Koettl). These attributes will be instrumental in improving economic performance and addressing challenges that might arise.
Unfortunately, the OADR metric tends to generalize the needs and opportunities of a given population based on age. This means that disabled individuals or those with learning difficulties will be treated as productive while they are not. Consequently, the government will fail to implement superior laws and policies to meet their needs. The next group that is affected negatively includes people below 15 years of age. This metric pursues programs that will maximize the potential of the elderly and the working-age (Koettl). Young children will find it hard to engage in meaningful activities or pursue their goals diligently.
The above gaps explain why policymakers and decision-makers should be aware of the demands of all members of society and introduce an evidence-based model. This is the reason why Sanderson and Scherbov write: “we propose using a series of new measures that take changes in life expectancy, labor participation and health spending into account” (p. 1). This approach will improve different aspects of the economy and make it easier for more people to achieve their aims.
One of the outstanding models that can deliver positive results is the Multidimensional Old Age Threshold (MOAT). Balachandrana and James propose this model as a “measure that accommodates different dimensions of quantity and quality of older persons” (p. 1). This consideration will minimize the gaps associated with the OADR metric and improve the level of economic planning.
Conclusion
The above discussion has supported the OADR metric as a powerful framework for informing policy and planning decisions. The model allows the government to identify the changing demands of the population and offer timely incentives, support, or resources. Its adoption can improve economic performance and minimize the possibility of inefficiencies. However, those who decide to use it will be at risk of ignoring the needs of the disabled and young members of the population. A proper understanding of these issues will create new opportunities for applying this model effectively to promote economic development and sustainability.
Works Cited
Balachandran, Arun, and K. S. James. “A Multi-Dimensional Measure of Population Ageing Accounting for Quantum and Quality in Life Years: An Application of Selected Countries in Europe and Asia.” SSM – Population Health, vol. 7, no. 1, 2019, pp. 1-9.
Koettl, Johannes. “Did We Get the Old-Age Dependency’ of Aging Countries All Wrong?” Brookings, 2019. Web.
Sanderson, Warren, and Sergel Scherbov. “It’s Time to Measure 21st Century Aging With 21st Century Tools.” The Conversation, 2019. Web.
Perceptions about aging differ from person to person, generation to generation, and country to country. This paper sets out to explore the difference between grandparents and baby boomers; whether baby boomers are younger, energetic, or are similar; the differences in our perceptions of aging today versus 30 years ago, the image that comes in our minds when we think about older adult today compared to 30 years ago and finally, propose the ideal age of older adults. Our perceptions of adults are influenced by our cultural backgrounds, time, and social environment. In my view, grandparents or older adults are those people who provide expertise in important decision-making forums, have wisdom, provide leadership in controversial circumstances, are averse to things, socialize the new generations about the beliefs, values, norms, and traditions in that community or society (Cole, 1992). Compared with the baby boomers, grandparents are more knowledgeable in our cultural issues.
There is a difference between grandparents and baby boomers in terms of energy and age. Whether the baby boomers are younger, more energetic, or the same, is subject to the perceiver. Nowadays, older adults are active and like exercising in order to keep fit and healthy. They are staunch believers in modern-day medicine and they watch keenly what they consume. They consume those foods that are said to be ‘traditional’ – cooked without additives. Older adults like sporting activities, traveling, and other hobbies. A difference between the past generations, the baby boomers and the older adults is that the former is believed to be less important and not much vibrant about living. Also, older people lead a healthy lifestyle and live a sort of like ‘giving back’ life to their bodies. In the event of any physical challenge or would like to know more about ways to remain energetic and appear younger. They visit the internet to read about healthy life and healthful living. This attitude of the older citizens is very important to their bodies. As the aging process begins, the preferences in life change. Generally, some of the significant issues like career, child upbringing, and financial freedom are not important to older people. Therefore, it is imperative for the baby boomers to be more relaxed, more adaptable, and lead a stress-free life. This is the most pressing issue to the baby boomers and even to the present-day generations. The old acknowledge that living a simple life and finding someone to reveal your feelings is vital compared to thinking about financial freedom and social status.
