This essay will describe how older people are more likely to be disadvantaged and socially excluded. Following by, how this can be challenged. Research which has been carried out will explain this statement further.
Social exclusion is outlined as being incapable to retrieve resources which society do not speculate. Older adults possibly will suffer with at least one of the common five disadvantages, including: access problems, health problems, low income, loneliness and low social support and finally being afraid of their local community after dark. Research shows if an older adult experiences two or more of the common disadvantages, they are more prone to be at risk to experience a poor quality life, and be socially excluded (Barnes et al,
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In addition, 17 per cent of older adults have no social support to rely on for day to day basis. Being unemployed, and living in an urban area and not keeping active is part of social exclusion, but can lead to depression. Nevertheless, the ageing theory defines the stages of which an older adult may experience. Starting with the activity theory occurring when the older adult embraces a full day of activity and continue with a moderate productivity. However, it is highly bias because it ignores the age of the person. Following on, the continuity theory is when the individual continues with their routines and lifestyles which they carried out in earlier life. On the other hand, there is the disengagement theory which is based on the individual withdrawing themselves from society. Risks of depression is highly capable when an older adult becomes disengaged because they become frustrated. The ageing theory is linked with the quality of life an older adult will overcome. The aspects of quality of life is defined as realisation (optimism, life satisfaction, disposition, energy) are related to the multiple common disadvantages.
Findings show, policy has to be challenged to overcome the social exclusion for older adults by focusing on 6 targets, including: older adults with physical and mental health issues,
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Older adults perceive as not wanted to take loans out to cover their household bills, as they would much prefer to stay debt free. They believe that they have to live with what they had, however, the section of older adults who were currently in debt found it hard to get back on track when they are on a low income. They become social excluded when they take ‘pains’ to ensure their household bills were covered. For example, older adults may go without holidays, going out with social groups, don’t replace the household goods and taking drastic changes by reducing their heating and energy costs. Older adults were highly concerned about the economic climate consistently changing, because they would struggle even further. Even the simple changes will make a large impact on their quality of life. Older adults demonstrate the tight reality life on their low income. The demands of cutting back is resulting in high social exclusion for older adults and making their lives misery. Limited incomes, limits the individuals carrying out activities they may want to carry out resulting in changed lifestyles.
Nevertheless, media influences the lives of older adults. Older adult abuse is highly promoted through media when it criticises the care provision, especially highlighting the neglect and abused experienced. Abuse can happen to anyone, however, it is prone to older adults because they are labelled as being vulnerable.
Social exclusion is the exclusion of an individual from the current social system, their individual rights and privileges. This is usually a result of a person living in poverty due to circumstances he or she has no control over, or their own human error. Becoming socially excluded can also be the result of the individual belonging to a minority social group. Social exclusion refers to individuals whom are excluded from certain aspects of social life such as employment and social relations. This can be due to reasons such as whether or not the individual would like to participate in social activities, or whether he or she is unable to participate in social activities for reasons which are beyond their control, such as a disability (Burchandt et al. 2002). Social exclusion can be a major problem, studies have shown that being socially excluded from a group/s in fact activates particular areas of the brain, areas which would usually only be activated by physical pain (Eisenberger et al, 2003). Not only can social exclusion have negative effects on an individuals mental health and wellbeing, but it can also cause exploitation, oppression and marginality. Social exclusion also prevents equality, fairness and social justice.
media focuses on older people as consumers for advertising certain products or for political gain.
As we age, we become more prone to a wide array of diseases, such as cancer and heart disease and treating these diseases most definitely helps us live longer but they do not seem to halt the natural aging process that eventually causes our bodies to weaken and wither away. New research suggests that, like several biological processes, the aging process could also be controlled and this could lead us to live much longer lives. However, commoners and bioethicists alike are often concerned about the bioethical issues pertaining to the life extension phenomena. They argue that the quality of life may be compromised in exchange for longevity and this may be due to intervention in the
Social integration and participation of seniors in society are important indicators of healthy aging. However, seniors are always at risk of being socially isolated. Many factors can cause social isolation and among them population aging that resulted more seniors to live longer is one of the most important factors.
