The plights of aging and minorities are substantially difficult to those to have endure the hardships of both groups. With the amount of the elderly majority increasing rapidly, this work examines certain aspects such as education and economic status. Based on that concept, I intend to find weather there is a correlation to the quality longevity of life for those of the aging minority differ in comparison to their counterparts Minority Aging Aging is a fact of life. As the years progress, the amount of aging individuals in the United States has been projected to increase considerably. In fact, Wiener and Tilly (2002) expressed that, the number of aging individuals is estimated to increase by 135% between 2000 and 2050. Moreover, the number of aging minorities is expected to increase as well. By the turn of the next midcentury, they are projected to increase by 500% (Scharlach, Fuller-Thomson & Kramer 2002). With this substantial growth, I set out to uncover the underlying reasons to why the quality and longevity of life for those of the aging minority differ in comparison to their counterparts. Through critical analysis, theoretical perspectives, I intend to discover the societal views, strengths and differences that exists among minorities. When it comes to the elderly minority, the social theories of aging resonate like no other. More specifically, the gerotranscendence theory. This theory involves the transition of aging as developmental process which is done internally, largely focusing on inner thoughts and emotions. So much so that “The individual reaches a fundamental acceptance of life lived, regardless of how good ... ... middle of paper ... ...mes because they live in poorer neighborhoods and are more likely to visit lower-quality hospitals with higher complication and mortality rates due to their presumed proximity to those hospitals” (2013). Another aspect, that has a relatively large impact on the aging minority is education and/or the lack thereof. According to ideas based of Feinstein, Sabates, Anderson, Sorhaindo & Hammond, the more educated people are more likely they are to be in good health. This ultimately encourages and maintains family and community well-being, healthy lifestyles and positive choices and supporting and nurturing human development (2006). Base of this idea, they have conclude that “Compared with individuals with low levels of education, those with high levels of education tended to smoke fewer cigarettes, consume more alcohol, and exercise more” (Ferinstein et al., 2006)
Takamura, J.C. (1999). Getting ready for the 21st Century: The aging of America and the older
There are many environmental influences as well as human behaviors that contribute to one’s expected life span. Health and lifestyle are two major factors that play a role in determining what life would be like during the senior years of life. There are many advantages to having a strong social support network that consists of caregivers paid and unpaid. Seniors with this tend to live longer, remain independent and stay active in their later years. Citizens in today’s society are living longer due to technology, medications and an overall healthier lifestyle. Many reach the age of 100 but the maximum human life span is 120 years old. One’s personal data, career choices, environmental influences and amount of active interactions will determine how those of the older population will experience the aging process.
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?
Prominent musician, Celine Dion, once said, “There’s no such thing is aging, but maturing and knowledge. It’s beautiful, I call that beauty.” To many, growing old is just a natural, beautiful part of life. It is inevitable. It is inescapable. The functionalist perspective of sociology states that the elderly perform a function in order to keep society running with ease. Functionalists focus on the disengagement theory and how people tend to disengage from society as they approach death. Symbolic interactionists focus on how environmental factors and relationships with others affect the aging experience, focusing on the activity theory and the continuity theory (Carl, 2011, p. 220). Conflict theorists focus on the discrepancies that arise between different age groups. They also focus on the economical side of aging and the issues that may arise due to an active elderly population (Carl, 2011, p. 221).
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
In the documentary The Waiting Room, directed by Peter Nicks, a story is told about Highland Hospital’s emergency waiting room and how there are too many patients for the staff to handle. The majority of these patients are poor, jobless and have little or no education, so they only come and wait in the emergency room because they cannot afford a regular doctor to go to when they are sick, need treatment or need a refill for a prescription. This shows just how much education does to create access to better health for people. The higher education a person has, the more likely they are to be employed and have adequate health insurance, for themselves and for their families. “Social class opens and closes doors to medical care. People
An interview was arranged with an older adult to discuss issues related to aging. The interview was designed to gain appreciation and understanding of an older adult. One theory of aging came into mind when I thought about this topic. Erik Erikson Life-Course and Personality Development theory, “Erikson described the task of old age as balancing the search for integrity and wholeness with a sense of despair.” NS is the older adult that I conducted the interview with. I’ve decided to pick NS to interview because she is very positive about life and her age. Everything that I have come across about aging is negative such as depression, isolation, and illness.
The concept of successful aging is also termed as super aging or optimal health, coined by Rowe & Kahn in 1987. Fundamentally, successful aging in the elderly illustrates neither usual aging (a gradual decrease in biological and psychological functioning) nor pathological aging. Instead, it illustrates a form of aging connected to a reduced possibility of disability or disease, increased physical and cognitive functioning, including autonomy maintained. 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).
Atchley, R. C. (1997). Social forces and aging: An introduction to social gerontology (8th ed.).
Ageing is a continuing life cycle, it is an ongoing developmental event that brings certain changes in one’s own psychological and physical state. It is a time in one's own life where an elderly individual reminisce and reflect, to bask and live on previous accomplishments and begin to finish his life cycle. There is a significant amount of adjusting that requires an elderly individual to be flexible and develop new coping skills to adapt in the changes that are common in their new life. (Dhara & Jogsan, 2013).
This paper will discuss the topic of Race/Ethnicity and Disability among Older Americans. The definition of disability and trends will be described as well as the difference between a functional limitation and disability. The effects of disability, measured by the social and economic costs, greatly influence health and retirement in later life. As the composition of older adults in our population changes, trends in the disability status of the elderly are changing as well.
their health as excellent, good, or very good. -Health and mobility decline with age, especially after age 80. Disease is more common among older adults. - Most of the diseases of later life have their origin years earlier. -Income is related to the perception of health.
The statistics show that United States is experience a high population of the aged individuals than it has never experienced before. According to the 2005 Interim State Population Projections of the United States Census Bureau, (2014) in 1930s’ the American older population was approximately 7 million which was equivalent to 5.4% of the total population. Today, one out of three people be fifty years and above. In 2030 one out of five will be 65 years, and they will reach almost 71 million individual, which will account about 20% of the United States population1. This indicated that the number of elderly in the United States was rapidly increasing than that of the younger populations and this is still evident today1. Although the life expectancy
Aging and being old was dominated by negative characteristics and conditions such as illness, depression, and isolation for a long time (Eibach, Mock, & Courtney, 2010). At first glance the terms “success” and “aging” seem to be in conflict to each other. When asking people about aging, their answers have many facets that are also found in psychological definitions: successful aging is seen as health, maturity and personal growth, self-acceptance, happiness, generativity, coping, and acceptance of age-related limitations. In the psychological sense successful aging is also often seen as the absence of age-associated characteristics (Strawbridge, Wallhagen, & Cohen, 2002). It seems that successful aging means is not aging.
Health is a major issue in the United States, but Americans are mainly focusing on the health of the younger population. Even though the younger population is important, it would not do any harm if Americans took the time out and focus on the Older population. In other words, Americans should pay homage to our Senior citizens, because without their wisdom and experience there would not be much to cherish. Older citizens are often the back bone of society. According to the World Health Organization’s website, “The world is rapidly ageing. While this is an important challenge for the developed world, 70% of all older people now live in low or middle-income countries. Population ageing is also occurring much faster in these countries. This means they will have a much briefer opportunity ti build the infrastructure necessary to address this demographies trend”(Our Ageing World). Now that the elder population is increasing the main focus should be on the elderly and spending more time taking care of their needs. In that case, Americans need to take Senior Citizens well-being more seriously than considering it as a non-factor.