Analysis of Aging Society - Literature review Example

Introduction Identifying the difference between the middle aged people from the old aged ones has become a challenge as their ages do not have the same meaning in different societies. Because of the certain changes that they undergo, some individuals can be thought of as old. For example, a woman can be considered as old when she becomes a grandmother, or when she takes on a reduced amount work or goes for retirement. In an interview with an 84-year old senior citizen Irene from New Smyrna Beach, West Virginia, it was easy to become focused on her physical and mental state. Even at an old age, it is evident that she was as healthy as a younger adult. First of all, she believed that her longevity was caused by the healthy and balanced diet that she strictly follows ever since she stepped foot on the 65-year old line. She has also avoided smoking cigarettes and drinking too much alcohol over the years. Such results can be compared to the study of Allard, Lebre & Robine’s (1998) when they studied the contributing factors to an individual’s prolonged existence. Results showed that quite a large percentage of these individuals who lived for a hundred years or so tend to eat unhealthy foods such as chips and pretzels, and that chocolates were a favorite preference. A smaller percentage was shown to have smoked or drank alcohol on a regular basis before stepping onto the 100-year old line. However, results have shown that an even larger percentage followed strict regimens and fitness programs with the absence of alcohol, cigarettes, and unhealthy food. On Aging But Irene is not the same person she was decades ago when she could lift and carry almost anything that she had to, drive to the grocery store alone or watch the television on low volume. At present times, she admitted that she needs as much help as she can, or a support system of from her family members or relatives particularly her grown-up grandchildren, to aid her in her daily activities. She also relates the experiences of going through physical therapy and conditioning on a monthly basis as she has arthritis and other back issues. However, despite her minor health conditions, Irene stated that she believes that her mind is connected to her body, and what her mind can conceive, her body can truly achieve. This is similar to the conclusions that Mahoney and Restak (1998) made in his study- that there is a positive connection between the brain and the body. If the brain is able to retain a low level of worry or stress, the individual tends to achieve a healthier physical state and will help him/her obtain a longer life. Irene also stated that after the first few stages of retirement, she felt lonely and bored as there was less work to do, similar to the findings of Speas & Obenshain’s (1995) study. However, to combat boredom and its adverse effects on her overall health, Irene said that she always goes out of the house for fun and light activities to keep her mind off negative things because when boredom settles in, it always leaves unpleasant thoughts that she can do without. When her grandchildren has free time and some of their relatives come over for a visit, she prefers to reminisce about the pleasant times, discussing childhood events and going over photo albums-simple yet very effective. However, Irene admits that despite the love and attention that her family and loved ones provide her, it is still hard to ignore the negative portrayals of elderly people that she observes in movies and television shows as portrayed by the media. This statement can be related to the studies of Levy (1996) who asserts that media is hurting us rather than helping us with social misunderstandings. The media portrays older people as stubborn, silly, eccentric and many other negative characteristics. Pipher (1999) also asserts that young adults who are generally strong and healthy often avoid spending their time around older people as they want to get away from crucial issues such as mortality and the loss of independence. Additionally, the negative views of the older population and the aging process have been portrayed through the media and have made use of uncomplimentary words in describing the elderly. Besides these, Irene also feels that even with her monthly pension and healthcare benefits, she is still a burden for her family, both physically and financially. They have not hired a caretaker as their family believed that this was an additional expense as finances as well as money matters are just a few things that some of the younger members of her family consider as a major problem in the older population. In a related study of Speas & Obenshain (1995), it placed an emphasis on understanding the knowledge, beliefs and attitudes of Americans about the elderly and the aging process in general. In a survey conducted by the AARP in 1995, it included a quiz on aging and asked the respondents to answer questions that were related to various physical, social and economic characteristics of aging as well as the older people. Most Americans do understand that many older people are healthy enough, physically and mentally, to enjoy various activities such as learning, meaningful work and sexual relations. Americans also continue to perceive the older people as increasingly healthier, better educated and financially well off as ever before. However, the results