the model of selective optimisation

Nowadays, in times of medical and technical progress, when many diseases can be cured and when people pay more attention to healthy lifestyle, the life span in getting longer. Especially in Western and North Europe, where people have better quality of life, we experience the phenomenon of aging of the population. There is less number of births, because women prefer to improve their education and start career path, so they decide to begin family life later, and also the number of death due to higher life standard is much smaller. In the constant cult of youth, elderly people face the problem of accepting themselves, as weaker and not necessary in the society.

Aging is quite sad and depressing period of life. The process of aging is difficult to accept for older adults. They experience many disappointments in connection with physical and mental health. They are not as bright as they used to be, they keep forgetting many things and physically they may not recognise themselves as attracting and interesting. Due to the phenomenon of aging of population, scientists were forced to change tactic and focus more on older adults as they need more care and attention, and also make older people realize that the last period of life does not have to be associated with loss, illness and unpleasant experiences. In fact, this is true that during the last years of life memory decline occurs and physical abilities are limited, but every development brings both gains and loss. It is essential to focus on positive aspects. Older adults, as they retire, have more time for social life. They can spend more time with family and they are able to become a part of a social group, for what they had not had time before. Elderly people can enjoy their free ti...

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...oking. Having positive attitude for life and reducing stress is essential in general, and an old person should not be afraid of attending to psychologist and using other health care. What is more being socially active, for example taking part in volounteering, create the feeling of beeing needed and gives satisfaction.

It is certain that in later development the balance between gains and lossess will be less positive and an old person will experience many unpleasant results of aging. But the model of selective optimization with compensation can contribute to positive aging. On the one hand biology and time are merciless, and tend to deprive the most important things. On the other hand the last phase of life, does not have to be disappointing. Implementation the strategy of selective optimization with compensation can bring satisfaction to life and make it simplier.