Today, there are significant differences in how we perceive aging adults versus 30 years ago. Things have drastically changed. Old age life is not the same as the past generations old age experiences. Over three decades ago, 60 years the beginning of aging
In the past years, many people were persuaded that elders lived a comfortable life. They think that in the pre-industrial era, a few people lived to old age and those who made it were honored. A renowned British historian, Pat Thane, noted that because of the prevailing conditions at that time, our forefathers were threatened by health issues of old age, not only in western countries but also in the rest of the globe (Thane, 2000). However, nowadays, most elders are free from ailments, struggles of old age, or any other suffering that were common in the past centuries. In the past, old people were not as few as compared to date. But, instead of appreciating this tremendous progress made in the changes in the lives of the elderly, policymakers, economists and other stakeholders are troubled about taking care of the increasing numbers of the elderly. The image that comes to mind when I think of an older adult today versus 30 years ago is old people are wise, good, caring, gray-haired, have wrinkles, use a walking stick, a man or woman with historical stories that are interesting, and has more experience when it comes to life issues. The old people are mostly taken to be grandparents. The old people range from 60 years and above. In conclusion, different people all over the world have different perceptions about the baby boomers and senior citizens. In a nutshell, the diverse views of the people whether negative or positive are more or less the same across the world. Older people in society need love, care, and quality health care to enjoy a decent life (Nelson, 2002).
References
Cole, R., (1992). The Journey of Life: A Cultural History of Aging in America. London: Cambridge University Press.
Nelson, T. D. (2002). Ageism: Stereotyping and prejudice against older persons. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press.
Thane, P., (2000). Old Age in English History: Past Experiences, Present Issues. London: Oxford University Press.
The USA is the fourth largest country in the world. Its population was growing with the rapidity of approximately one or two million a year. In comparison with 1935, when the USA comprised 127 million people, nowadays there are more than 311. The number of population influences many aspects of life in the country. For instance, a social system was provided in 1935. The act concerned the old-age, which emphasized the fact that pensioners would start getting their pensions once retiring age approached. The program also concerned the Disabled and Survivors, explaining that they will receive the corresponding credits. An analysis of the college admission process reveals one challenge facing counselors: that there is a necessity of providing the certain measures to avoid the discrimination of the disabled.
It is necessary to renew the systems and programs previously provided because with the time the surrounding world changes and requires the definite adjustments to be approved. Taking into account the number of people that become, for example, disabled, it becomes apparent that for the variety of reasons they require financial help as due to the physical state they may not be able to work (Moody, 2010-p. 1-391). The necessity of benefitting people with the financial help concerns all the challenge types of the disabled.
However, there are a great number of people that deserve to be credited with the financial help of the state. So, it will be much better for the people if the government assumes a range of programs and systems to make their life more comfortable and not different from the others.
The programs should also refer to the employment matters. For example, the unemployed should receive the social help from the state in the form of unemployment benefits, while a person is in search of a job. It is one of the questions under discussion nowadays. Moreover, the most debated topic nowadays concerns the ages (Moody, 2010-p. 1-391). What is considered better, to employ the younger generation ready to work overtime, although lacking experience or leave the experienced professionals of older age? This appears to be one of the most actual matters that has been always important but undecided. It depends on the employers as they provide recruitment and selection of the personnel according to the range of criteria. Depending on the work the positions require certain abilities and skills. So, it is never a decisive question. Consider a specific example when the unemployment rate in the area is high and many positions are occupied by the older generation. Then what is the optimal way out of this situation in this case?
According to the opinion of the majority of people examined within the research to get the approximate data and the work of Moody H.R.: Aging: Concepts and Controversies, we obtained the findings that it is always better to hire young people, devoted and ready to work overtime instead of keeping the old age holding ranks that could be given to young generation. The old one is not able to comprise the amount of work received. The lack of experience may turn out an advantage as well. For example, an inexperienced employee can learn a plenty of methods, rules and routine completely new for him or her.
In contrast to them, the already formed and developed employee feels difficulties while orienting on a new work profile. Moreover, sometimes they are not capable of refocusing on different specialties and this is one of their strong disadvantages. As a result of the conducted research, a conclusion was made that the best solution in the employment affairs is to enfranchise the positions for the young age and permit the old ones to retire earlier.
Reference
Moody, H.R. (2010). Aging: Concepts and controversies (6th edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press.
The aspect of aging is a very controversial issue in the current world. Aged and old people are often discriminated and alienated from significant life contributions leading to emotional and psychological related problems among the older generation. Biologically, old age is associated with poor functionality of most of the regular body systems, for instance, reduced eyesight, hearing ability, and reduced cognitive ability. As such, people have developed a negative attitude towards old age. Ageism also can be seen where the old disrespect the younger generation, citing lack of experience. Discrimination based on age can happen to everyone in life, but the most affected groups are the very young and the very old groups. The young, mostly teenagers do not feel as much pressure in relation to ageism as compared to the old because the young still have a chance to change their status. The old people, on the other hand, are so susceptible to ageism because old age is the last stage of life and that makes the elderly vulnerable to death. Middle-aged people tend to be more appreciative of the old people, thus creates three different groups of persons with different attitudes towards the aging process.
