Aging Awareness

1768 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The ageing process conclusion

Aging Awareness

The process of aging begins at birth, or conception, depending on your stance, and continues throughout life. This is fact. Whatever your opinion, there is one inescapable certainty; throughout this meticulous process we call aging, comes change-- unsolicited, irrevocable, inevitable change. While many of the changes we face as we age are celebrated and embraced, not all change is desirable, and not all are pleasant. Some of the biggest changes humans experience in their lifetime occurs in late adulthood and into their senior years. It is in this period that the majority of people will start to experience sensory loss to some degree. In an attempt to understand just what it is like to get through a day with less than ideal vision, hearing, and touch, I conducted my own experiments.

As we age, conditions affecting vision become significantly more marked. Common ailments affecting eyesight especially among the elderly include glaucoma, cataracts, complications from diabetes, and macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is an age related condition in which the sharp, central vision needed for reading, driving, and other daily common tasks, is gradually diminished and in essence, destroyed. In order to familiarize myself with this experience, I borrowed a pair of old glasses from a family member. As soon as I put the glasses on, I noticed I lacked all sense of depth perception. After running into any and every wall and stubbing each toe at least three times, I decided I needed to slow down, and regroup; this was going to require a plan. It genuinely surprised me with how frustrated I was when I found myself unable to navigate through my own home because of this haze. Nevertheless, despite my lumber...

... middle of paper ...

...uffing to race past anyone moving too slowly for their liking. Younger shoppers were reaching out in front of the older ones, completely ignoring that anyone was standing there, to get what they needed because it seems the older customers spent too long trying to read the labels. Fundamentally, it is unfair to assume that all aging and elderly individuals receive poor treatment; though, our society as a whole does very little to refute that assumption.

Works Cited

Caprio TV, W. T. (2010, November 11). Aging Changes in the Senses. Retrieved from Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/004013.htm

Dena Kemmet, S. B. (2008, September 13). Making Sense of Sensory Losses as We Age--Childhood, Adulthood, Elderhood? Retrieved from North Dakota State University: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/yf/famsci/fs1378.html

Show More
Related

  • Age Simulation Reflection

    851 Words  | 2 Pages

    As a teenager who has never experienced hearing loss or the loss of physical movement, I have never been very aware of the obstacles that elders face. After carrying out the activity for this week, I have gained a better insight as to what older Americans experience while living in a country that so dearly values youth. Many young citizens in our country see older people as incapable citizens that need taking care of, which makes them seem like a burden to the American ideas of independence and stability. However, it is only once people grow older that they become aware of the struggles that older people fight through in order to seem independent. While temporarily impairing my hearing, I learned more about myself, the people around me, and especially more about the older people in my life and the struggles that they must endure because of their age.

    Read More

  • Redefining Old Age: A New Perspective on Aging

    1041 Words  | 3 Pages

    With healthcare in the United States advancing so rapidly, there are new ways to treat just about any kind of illness every day. With being able to treat illnesses in new ways, and also the advancement of medical equipment, comes the possibility of a lot more people living up into their 90’s, and maybe even getting to reach 100. The aging population, which keeps growing every so rapidly, will be using up a lot more sources as the years go by. This means, that we need to educate more doctors and nurses, etc., and also make more living facilities for older adults. The question that comes up in my mind, is when is “old” actually”. Most people stereotypically consider ages 75 and older old, but that doesn’t mean they are actually “old”, does it?

    Read More

  • Myopia Argumentative Essay

    918 Words  | 2 Pages

    Life revolves around being able to see things. Although individuals who are blind can lead a full and happy life, someone with excellent vision who suddenly loses theirs or notices a decrease in their visual acuity over time may find it difficult to adapt. Thankfully, with the help of an optometrist, individuals can actively work to preserve their vision for as long as possible. Phoenix Eye Care must be a priority for all, as advanced technology allows threats to the eyes to be detected as the earliest stage. The right treatment can help to slow or stop the progression before major issues develop. For this reason, every individual needs to undergo routine eye exams.

