Growing old is a process of life which most people hope to experience. Some people view growing old as a good thing, while others disagree. The process of growing old can bring on new changes both mentally and physically for an individual; many different aspects of an individual’s life begin to decline. Through exploring material of the development of humans in late adulthood, I have created an image of what I believe I will be like at the age of 70.
Gradual declines of different bodily functions occur when an individual reaches the age of 70. The autonomic nervous system will begin to perform less well, which will lead to a decrease in the immune system, sleep problems, and sensitivity to temperature changes. In addition, the sensory system will begin to decline. The sensory system controls sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. When it comes to vision, dark adaption becomes harder. Having trouble with dark adaptation will cause me to have a difficult time going from a brightly lit environment to a dim environment. In addition to sight, my hearing will begin to weaken. I will have a difficult time hearing people when I am in loud places. The loss of hearing could cause me to feel lonely because people will not talk to me as much because they do not want to constantly have to repeat themselves. Furthermore, I will begin to lose my sense of taste. Food will no longer have a distinct taste to me, which will cause me to salt and pepper food a lot in hopes of receiving a satisfactory flavor. Along with taste, I will not be able to have a strong distinction in the smell of different items, such as food. Another decline that will occur is the decline of my cardiovascular and respiratory functioning; I will have a greater phy...
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...be caused by sun exposure, biological aging, and heredity. Although at the age of 70 my cataracts will only just be beginning the process of developing, I will not need surgery right away but may need it within a few years.
When I am 70, I will be living in my home with my husband. I will still be able to complete everyday tasks and make my own decisions. Although I am likely to suffer from diabetes, I will be able to take care of myself by taking insulin, therefore I will not need to go into a nursing home or have my children constantly as my caregivers. I will have just recently retired from my job, and will be able to support myself through my retirement benefits. In addition, my husband will be able to support me because he will still be working.
Works Cited
Berk, L. E. (2010). Development through the lifespan (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Schuster, C. S., and Ashburn, S. S., (1980). The Process of Human Development: A Holistic Approach. Boston: Little, Brown and Company Inc.
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.
Aging is the process by which the human body undergoes changes and maturation over time, mainly because dead cells are not replaced in sufficient amounts to maintain optimum performance. In addition, changes in behavior are expected, (Gall, Beins, and Feldman, 2001). Due to the distinctive physical and psychological changes, this period of life can be one of much confusion for the elderly. Fortunately, technological advances in medicine and lifestyles have made life expectancy increase significantly since the fifties to the present, (Hiller & Barrow, 2011). For this project I used a phenomenology method. Phenomenology is the study of life events as they appear in the consciousness of a person or group of people; moreover is the study of experiences as they come to pass in our lives, (Desjarlais & Throop, 2011). This paper aims to analyze, visualize and illustrate various aspects of aging from the point of view of older adults.
Harris, Sara, and Laura E. Berk. Instructor's Resource Manual for Berk Exploring Lifespan Development, Second Edition. 2nd ed. Illinois: Allyn & Bacon, 2011. Print.
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Feldman, Robert S.. Development across the life span . 6th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 2010. Print.
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