Greeting cards are some of the items that depict different reactions and attitudes that people have concerning old age. Basing on the analyzed cards, nobody looks forward to old age. The society often treats old people like children, especially the teenagers who take the older generation as a joke. As stated earlier, different people have different ideas about the aging process. The old people themselves show many dislikes concerning their counterparts, mainly because of the effects of ageism on their part. The middle-aged people show some level of respect to the old, mostly because they are almost becoming old while the younger generation has no interest in either becoming old or interacting with the elderly. Either way, old age is not something that people look forward to, based on the messages on most greeting cards.
The societal attitude differs in relation to whether the older person is male or female. Older women are considered stronger than older men are because, as women age, they stop looking for outside approval and become more confident of themselves. On the other hand, old men lose their control, especially financial and economic control, thus making them susceptible to criticism by the younger generation. In fact, as men age, they are said to become more feminine in terms of dependency. The societal attitude towards old age also differs from one society to another based on the level of interaction that the old have with the rest of the people. For instance, children who often interact with their old grandparents develop a sense of respect and admiration for the elderly as compared to their counterparts who rarely interact with the old.
Most of the cards analyzed for this study support the well-known propaganda concerning old age. Regardless of the gender, the attitude towards old age is similar across borders, and no one wants to get to that level of life. The general information presented in relation to old age presents the aging process as lose in life. In terms of health, older people have more needs as compared to the rest of the people. Biologically, normal body functions begin to deteriorate at some point in life depending on an individual’s metabolism. However, this does not imply that there are no positive impacts of old age. The elderly play a great role in shaping the society in terms of ethics and morals. In the business world, the old generation can offer significant insights given the chance, but the myths surrounding old age hinder the elderly from exploiting their potential at that point in life. Additionally, the mass media has substantial effect on the societal attitude towards the old. The general negative perception of the aging process explains the increasing number of home care institutions for the elderly and the reduced life expectancy.
In conclusion, ageism is a problem in the current world, and it is bound to affect almost everyone at some point in life. For this reason, the society must demystify the myths related to old age, for a better future. First, the young generation must be allowed to interact closely with the elderly to help change the negative perceptions that people have concerning the aging process. Second, the older people need to change their attitude towards other elders. Aged people show a lot of negativity towards old age than any other group because they do not feel worthy of anything. The healthcare providers can help change the perceptions that the aged have concerning old age by providing exemplary care and providing avenues for the elderly to function within their abilities. Thirdly, the mass media must change the message it presents to the world concerning old age. Rather than telling the world how less functional one becomes of old age, the media can provide relevant information on how the elderly can spend their last days productively.
Education is vital to all individuals, both children and adults. Mature people benefit from education in terms of job opportunities, job security, critical thinking skills and wisdom among others. Education provides intangible advantage to people living in a society. In schools, people interact with different people from different cultural backgrounds. In today’s modern world, it is necessary to understand other people’s culture.
The reason behind this is that many stereotypes and prejudices occur as a result of failing to understand other people’s culture. Lack of this understanding makes individuals not to understand other peoples’ behavior at individual, national, and global levels. Individuals are also able to understand and appreciate artwork, music, painting, all of which include society’s culture.
This is, however, possible only if a student enrolls for a course in school or college. Once we appreciate culture, it becomes possible to appreciate each other, hence understanding each other within the society (Dewey, 2000, p. 77).
Students will also acquire a sense of service through education whereby they will be willing to serve other people in the community. Sense of service is noteworthy because individuals get the capability of working and helping others. The world would be a disaster if people did not serve others since everyone would be working for himself or herself; hence no proper interaction. Participating in various activities while in schools helps a lot.
This participation also makes an individual understand their culture. With this knowledge, students can contribute positively to the society. Students leave school when they are already cultured. Such students can also work effectively and efficiently community agencies and non- governmental organizations to help the less fortunate individuals in the society.
These same students participate in activities of civil societies. Education also helps individuals to participate in environment conservation because they know and they understand the importance of conserving the environment (Bond, 2007, p. 71).
Old age
Ageing involves psychological, physical, social, and cultural changes, which include memory loss, sagging of the skin, and withdrawn social interaction. Education prepares an individual for these changes. Adult education improves the mental state and wellbeing of people. However, the choice of education to enroll in becomes restricted by the work programmes.
Education enables people to improve their potential, creativity, productivity, strong relationships, and contribution to the society. People also develop a sense of purpose, which leads to improved wellbeing.
