Leisure
Leisure is one area in which two of the theories within social gerontology are reflected. As mentioned in the summary of the data, some of the respondents carry their social activities from the past into old age. On the other hand, some of them seem to not be able to participate due to physical limitations.
One interesting example of the first is Stefanía who has been seeking active social participation by going to the public swimming pool. As the continuity theory suggests, individuals are more inclined to bring their former ideals or personality with them into old age. Going to the swimming pool for Stefanía could be her way of holding onto one of her former habits that she has kept throughout her life, and this might also be an
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She also feels that her work is getting useless or superfluous, for she believes that young people do not appreciate it anymore. So, in this sense, Luigia has left a habit or a part of her lifestyle and modified her belief on embroidery and on young people.
Physical limitations
In continuation to this, physical limitations are seen as being a big part of the interviewees’ lives and a big part of aging. To refer back to Luigia once more, her arthritis prevents her from doing activities such as embroidering. This is just one example of the fact that physical limitations are the main reasons for quitting activities, as it is mentioned in both the continuity and activity theory.
This is also seen in the statement from Vitale who, while reflecting upon his life, expresses the following about aging and old age: “I have now started to feel aches and pains that I have never felt before. Back in the days, I have never felt anything. But nowadays I actually have some aches…”. This expresses the impact that aging has on the body and how these effects are contributing to the decrease in social activities and thereby to a diminishment of being visible in society.
She points out facts about different methods of curing human imperfections, such as ageing, impotence and organ failures, and how the idea of ageing has evolved over the years: “old age was so rare in less-developed societies that people who achieved it were granted a certain amount of status and even a mystical cachet. Later, the elderly might have been mocked or isolated, but age was still not seen as an illness. It’s only in recent centuries, as old age has become more and more commonplace, that we have started to venerate youth; ageing is now associated not with fortunate longevity but with decrepitude and disease.” These facts introduce and support the idea that ageing is certainly a problem now compared to earlier in life and is in need of a cure. Zimmerman continues by presenting the effort of others, who are credited, who have put there life work into finding ways to better the effects of ageing, such as the San Quentin prison experiment involving the implanting of executed prisoners’ testis to promote “youth, health and vigour (Zimmerman 2014).”
The book explores the feeling and experience of one 's later years: when one feels both cut off from the past and out of step with the present; when the body starts to give up but the mind becomes more passionate than ever. The book offers a wide vision of the issues that we go throughout our lives: the struggle to achieve goodness; how to maintain individuality in a mass society; and how to emerge out of suffering, loss, and limitation and so on. The book is an important contribution to the literature of aging, and of living. Scott-Maxwell’s book is compelling.
(7.22) In eliminating the aging process, science has destroyed a very basic element of the human experience. Mustapha comments that old age is dangerous for the community – not because of physical
Chapter 13 was all about the elderly and their place in society. Gerontology is the study of elderly people and the hardships people are faced with once they start aging. More specifically Social gerontology is a subclass of Gerontology that specializes in in what changes a person makes in society once they start aging into the later years. Industrialization is believed to be one of the causes of elderly people losing superiority and power in society. What once was wisdom and knowledge that defined an elderly person is now something like old fashioned.
Gruen also asserts that the physical problems that come with advancing age are difficult for humans to endure. Jacob finds this part of aging to be especially demeaning: “One
The central idea of this article is that no matter the obstacle you can still do things that you love. For example a 7 year old girl named Shah Bibi Tarakhail lost most of her right arm, her right eye, and her brother do to a grenade explosion. She was then taken to a United States hospital where she was given a prosthetic limb. With the prosthetic limb she learned how to paint and love it. ¨The finished result were pretty mind blowing.
“They outgrow us so much faster than we outgrow them. If growing up is the process of creating ideas and dreams about what life should be, then maturity is letting go again. If growing up means it would be beneath my dignity to climb a tree, I'll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up! Not me!” As displayed in this quote growing up is controversial in many kids’ minds as on one hand, it means maturity and a perspective on life, but on the other hand, it means letting go of that perfect world that comes with a simple mind.
Two predictors of psychological and subjective well-being are social activity and health, both of which decline with age (Simone & Haas, 2013). Another practicum experience that I could relate with previous
Ageism: A Bystander’s Viewpoint Discrimination. We’ve all seen it. Some of us have experienced it. Unfortunately, the understanding many people have of discrimination is ever so slightly skewed. While the public’s definition of discrimination is as follows “The unjust treatment of individuals based on race or gender”, the dictionary definition is not quite the same.
Social and psychological needs for the elderly are no different from people my age, the quest of normal aging is formalized by the activity theory which applies to this completing this assignment. When older people maintain activities they become less isolated and find substitutes for work, friends and family that has passed. Once older people are engage and obtain social networks, social approval, and high self-esteem this enhances their well-being.
As I emerged myself into this week’s material, my main takeaway is that I do not think about aging. I know most men in my family live to be in their 70s and women into the 70s to 90s, but I do not think about aging from a personal aspect. I am aware that death will eventually come but with my son about to turn two, it is not something I sit and ponder. Not to mention that I will be reaching the 25 year mark next April, which to me is still very young. This made me recall the comments that Dan Buettner made in his TED lecture and how he compared other cultures to the American culture in terms of aging.
Final Thesis The Baby Boomer era has decreased since War War 1, leaving mostly the government and Canadians distress about how this event will impact societies economy and the debts our generation has to pay. Supporting argument #1 With the peak in births during the Baby Boomer era, this has resulted in financial instability within society. Supporting argument #2 Society as a whole is experience difficulties managing the effects of the aging Baby Boomers. Introduction During the 1947 to 1965, about 76.4 million children were born, this phenomenon was eventually labeled as the Baby Boom (Canadian Encyclopedia).
As I walk out of Mr.Fiedler’s fourth hour social class, I wonder what kind of mood the evil Mrs.Berntson will be in today. I turn the corner and see all of the seventh graders come out room 224 screaming in fright. Oh great, I thought to myself. I approached the door and carefully step into the classroom making sure nothing jumps out at me. I step into the classroom only to see my witch looking teacher with black hair and warts covering her face standing in the corner of the room.
The process of aging in not an unfamiliar topic to society and is an inevitable phase of life. Since 2011, the number of older individuals are increasing annually particularly those from the baby boomer generation. The life expectancy has been increasing with people living longer thanks to modern medicine. These occurrences are proof that civilization is growing exponentially, however the process of aging also means that the older individuals are facing dilemmas such as decreased physical functions, financial instability from retirement, and abuse. Even older adults who are independent may face some limitations.
Living Old in America In American today, those over 85 are now the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population. Medical advances allowed the number of Americans to live longer with healthier lives but comorbidities for others. In the past two decades, patients died from viruses, influenza and pneumonia. Today, advancement in healthcare has created a new development.