With the way the technology is progressing I believe that the trend among the elderly to fall behind the times will continue for a while longer, but the generations of people who have mastered the new technologies will slow the pace significantly. I can see this having a snowball effect on several other aspects of gerontology issues. Once the older generations are savvy with the younger ones, I believe the will be more grounds for the naive to show respect instead of looking at senior citizens with pity. Now, these are generalizations, of course, and just my opinions on the matter, but reasonable nonetheless.
Addressing mental illness will always be a touchy subject and when combined with the issue of aging makes it even more unwelcome to the mainstream. I think that in order for good to be done in dealing with issues like depression among the elderly, people will have to figure how to care for people without controlling them. Regulating people's behaviors just because they happen to be in a nursing home is not the way to get positive results and I'm sure it's what contributes to people shutting down and giving up the things that used to make them who they were.
The sex issue is huge, and I think it's only huge because it makes some people uncomfortable. But, just as anyone who's procrastinated to the last possible moment knows, ignoring a problem doesn't make it go away, it just makes the work more overwhelming. Addressing the high rates of STDs among the elderly should be the first order of business and that would be easily done with just a little education; education that most people probably crave because it was never administered in their younger years. I can't predict if the sex ed. will ever take precedence or if the ignorance will perpetuate, but hopefully some proactive stance will be implemented.
If no issues are addressed then the ones present now will continue and worsen. Some other issues that could present themselves as time goes on might be similar to what's happening with the educational system in Idaho, just like the teachers be taken out of schools, actual people might be taken out of caregiving positions, in the form of cut-backs. It would be a shame to see nursing homes severely understaffed, it would also, probably, increase the rates of neglect and mistreatment.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Never being in love . . .
"One of the best parts of growing older? You can flirt all you like since you've become harmless." - Liz Smith (Journalist)
I like this quote because I'm pretty certian it's a thought that nearly everyone has had at some point about when old people flirt, it makes me chuckle.
I'm pretty glad there are videos like this at the vast majority's disposal because, as I've learned, the topic of sex and old age is pretty overlooked in society. This video, with an attempt at humor, is fairly informative and gives a good glimpse at the basics of the issue.
The discussions about sex and intimacy in old age seemed to be conducted with an air of raunch, as if my classmates had the idea that the same "hook-up" culture that's prevalent on college campuses would also be present in nursing homes. However, my impression of the information about the subject was deeper than just a lust for flesh.
The subject of love and sex among the elderly is one that has been swiftly swept under the rug. I see that as a problem since most remain active. Any senior citizens that lived their life sans sex ed. (which is most) will inevitably remain ignorant of the ins and outs of the way a body works and the issues of sex and especially of safe sex. This has so much to do with the high rates of STDs among the elderly that I can't believe no actions have been taken to prevent the perpetuation of ignorance and spread of STDs. It's not a matter of condoning any sexual practice or other, it's a practical matter of educating people who need the knowledge.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/14/nyregion/14sex.html
This is an article in the New Yoork Times about giving sex education in a nursing home and the issues addressed and why.
For info about STDs run rampant among the elderly, click here : http://std.about.com/od/stdsspecificcommunities/a/elderlystd.htm
For info about homosexuality among the elderly, click here : http://gaylife.about.com/b/2006/06/12/mature-gays-find-solace-in-gay-nursing-home.htm
I like this quote because I'm pretty certian it's a thought that nearly everyone has had at some point about when old people flirt, it makes me chuckle.
I'm pretty glad there are videos like this at the vast majority's disposal because, as I've learned, the topic of sex and old age is pretty overlooked in society. This video, with an attempt at humor, is fairly informative and gives a good glimpse at the basics of the issue.
The subject of love and sex among the elderly is one that has been swiftly swept under the rug. I see that as a problem since most remain active. Any senior citizens that lived their life sans sex ed. (which is most) will inevitably remain ignorant of the ins and outs of the way a body works and the issues of sex and especially of safe sex. This has so much to do with the high rates of STDs among the elderly that I can't believe no actions have been taken to prevent the perpetuation of ignorance and spread of STDs. It's not a matter of condoning any sexual practice or other, it's a practical matter of educating people who need the knowledge.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/14/nyregion/14sex.html
This is an article in the New Yoork Times about giving sex education in a nursing home and the issues addressed and why.