Since learning boosts people’s wellbeing, and prevents mental deterioration, many people are likely to go for it for them to afford things like gym membership and cosmetic surgery when they become old. People consider old age as a social problem and, in fact, many people do not want to age. The society considers them a liability economically and socially. At this stage of life, the ageing individual needs to learn and understand certain things such as new skills, socialization norms and mind-sets (Garrison & Vaughan, 2011, p. 42).
Old age comes along with some mental problems, probably due to physical weakness. At this age, a number of them feel embarrassed, perhaps because they did not achieve their dreams and goals. Most people suffer from stress related problems due to judgment and criticism.
Governments need to support education, including adult education in order to develop a learning culture. This would eventually lead to wellbeing of citizens economically. Interviews reveal that those who engage in adult learning report benefits of education.
These benefits include mental health, improved self-esteem, employment opportunities, social benefits, and learning pleasure. Education leads to quality life, which includes wellbeing and health. Adult learning must be encouraged to prepare people on how to face life when they become old (Dewey, 1998, p. 52).
Old people lack self-confidence especially if they cannot take care of themselves financially, and their children have their own plans, which exclude them. Old age comes with low concentration, inability to hear, see, among others. Old people, therefore, find themselves doing nothing because they have little to say.
Education, as we have seen above, leads to job opportunities. When an individual has a well paying job, he is likely to invest the money in different areas. This would mean that such an individual will take care of himself even when he becomes old. He will not have to rely on others who view him as a liability.
People who have money tend to be self-confident. Even at an old age, they engage in productive activities, for example, looking after their businesses, farms, and other investments. They will not be bored and, therefore, loneliness will not disturb those (Biggs, 1999, p. 77).
Ageism
The number of ageing people is increasing, but the society does not seem to embrace this population. Old people above sixty years of age often face ageism problem. Society assumes that old people experience problems physically and mentally. Employers assume that these people have memory impairments.
Some people make fun of old people while others ignore them totally due to their age. Ageism also becomes a problem when it comes to mental health care. Doctors assume that old people cannot adjust their behavior. They end up going home untreated; hence disappointed (Rury, 2005, p. 23).
There is the need to expand research and training to eliminate the problem of ageism within the society. This problem shortens old people’s lives due to psychological problems imposed on them. This makes people have a negative attitude towards ageing due to its association with problems.
Education is therefore, needed to make people develop a positive attitude towards old age (Popkewitz, 2008, p. 52). This would as well improve their mental health. Positive attitude leads to improved memory and balance. Negative perception of old age, on the other hand, causes poor memory, and an individual feels worthless. A person lacks the reason to live once he gets the feelings of worthless.
An educated person, on the other hand, will have activities to engage in, for example, charring meetings, committees, among others. Such a person will not face stresses associated with old age. If one does not have education, he will have nothing to do when he becomes old (Spencer, 2007, p. 65).
Education would help to view old people as productive, helpful, and independent. Ageing adults should be made aware that ageism is illegal and that such cases ought to be reported to the necessary authorities. Funding and training should be extensively done to pass information regarding effects of ageism. Ageism should also be included in the school curriculum so that people become aware of it at an early age.
Ageing should also be taught at the workplace so that employers do not discriminate against old people. The information should be taught in secondary schools, professional places, as well as other places on order to reduce ageism. Adult education prepares a person to face challenges associated with ageing. An educated person is also unlikely to be discriminated against because he understands his rights as an old person (Wynne, 1978, p. 71).
Social Diversity and Inclusion
Adult education can lead to social exclusion, especially for immigrants. Social networking comes because of education. It also leads to social cohesion. Adult education helps people interact with different people from different cultural backgrounds. In today’s modern world, it is necessary to understand other people’s culture. The reason behind this is that many stereotypes and prejudices occur because of failing to understand other people’s culture.
Lack of this understanding makes individuals not to understand other peoples’ behavior at individual, national, and global levels. Individuals are also able to understand and appreciate artwork, music, painting, all of which include society’s culture. This is, however, possible only if a student enrolls for a course in school or college. Once we appreciate culture, it becomes possible to appreciate each other, hence understanding each other within the society (Clough & Corbett, 2000, p. 91).
Old people face social exclusion. This is where they find themselves socially disadvantaged. This includes a situation where they do not get a chance, to get involved in social activities within the society that they live in. Poverty, mainly, leads to this problem. Other causes of social exclusion include low levels of education and unemployment. Social inclusion would be beneficial in that it leads to social networking.
