Gerontology Chapter 13 Outline

With the undeniable truth, everyone must age and grow older. Although this is a natural process of life, not everyone is accepting of this. At this age, being an older adult you face difficulties such as aging, sexuality, relationship dynamics and having to face reality that you are not in your prime as you once were. Heart attacks, strokes, and other ailments are examples of this. However, just as there younger counterparts they still able to do somethings they were able to do in their earlier stages. They still have sex, relationships and the ability to love. In the movie, Something’s Gotta Give, although very comical, the concept is very present. It is a movie that depicts the struggles older adults face on a daily basis. Despite popular belief, older adults and their younger counterparts have more in common than one thinks.

As the author points out, there are many features of life that people relate to successful aging, and the degree of satisfaction reached with each one is different with everyone. These features range from physical health to financial security, to simply staying active and social. I have two grandmothers who exhibit these features perfectly. My father’s mother turned 98 last week and her mind functions perfectly. She can hold her end of an intelligent conversation on almost any topic. However, she spends 95 percent of her day in bed and requires round the clock in home assistance because her body has become extremely frail. My mother’s mother is 87 years old and can walk and garden and essentially function on her own. She is very good at casting the illusion that she is in perfect condition. However, have a quick conversation with her and you quickly realize that she

The aging population is increasing rapidly in the world. During the period between 2015 and 2050, the percentage of people above 60 years of age will double (World Health Organization, 2015). The main health challenges faced by our aging population include chronic conditions, sensory and cognitive impairment. The examples of chronic conditions the aged people face comprise diabetes mellitus, arthritis, dementia etc. The treatment of these conditions may require daily medications and specialized care (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015).

Annie Lee McKinney was born on June 23, 1944 in Savannah Georgia to Larcy and Sidney McKinney. Annie was the youngest of 12 children. Unfortunately, Annie’s mother died when she was a little girl. Being that Annie was the youngest of 2 girls and 9 she was raised by her maternal grandparents. Even though Annie was raised by her grandparents she remained close to her siblings because the lived across the street from each other. Annie attended Arthur E. Beach High School in Savannah, Georgia but she dropped out in the 9th grade to take care of her nieces and nephews while her older brothers and sister’s worked.

Ageism is a form of discrimination and prejudice against an age group, and is actually felt by seniors (Ageism, 2009). Ageism includes false stereotypes which is applied to the seniors, also changes ones way of how they treat elders. As an individual society has taught us want to categorize people into groups, which often leads to use making incorrect and negative stereotypes on one another. A professor had asked her students if they were excited about getting older, and they all answered “no way!” Their explanation was a list of stereotypes such as, sick, unhappy, sexually inactive, as well as being alone. Ageism has been a huge issue for many decades now about the prejudice and discrimination towards seniors.

In “Ageism: Another Form of Bigotry” by Robert N. Butler, he defines ageism as “a form of systematic stereotyping and discrimination against people simply because they are old” (559). This is caused by the stereotypes and myth created against them. According to Butler, older people are also often invisible, which he says is seen in emergency situations when they are thought of last. He also states that, there is a major emphasis on being young, and a fear of aging. That no one wants to be old, or accept the fact that we are not going to be young forever. Lastly, Butler writes that this disregard for older people or being old, affects the medical treatment of older people. Medical professionals will not treat certain problems an older person may face, or attribute a medical problem to the process of ageing.

Age is just a state of mind. Despite the natural degradation of cellular frameworks in the aging body, the mentality of aging and the acceptance is a notion created in one 's mindset. With the right diet and healthy living, people can age graceful, enjoying a healthy reproductive life, strong bones, and healthy lives. Some elderly individuals can take an interest in extreme games and achieve pretty impressive feats, however, pessimistic dispositions can indeed limit individuals’ opportunities. The elderly make imperative contributions to families, society and communities as a whole. How old age is experienced relies on upon the person 's health, environment and how they perceive aging. With the proper mindset, proper dietary subscriptions, and routine exercise, aging individuals can enjoy healthy sexual lives, strong bones, and satisfying

Many people in the United States and other industrialized countries are living longer. The life expectancy at birth now is 81 years old. Although this is an important achievement, it is important for social workers to understand the affects that increase longevity have on the individual, family life and social work practice. (https://www.nia.nih.gov). There are many negative stereotypes associated with older adulthood. These negative stereotypes arise from the assumption that late adulthood is considered to be the closing period of life span. Some of the commonly held beliefs about late adulthood include the belief that older adults are less active, do not have goals, are retired and are unable to learn new things. Social workers

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. To address these issues, Congress has passed several acts to decrease the number of elderly abuse and improve living conditions.

Late Adulthood is the stage of the human life cycle where an individual nears the end of their life. The life expectancy in the United States has slowly increased over the years therefore allowed many to further analyze the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development during late adulthood. The stage of late adulthood has been emphasized by ageism and the stereotypical "old" person but, will be further educated by the normative development of the life cycle of late adulthood. For the “old” experience dramatic changes in their development as they face loss, death, and illness.

A long life is something most people strive for, but the surge of centenarians is raising new concerns and creating the potential for financial problems. Increased lifespan has a heavy impact on Medicare and Social Security and imposes a negative outlook for both.

Yes, I am aware of how rapidly the aged population is growing. Working for the Center for Senior Care has given me the sight to how much the population has grown. I believe it is due to health care and the many different teams of doctors, Social Workers and agencies that specialize in the health and wellbeing of our aged population

The National Institute of Health reports that nearly 48 million Americans get sick each year from eating contaminated food. The illness is seldom fatal, but seniors are not only at greater risk of becoming ill from contaminated foods, but they are at greater risk of severe complications. The two best-known causes of the illnesses are the E.coli and salmonella bacteria.

The United States experienced an "explosion" of births after World War II. Sociologists refer to this resulting group of people as baby boomers. The first of about 76 million baby boomers recently turned 65, and they are looking forward to a life expectancy that is higher than that of any previous generation. The average life

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.