    Read More

  • The Mammalian Diving Reflex

    1762 Words  | 4 Pages

    Aging Changes in the Nervous System. Medline Plus. Retrieved from www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/004023.htm. April 18, 2011. Gooden, Brett A. 1994.

    Read More

  • Perceptions of Aging in Today's Society: An Interview Study

    1976 Words  | 4 Pages

    Aging is a sensitive topic for many, with ageism being incredibly prevalent, as it has such a negative connotation that is attached to it (Hooyman, Kawamoto, & Kiyak, 2015). What does it mean to age in society today, when the baby-boomer population is starting to reach their old-old age status? (Hooyman et al., 2015). In order to break down stereotypes and understand what exactly it means to age within our current day society, I interviewed a married couple of 29 years, whom wished to remain anonymous, regarding their views on aging. The gentleman is sixty-three years old, and his wife is in her fifties. She was not the main focus on my interview, the gentleman was, but his wife was able to chime in and provided me with her two-sense every once in a while.

    Read More

  • Successful Aging Elderly (SAE)

    2206 Words  | 5 Pages

    Aging and old age for a long time presented as dominated by negative traits and states such as sickness, depression and isolation. The aging process is not simply senescence most people over the age of 65 are not Senile, bedridden, isolated, or suicidal (Aldwin & Levenson, 1994). This change in perspective led the investigation of the other side of the coin. Ageing is seen as health, maturity and personal Royal growth, self-acceptance, happiness, generatively, coping and acceptance of age-related constraints (Birren & Fisher, 1995). Psychological und...

    Read More

  • The Worries Of Aging

    862 Words  | 2 Pages

    T. S. Eliot's poem 'The love song of J. Alfred Prufrock'; is quite a lengthy poem for the novice poetry reader, which consists of some 130 lines. Yet, it is the poem's mass that enables the rookie to discern the theme at length. In the beginning and later towards the ending of the poem, the narrator seems to be daydreaming, using a lot of imagery to portray fun or pretty places of solitude, which makes the stanzas ambiguous. In the center of the poem the narrator describes his human feelings towards the surrounding people and objects; here is where a logical connection can be grasped. The narrator is preoccupied with the passing of time and often thinks of tranquil, imaginary places to elude his plaguing thoughts of social ostracism. The theme of this poem, suggesting from the era of time and the narrator's tone, is that age is a burden and man is deeply troubled by it. The author is stating the trouble the narrator is having dealing with middle age and the inhibition to communicate. There are several meanings in the poem that suggest this.

    Read More

  • Caring for Older Adults in our Society

    1723 Words  | 4 Pages

    There are changes in the demographic as the population grows older, the number of older adult’s increases and thus, there is an increase of proportion of patients that are older adults for nurses to take care of (Wells, Y., Foreman, P., Gething, L., & Petralia, W., 2004). The nurses are there to assist and support the older adults in achieving wellness within their situation through empowering the clients (Touhy, et al (2012). Caring for older adults is important as there is an increase in population with deteriorating health. When caring for a client it is important to incorporate Jean Watson’s caring theories and Carative Factors to help influence and support the care. She encourages nurses to co-participate within the caring process by establishing unity and trust between the nurse and client. First, this paper will explain a situation in where I cared for an older adult and it will then introduce Jean Watson’s lower order needs, specifically the need for activity and how it relates to the older adult I cared for. Lastly, this paper will explain the nursing interventions I implemented to meet the lower order need, with a discussion of Carative Factor #4 relating to the client.