People learn about job opportunities, community activities, and political activities through networking. Adult education would, therefore, be crucial as it would make an individual aware of these opportunities. Social inclusion connects with a person’s education status, social class, and living standards.
Employment is a leading cause of social inclusion. Having a job gives one a sense of self worth and identity. Most social networks also revolve around an individual’s wok environment. Receiving education helps one to participate actively in the community; hence, few chances of being socially excluded (Commonwealth Secretariat, 2004, p. 11).
Lifelong Learning
Lifelong learning gives benefits both socially and economically. The need, to continually study, comes because of globalization, labor markets, changing nature of work, and technological changes. There is also a need to expand one’s skills throughout life. Lifelong learning has its core values, which include learning, serving, exploring, mind benefits, spirit benefits, among others. It helps an individual to develop natural abilities fully. Adult education helps one to think critically by opening the mind.
Lifelong learning is also beneficial in that it helps an individual to be curious to learn, which in turn increases wisdom. It helps one adapt to changes, and the wellbeing of a person changes. Through lifelong learning, one can find life meaningful, and one contributes to the society positively.
Another benefit of lifelong learning is that it helps an individual to network frequently. This leads to making new friends; hence valuable relationships. Finally, lifelong learning leads to self- fulfillment, which enriches a person’s life (Bernard, 2000, p. 67).
Interaction with the Society
Social interaction becomes low as an individual age. Activity theory and disengagement theory explain this behavior. Disengagement theory argues that an individual becomes withdrawn from the society as he anticipates death. Old people will think of themselves, and they will therefore, have no time to socialize with other people. This behavior seems beneficial to both the individual and society. However, not everyone become disengages.
Some old people, considered wise, get positions of power and prestige. This can only occur if the individual received adult education or lifelong learning, which brings about wisdom. Some other individuals retain their roles in their previous work place. Others develop new roles within the community as a reward. Disengagement comes as a sign of failure in the society when a person discovers that he did not achieve his goals, yet it is already too late to accomplish them (Craik & Salthouse, 2000, p. 78).
The other theory, as earlier mentioned, is the activity theory. This theory asserts that individuals get forced by circumstances, to reduce social interaction. This happens as a person loses his roles, which he used to perform previously, for example, through retirement. Here, they start looking for other old people in order to get company as they used to at their middle age.
There is yet another modern theory called continuity theory. This theory argues that old people will want to maintain a personal system that promotes life satisfaction. They try to maintain consistency between the past and the future. Old people will prefer to associate with familiar people, in order to perform similar activities. This participation improves their physical health, and self- esteem leading to pleasure and comfort (Howard, 1992, p. 34).
The final theory is social motional selectivity theory. This perspective views social networks to diminish as an individual ages. According to this theory, psychological and physical aspects lead to social interaction changes. People usually socialize to get to know some information.
An old person gains much information throughout his life, and he will find no need to search for new information. They feel they know everything, and after all new information cannot help them much. They are also likely to receive hostile feedback. To avoid stress associated with ageism, they prefer to withdraw from social interaction (Thane, 2005, p. 81).
Conclusion
Old people face several challenges as ageing comes with physical and psychological changes. Elderly people forget fast due to memory loss. They also experience physical changes, and diseases such as heart diseases attack them. Education helps them face these challenges because they will take care of themselves, having prepared through education. Education will also help them participate actively in their society.
Adult education is also necessary as it helps an individual overcome ageism problem, social exclusion and other problems. Educated people are able to secure themselves job opportunities. Well paying jobs help an individual to save for future and invest, which helps one after retirement. Lifelong learning is yet another prestigious thing that people should be encouraged to participate in. It makes one adapt to changes, learn new skills, get wisdom, establish strong social networks, and contribute positively to the society (Mohan, 2010, p. 45).
References
Bernard, M 2000, Women ageing: changing identities, challenging myths. New York: Routledge.
Biggs, S 1999, The mature imagination: dynamics of identity in midlife and beyond, New York: Open University Press.
Bond, J 2007, Ageing in society: European perspectives on gerontology. New York: Sage.
Clough, P & Corbett, J 2000, Theories of inclusive education: a student’s guide. New York: Sage.
Aging is the process that renders living organisms susceptible with time. This process can be due to internal or external factors that ultimately lead to the death of the organism involved. It is therefore a lifetime process that living organisms undergo. This process is however natural and biological. Aging increases the chances of death and limits the immunity of the organisms against adversities like death. It increases the pathology of age and ultimately shortens the lifespan of an organism. It is a gradual process, deleterious, universal, and inherent (Curtis & Brun 2010).