have shown that most Americans still overestimate the older population’s level of poor health, poverty and isolation. They still believe that most older people live at the poverty line, that they are often lonely, bored or angry, that at least one-tenth of the elderly population are placed in institutions, and that the economic and health status of the older people will not improve in the following years to come. Clearly Americans are anxious about health, finances, independence or the future in general (Speas & Obeshain 1995). Poor health, loneliness and not enough money are often the most serious problems that they believe many elderly people are experiencing, and that they also consider may happen to them as well in the coming future. Furthermore, an individual’s perception of older people and the aging process is positively related to his/her experiences. For example, having poor health conditions has become a predictor that many elder people are not healthy enough to perform activities. Cockerham (1997) also asserts that a person who is experiencing a financial problem will also come to think that older people live in poverty. Personal experience is the strongest predictor of images, anxiety and serious problems about aging. Furthermore, in the previous studies of Kluckhohn (1953) on variant and dominant variations, she noted that we, as human beings, can display a common behavior among us; however, there is also a variety that has existed among behaviors. Therefore, there are both similarities and differences regarding the human behavior when it comes to dealing with cultures. In the study of Speas & Obeshain (1995), one of Kluckhon’s value orientations, the time dimension, has been illustrated. Undoubtedly, the American culture always emphasizes future orientation and gives some kind of detailed attention to the future. The American life is normally filled with a perspective that is future-oriented and looks ahead as positive perspectives have a strong connection with forward looking perspectives. On the contrary, the younger generation has a negative perception when it comes to the older population and will have a negative implication towards the aging process, though personal experiences have been pointed out to be the main contributing factor for this behavior. It is still a good thing, though, that Irene is a resident of the United States where economic progress is often evident and the government has all the resources to allow the elderly people and senior citizens to live a prolonged existence. With new advances in technology and medicine, these are huge contributing elements to almost anyone’s longevity. In a related study of Ullis & Ptacek (1999), the lower rate of mortality and the higher number of older people has been associated with improvements in public health and nutrition as well as new medical advances including the development of different vaccines and antibiotics. The improvement in the economic status has generally helped a large number of people to live longer as findings have shown that there is a higher mortality rate in regions where there is less development and more poverty. Conclusion Over the recent years, different international surveys have proven that mortality rate has risen compared to its low levels in the past decades. People who were expected only to reach the age of 65 was able to get to at least the 80-year old age line, and the number of people over 60 years old has now doubled the number of young individuals under 16 years old. Such a prolonged existence has been brought about by many contributing factors such as a healthy physical, mental and emotional state as well as a financially stable status and public medical improvements. However, the younger generation has another idea about the older people and the aging process in general. Many Americans do know and understand that older people are still physically and mentally capable of doing work; however, even though they are aware that the elderly are stable in terms of financial and health status, many other young Americans still believe that the older generation still live in worse health conditions, financial troubles and isolation issues. Because of this, the younger generation has created a negative perception on the older population and has developed a high level of fear and discomfort regarding aging issues. This is especially true as Americans have been known to very mindful about their future and can develop a strong negative perception on growing old based from what they can observe and recognize at present. References Allard, M, Lebre, V, & Robine, J.M. 1998, Jeanne Calment: From Van Gogh’s Time to Ours, W.H. Freeman Cockerham, W 1997, This Aging Society, Prentice-Hall Kite, M & Johnson, B 1988, Attitudes toward older and younger adults: A Meta analysis, Psychology and Aging, vol. 3, no. 6, pp. 233-244 Levy, B 1996, Improving memory in old age by implicit self-stereotyping, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, vol. 71, no. 10, pp. 1092-1107 Mahoney, D & Restak, R 1998, The Longevity Strategy: How to Live to 100 using the Brain Body Connection, The Dana Press/ John & Wiley Sons, Inc. Pipher, M 1999, Another Country: Navigating the Emotional Terrain of our Elders, Greenhaven Press Speas, K & Obenshain, B 1995, AARP Report, FGI Integrated Marketing, vol. 6, no.1, pp. 1-8 Ullis, K & Ptacek, G 1999, Age Right, Simon & Schuster Read More