    Read More

  • Lifespan Development in Late Adults

    950 Words  | 2 Pages

    During late adulthood, which begins around 65, many changes will take place. Death, sickness, and aging are some of the things you go through. Everyone is affected at some point. Individuals deal with these changes differently. Gerontology is the science that deals with the aging process. Vision can show impairment as people age. One of the changes in vision is the loss of accommodation of the lens. Most people 65 and older have hardened eye lens and have lost elasticity if the lens. Cataracts can form and vision becomes cloudy and is significantly impaired. Glaucoma is a serious condition that causes pressure to increase within the eye and it can result in blindness. Often hearing decreases with age. The hair cells in the Corti (inner ear) can cause a decrease in hearing frequencies. The ossicles and eardrum have a decrease in the transmittance of mechanical sound waves. Due to aging many elderly people have hearing impairment. Loss of appetite from connective tissue cells replacing taste buds. Skin can become thin, dry, and inelastic as it ages and the skin can fold and wrinkle from sagging.

    Read More

  • Aging, Death, Dying and End of Life Care

    2419 Words  | 5 Pages

    In an attempt to define ageing one must take in consideration the biophysiological together with the psychosocial aspects; these two aspects are intertwined.

    Read More

  • Middle Adulthood

    707 Words  | 2 Pages

    During middle adulthood biological and physical changes become apparent. During this time visual perception, hearing and the reproductive system decline. Adults who have never worn glasses or contact lenses may start needing visual correction (pg 424). During this time adults may also need more light to see than their younger friends (pg 424). During middle adulthood individuals, more commonly men, develop a lower sensitivity to high pitch sounds (pg 424). This is the reason why individuals during this stage find it more difficult to hear and interpret other voices.(pg 424). The female reproductive system starts to decline, slowly ending in menopause. The decline in the circulation of estradiol, the primary hormone of estrogen, causes many differences in reproductive health. During middle age pubic hair thins, there are changes in vaginal chemistry, and the labia begins to thin and wrinkle (pg 424). The chemical changes within the vagina cause dryness and a greater likelihood of infections (pg 424). For men, the decrease in testosterone during middle age is only small however the decrease causes lower bone density and loss of muscle m...

    Read More

  • Late Adulthood and Depression

    1568 Words  | 4 Pages

    Late adulthood should be a time in a person's life where they feel fulfilled. They can look back on their memories and be happy with the way they have lived their life. Now, too many elderly people are not satisfied and look at this stage as depressing. Most fear death of either a loved one or for themselves. This topic is interesting to me because elderly people should make the best of their last stage of life. This topic discusses about getting older, the life changes that they go through physically, emotionally, and mentally. We should know more about it so that we can help our family and friends get through one of the best, yet toughest part of our mortal life.

    Read More

  • Hearing Loss Essay

    853 Words  | 2 Pages

    As an audiologist, I am interested in the results of recent studies that indicate a connection between hearing loss and other major health problems, including a decrease in cognitive function in older persons. I have suspected this with my audiology patients and I saw this with my own mother. According to the Better Hearing Institute, “Addressing hearing loss helps women stay physically, cognitively and socially active… Research shows that hearing loss is frequently associated with other physical, mental and emotional health conditions, and that women who address their hearing loss often experience a better quality of life.”

    Read More

  • Cognitive Reflection

    1033 Words  | 3 Pages

    As a person grows old, it is inevitable to have both physical and cognitive changes happen throughout their lifetime. In an average life span, a person’s physical and cognitive changes will normally vary depending on what age group they are in. For example, it is said that from birth to age five, a child will absorb more information including how to talk, language, form relationships, and fine motor skills than any other age. It is also said that that most rapid decline in physical ability is in older adults ranging from a loss in eyesight to severe dementia.

    Read More

  • Human Physical Development Essay

    899 Words  | 2 Pages

    This phase of development is identified with wearing out of energy reserves and muscles mass, decay of cells, deterioration of the immune system, inefficiency of key body systems and organs. Advanced stage of late adulthood, senses become very dull typical of poor distinction of colors, perception of distance, difficult readership, diminishing hearing, and decline in sense of smell. Nevertheless, deterioration in shapes and appearances, and slowing of reflexes (reflex action), and fine motor skills, as well as the degree of response to spontaneous activities.

    Read More

More about Aging Awareness

Open Document