Aging is therefore a continuous deleterious process, which leads to the death of organisms. It occurs in Eukaryotic organisms when they undergo asymmetric cell division. This is because the daughter cells from the parent cell have different constituents. When this is the case, the parent cells cannot continue surviving. Organisms that undergo asymmetrical cell division produce identical Daugherty cells that are fully compact. These daughter cells are immortal and can carry on the process of reproduction by dividing indefinitely. A bacterium is one of the organisms that undergo asymmetric division of cells hence does not undergo aging. This hypothesis has however come under criticism from several scholars. They have done empirical studies to prove that bacteria undergo aging (Stewart et al. 2005).
Scientists observed one Bactria that made them think that Bactria does age. First, asymmetric cell division happened in the bacteria studied. During cytokinesis one of the daughter cells would asymmetrically take with it, one older pole. This observation caused several questions about aging in bacteria. There was therefore the need to know whether a bacterium loses fitness when it undergoes cell division and if aging leads to death or improved adaptability and fitness. Getting answers to these questions and the overall explanation of aging in bacteria will help to put the stalemate into perspective. I, therefore, turn my attention to vindicate the critiques of this hypothesis (Curtis & Brun 2010).
Aging is one of the characteristics of living organisms albeit not universal. A gram-negative bacterium came to the attention of scientists when it underwent asymmetric cell division. The Bactria morphological types are two. Its first cell is plankton with a single flagellum. Its pole has multiple parts. Secondly, is the stalked cell, which is sessile albeit it lacks flagellum. It however has a stalk extension. The tip has a holdfast organelle (Mayr, 1997).
When a stalk cell undergoes asymmetric cell division, it produces a stalk cell and a second cell. Whenever this bacteria’s cell elongates, the opposite pole of the stalk produces a flagellum. The process continues as the elongation continues producing another asymmetric cell that has two morphological parts. The second cell on the other hand turns to the stalk cell first so that it can divide. This bacteria seemed to be different or unique rather (Mayr, 1997). This is because eukaryote cells usually undergo four steps in the division. The preparatory phase starts then the second stage where DNA replication takes place. The third step is preliminary preparation for the last step which is full cell division. In this bacterium, it is evident that the DNA process stopped because the stalk cell turned out to be incompetent (Mayr, 2005).
The gene in this bacterium made the flagellum destroyed. The stalk cell brought the ability for DNA replication. The bacterium was therefore aging. When the successive division of the stalk led to its deterioration, aging was happening parallel to it (Mayr, 2005). Following this empirical study, it is right to conclude that bacteria undergo aging (Arking, 2006).
References
Arking, R 2006, The biology of aging: observations and principles, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Curtis, P, D & Brun, Y, V 2010, Getting in the loop: regulation of development in Caulobacter crescentus, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Mayr, E, W 2005, Do Bacteria age, Routledge, London.
Mayr, E, W 1997, This is biology: Science of the living world, Harvard University Press, New York.
Stewart, E, J, Madden, R, Paul, G, & Taddei, F. 2005. Aging and death in an organism that reproduces by morphologically symmetric division, Cambridge University Press, New York.
The article Cognitive Aging: A Common Decline of Episodic Recollection and Spatial Memory in Rats by Robitsek et al. reveals the experiment of comparison of “performance in recognition” with “odor recognition memory in young and aged rats” in “water maze learning” (Robitsek et al. 8945). The article highlights the comprehensive information concerning the experiment which was implemented methodically and thoroughly. As far as the results of the experiment are concerned the article presents detailed information on the outcome which proves the impairment in the recollection and “relative sparing” of familiarity of aged rats (Robitsek et al. 8945). It is also remarkable that a part of aged rats showed the same results as the young ones, which also proves the correlation between spatial memory in rats (and in humans as well) and changes in the hippocampus.
But it is necessary to further develop the research in the recollection capacity in rats. The next experiment can be held with the young rats and those aged rats which showed the same results. It is possible to use ten armed mazes and to make the rats hide some fruit, for instance. Thus, the rats are posed into the center of the maze with the fruit, and after they hide their food they are taken away. It will be interesting to observe whether all the rats will find the hidden (by them) food at the same time, or the aged rats will need more time for such kind of task. Another significant point of this experiment will be the repetition of the same task, and whether the rats will hide food in the same place of the maze or they will change the place, and how much time will it take for them to find food in the old / new place. The results of this experiment will likely be as follows: aged rats will need more time to find the food, and will not put the food in the same arm of the maze, and the young rats, on the contrary, will need less time, and will likely to put the food in the same place. There can be an interesting continuation of this experiment: while at first rats will find their food in the place they put it, now the food will be taken away. And it is interesting whether the rats will put it in the same place or intently will hide it in another arm of the maze. And again it is possible to observe time duration: how much time the rats will need, first of all to hide the food, then for how long they will look for it. The results of this experiment will be, most probably, as follows: young rats will put the food in different places and will find it quite easily, but as far as the aged rats are concerned there are more variants. The aged rats can act just like the young ones, but the former will need more time for this, or the aged rats can put the food in the same place without finding it. These experiments will shed more light on the correlation between recollection and aging in rats. But, of course, it is only an assumption, and to prove this point of view it is necessary to implement the experiments mentioned above.