It is said to remain more stable throughout aging. Another is fluid intelligence, which measured working memory such as speed and time, but known to decline as age increases. On the other hand, Atchley (1989), Continuity theory, was based on the premise of one 's sense of identity which was influenced by how they viewed themselves both internally and externally (Gamst, Der-Karabetian & 2008). Its constructs focused on the individual’s inner strength that was influenced by their past and societal structures such as culture, family and in the process helped to form internal identity. What the authors made aware that, even though older adults may be from different cultures or environments, they remain the same fundamentally across life span. Therefore, using an approach that would not only provide a framework for intervention, but can help to understand what factors contributed to the aging
Aging is universal and it is a process that everyone has to go through. The only difference is that everyone goes through this process at their own pace influenced by factors that will be discussed later on in this paper. When we think about factors that have an influence on older adults and how their life may be affected, we must consider the different social institutions while analyzing influences from social factors, cultural factors, and personal values. Abuse to older adults, stereotyping and informal care and technological advancements that affect older adults are the three topics that will be discussed in this reflection. Furthermore, will connect the three topics I have chosen to the knowledge that I have gained from my interaction
stereotypes and reinforcing the realities of aging as they care for older adults in all care
Conversely, this is also a misconception of sorts. Ageism was a concept devised by Butler (1975) to describe how older people in general were discriminated against purely on the basis of being over a certain age by younger members of society (cited in The Open University, 2014c). Using this concept of ageism, Ms Jones is correct in what she is saying, however since Butler and Lewis defined this term, further research has been carried out into ageism and this term has evolved again as society has changed. A more modern take on ageism is defined by Bytheway (2005) cited in the K118 course material (The Open University, 2014d) as “Indeed we are all, throughout our lives, oppressed by ageism, by dominant expectations about age, expectations that dictate how we behave and relate to one another.” In my own personal experience I have been on the receiving end of ageist remarks at different stages in my life. As a teenager, it was perfectly normal for me and my friends to get told off for “loitering” if there was a group of more than 3 of us – 2 teenagers together were tolerated in our town, anymore than that were presumed to be causing trouble, even if we were quite innocently minding our own business. I am now a woman with a 7 year old, and it is amazing how many times I have been asked when my
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...
Some social inequality systems which used unreasonable treatment and ignore the special needs for senior group. These will indirect make seniors feel isolation that afraid to face with difficulties with others and cannot have the same rights or service with the other social group of people. For these reasons, social service worker should take advantages with senior people who need to assist seniors regain their confidence, fight for the rights, enhance their ability and reduce the impact of the elderly bear the unnecessary burdens. Finally, it is important to step out the problem of homelessness and social biases.
Active ageing does not stop when elderly people retire, as they can remain active through their families, peers and communities. Active ageing aims to allow elderly people to realise and bring awareness to their own psychological, physical and mental well-being. As the goal of active ageing is the autonomy and independence of elderly people (Alexandre, Cordeiro, & Ramos, 2009). Ageing is a continuing life cycle, it is an ongoing developmental event that brings about certain changes in one’s own psychological and physical state. It is a time in one's own life where an elderly individual reminisces and reflects, basks and lives on previous accomplishments and begins to finish his life cycle.
According to theorist Cumming and Henry disengagement from society occurs to everyone and there is nothing anyone can do about it. It was one of the most controversial theories and has been argued by some of the top psychologist of its time (Achenbaum, 1994, p.756). Disengagement theory states it is an “inevitable process of aging whereby many relationships between the individual and society are altered and eventually severed” (Achenbaum, 1994, P. 758). In other words the relationship between the individual and society is unavoidable and that the alteration the individual and society makes is unnecessary. It all started with the University of Chicago’s committee on Human Development and their ideas about disengagement. It was believed that the social phenomena affected the elderly status of independence on their physical status. The data that was gathered was bias because it consisted of “3,000 white, English-speaking, mentally co...
The liberals unlike conservatives think that the government should assist the elderly because many older people never had the opportunities to earn the money needed to carry them through old age. They also state that many families now need both spouses’ earnings to achieve their own needs. And lastly the radical-left view states that due to the capitalist U.S economy the elderly are viewed as a costly burden to society (Macionis). To help explain this social problem even more we can use the social-conflict theory: aging and economic inequality. This theory focuses on age stratification and points to ways that the U.S. society limits the opportunities and resources available to elders. Even though there are laws that ban age discrimination in the workplace company still prefer to hire younger workers as well as wanting older people to retire so they can be replaced with the younger crowd. In conclusion, company while in pursuit of profit treat older people as second-class citizens (Macionis). Given these points, there are many solutions offered up. With the conservative view point they believe that a culture of self-reliance will motivate people to provide for their own old
Communities can significantly impact older individuals and their experiences of aging. The manner in which older individuals are treated throughout the world is an excellent example of this. No one culture is the same, but they all have a unique way of impacting the aging individuals that are a part of them. These ways of acting and interacting with older adults are influenced by society’s beliefs towards these aging individuals in regards to isolation, which in reality, can be quite similar cross-culturally. The Jewish community in The Center, the Tuareg in Niger and Mali, and the New England older individuals each form their own communities to combat isolation in order to have a sense of belonging and importance.
(Nguyen, Sarkari, Macneil, Cowan, & Rankin, 2013). The main cause and outcome of social exclusion is poverty and has been known to cause numerous complications in relation to mental and physical wellbeing. There are four factors that have been found to lead to social exclusion these are societal discrimination, little opportunities to actively participate in society, the social exclusion of goods/needs, and the lack of financial resources to maintain their lifestyle (Nguyen et al., 2013). Social exclusion can perpetuate a tragic cycle where poverty comes from social exclusion and social exclusion leads to poverty. Which can mean that older adults can be more likely to live with multiple chronic illness, malnutrition, have high-stress levels, and experience multiple moments of loneliness, depression and anxiety (Nguyen et al., 2013). Fostering versatility and avoiding dependency roles can help the young-old to the old-old maintain their dependence and avoid social exclusion (Minett,