Works Cited
Robitsek, R.J., N.J. Fortin, M.T. Koh, M. Gallagher and H. Eichenbaum. “Cognitive aging: A common decline of episodic recollection and spatial memory in rats.” Journal of Neuroscience. 2008: 28: 8945-8954.
Aging is much more than just a process of getting older. It is not just about the human body being “more vulnerable to daily wear and tear” or about “a general decline in physical, and possibly mental, functioning”, as the dictionary claims (“Medical Dictionary” par. 1). It is not only physical. The old age is about wisdom, experience, peace, and a great deal of both sweet and bitter memories. Still, no matter how hard you try, it is impossible to comprehend it if you are twenty or thirty.
As a Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman once said, “Getting old is like climbing a mountain; you get a little out of breath, but the view is much better!” (“Gerotranscendence” par. 1). You are simply not able to see the view from the top if you have not reached it yet. However, we can always ask other people to share the experience. For a better understanding of both the process of aging and the theories we have studied in class, I have conducted an interview with an elderly person, and the results of it are presented in this paper.
The Background Information
As my interviewee, I have chosen a grandmother of one of my friends, Judy Addison (not a real name, in the interests of the respondent, the real name has been changed). Judy now is 77 years old. She is retired and widowed. Judy has been married only once, has three children, two daughters and a son, and two grandchildren, both girls.
Judy was glad when I asked her if she could give me an interview, and she was rather cooperative during it. She invited me to her house and greeted me with a cup of delicious tea. Judy has been living alone since her husband died. However, she is not lonely since one of her daughter’s lives just three blocks away with her family, so they often come to visit Judy. In addition, she has a dog, Cooper, and a beautiful garden she loves.
Judy does not want any caregivers and asserts that she can deal with everything by herself. Still, she does have a cleaner who comes several times a week to help Judy with the household chores. As the woman says, “I do not have too much energy to waste it on cleaning the house” (Addison).
I have liked Judy’s house a lot. Although it is not very big, it is cozy and warm. I have not seen all of the rooms, but the living room is charming; it is full of natural light, flowers in pots, and frames with pictures. The first thing Judy called my attention to were those photographs; she said, “That is my husband” and pointed to his picture (Addison). I have noticed that those photos mean a lot to her. It even seemed to me that the room was too small to hold all of the memories and precious moments of her life. Besides, in Judy’s young years, she painted a lot, which is why along with the pictures of her family, there were also many beautiful paintings, some of which depicted her children. As she explained, “there is much more of them [children] in my paintings than in photos” (Addison).
The Interview with Judy Addison
The first thing I have asked Judy about is her childhood. She admits that she does not remember a lot, only particular moment, things, and emotions. She says, “I remember my favorite sandals with little strawberries on them and how sad I was when my feet grew, and I could not wear them anymore; I remember the smell of eggs my mom cooked for breakfast; I remember my first friend, who moved to another city and broke my heart for the very first time in my life” (Addison). Although the number of suchlike memories is limited, according to Judy’s words, they are more vivid now than they have ever been. For instance, she says that she can close her eyes and see her parents, alive and healthy.
Actually, the same is true about not only Judy’s childhood but all her strongest memories. She often reminisces these days, and it seems that she is literally reliving her memories. When I asked her about the best years of her life, she replied immediately, as if she had been thinking about it just a few seconds ago. She said that the first year with her husband should be considered as one of the best: “We lived a long and happy life together, not without bad moments, but still; however, that first year of our relationships was unique and unrepeatable” (Addison). Then, she told about the first year after her eldest daughter was born.
She and her husband both wanted a child, but it turned out that they were not entirely ready to be parents. “I guess, you can never be prepared, you just get to know everything along the way”, Judy said (Addison). She remembered how she could not understand what her own child wanted, and how she thought, she was a bad mother because of this. It was one of the most difficult years of her and her husband’s life but “in spite of this, or because of this, it was one of the best” also (Addison). Finally, another great year came when Judy’s husband retired. He had worked more than thirty years at the same place, and when he finally left the job, he just did not know what to do with his life.
Their eldest daughter advised them to sell the house (since they did not use at least the half of it), buy a smaller one and go traveling for the rest of the money. They finally decided to heed the advice and with the help of their children managed to sell the house and move to another one. Then, they went to Canada and some part of Europe. “I had always wanted to visit Rome, and I was so happy sending my children the postcards from there”, the woman says (Addison).
Judy considers the vividness of her memories as a reminder that her life on earth will be over soon, and the boundary between memories and reality will vanish once and for all. Although many people are afraid of death and even talking about it, Judy asserts that she is ready for it. She is looking forward to meeting her husband and friends that have already passed away. She has no doubts as for where she will go after death – she says that she is prepared for heaven. Moreover, she even states that she has “been nearly there a couple of times”, and she is already looking forward to that place (Addison).
According to Judy’s words, to be ready for death, an individual should find peace, and peace for her is all about forgiveness because if you do not forgive, you can not be forgiven, and if you are not forgiven, you are not in peace. She also says that peace comes from knowing God. Judy believes in God and goes to church every week. She has a tattered old Bible, which is always on her nightstand. In addition, Judy says that religion is what distinguishes people of her age from modern families. She admits that even her own children are not such believers as she is.
When I asked Judy if she considered herself old, she kindly laughed, recounted her health problems and said that she had no illusions on this subject: “All of us will be there; it is just a matter of time” (Addison). As a bit of advice for young people, she says that they should take care of their health and pay attention to details they usually ignore. They should take vitamins, be active, eat healthier, give up bad habits, and never sacrifice their health for the sake of something, no matter how important that something seems. “And if you mother does not let you eat oily and spicy foods, you’d better listen to her, she has a point”, Judy says (Addison).
It is much better to live a healthy life and prevent diseases than fight them later. Admittedly, everyone gets old and sick but it is in our hands to make things easier for ourselves. Following her own advice, Judy eats healthy and tries to be active. She admits that she has got a dog only to make herself walk regularly.
What I Have Learned
During this course, we have discussed the process of aging from many different perspectives. We have talked about the theories of aging, both those that focus only on biology and those that consider mental and psychological changes as well. Admittedly, none of them can fully explain all processes that occur either in people’s bodies or their minds. However, while talking to Judy Addison, I have noticed that her words confirm some of the concepts discussed during the course.
Firstly, I have interviewed a female, not a male. From the interview, it is seen that Judy thinks about her life a lot. She reminisces, she analyzes, and she is willing to share her thoughts even with strangers. In fact, I am a complete stranger to her, but she still has given honest answers to my questions and invited me to her house. I doubt that man would behave in the same way. Besides, according to Levinson’s theory, women’s life structure is most of all determined by family and relationships. And almost all memories that Judy Addison has shared with me are about her parents, husband, and children, which actually proves the theory.
Secondly, Erikson’s psychosocial theory is rather useful in this case. According to it, during the stage of maturity, an individual turns to either integrity or despair. Judy has definitely chosen the first path. She reflects back on her life and talks about it with wisdom and feeling of fullness. After the interview with this woman, I can not say that she regrets about many things (the only note of regret I have noticed is about the negligence in relation to her health early in life), she just accepts her life as it is. Besides, she has a lot of philosophical thoughts: about death, peace, forgiveness, religion, changes in society, and so forth.
Among other theories of aging, I find activity theory the most relevant. According to it, the more active people have been in their lives, the more they are satisfied with it in the old age. My interviewee is a living proof of that. Judy has said several times how activeness has been and still is important for her. She has even advised the younger population to be active to prepare for their old years. And, frankly speaking, I can not imagine a woman who could be satisfied with her life more.
As for my personal thoughts, in the first place, aging is hard. You lose people you love because they pass away, and it is not in our power to prevent or predict this. You lose the touch with your own children and grandchildren since they start their own lives. You do not work anymore and get a lot of free time with no idea how to spend it better. You have numerous health problems because those are inevitable as aging itself.
However, people who manage to choose integrity over despair, and who are willing to reconcile with both sweet and bitter memories, get a precision chance to see their own lives in a different light and gain wisdom, which is impossible to achieve in younger years. In old age, people have a lot of time, and everyone chooses whether to spend it in peace and wisdom or despair and regrets. To tell the truth, I am really glad that my interviewee has made the right choice.
Works Cited
Addison, Judy. Personal interview. 2015.
Gerotranscendence – a possible path toward wisdom in old age n.d. Web.