For info about STDs run rampant among the elderly, click here : http://std.about.com/od/stdsspecificcommunities/a/elderlystd.htm
For info about homosexuality among the elderly, click here : http://gaylife.about.com/b/2006/06/12/mature-gays-find-solace-in-gay-nursing-home.htm
Also speaking . . .
http://geronj.oxfordjournals.org/content/26/2/240.full.pdf
This article from the "Journal of Gerontology" is about the nature of an old person's self-esteem and self-concept. It discusses the importance of reminiscence as a means of maintaining self-concept and the methods of finding this information and the results of this study.
There is some good discussion of nature of mental disorders in old age and the prevalence of mental disorder among the aging community at this website http://www.ncl.ac.uk/nnp/teaching/disorders/old_age/
This website (http://www.ncl.ac.uk/nnp/teaching/disorders/old_age/) looks specifically at depression in nursing homes and the methods of dealing with the issue and the prevalence.
"Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul." - Samuel Ullman (American poet)
I believe that this quote describes quite nicely the way the attitude can affect the psyche of anyone but especially someone during the profound changes one goes through to get to "old age".
As for everyone, having hobbies and being able to do the things one loves and enjoys is a crucial part of self-image and feeling good about ones self.
Mostly, I think this video speaks for itself, but it's a good demonstration of a senior citizen being proactive about his own well-being and self-concept.
My work background is very heavily focused on working with people with a variety of mental disabilities so I could apply a lot of the reading about "Personality and Mental Health in Old Age" directly to my life and see how the specific topics play out in life. It seems to be of utmost importance for people of all ages to maintain a sense of independence no matter their particular physical or mental deficiencies. Independence and hobbies and a positive sense of self are fairly pertinent aspects of a good quality of life and that doesn't change just because of advancing age.
This article from the "Journal of Gerontology" is about the nature of an old person's self-esteem and self-concept. It discusses the importance of reminiscence as a means of maintaining self-concept and the methods of finding this information and the results of this study.
There is some good discussion of nature of mental disorders in old age and the prevalence of mental disorder among the aging community at this website http://www.ncl.ac.uk/nnp/teaching/disorders/old_age/
This website (http://www.ncl.ac.uk/nnp/teaching/disorders/old_age/) looks specifically at depression in nursing homes and the methods of dealing with the issue and the prevalence.
"Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul." - Samuel Ullman (American poet)
I believe that this quote describes quite nicely the way the attitude can affect the psyche of anyone but especially someone during the profound changes one goes through to get to "old age".
Mostly, I think this video speaks for itself, but it's a good demonstration of a senior citizen being proactive about his own well-being and self-concept.
My work background is very heavily focused on working with people with a variety of mental disabilities so I could apply a lot of the reading about "Personality and Mental Health in Old Age" directly to my life and see how the specific topics play out in life. It seems to be of utmost importance for people of all ages to maintain a sense of independence no matter their particular physical or mental deficiencies. Independence and hobbies and a positive sense of self are fairly pertinent aspects of a good quality of life and that doesn't change just because of advancing age.
Sometimes falling . . .
http://gerontologist.oxfordjournals.org/content/23/1/26.full.pdf This article from "The Gerontologist" is about the different perspectives of old age cross-culturally which is more than relevant to a chapter about "Aging in Other Countries and Across Cultures." It does a nice job of looking at the issue from a more anthropological angle and bringing up specific cultural views that dove-tail nicely with sociological theories.
In many other countries, elders are respected more than considered a burden or "cute". This is definitely a viewpoint that I can get behind, not just because all people should be treated with respect but because people who have lived long lives will surely have some lessons to teach those of us who haven't.
As the world progresses, technologically, morally, etc., it seems like the older people in our society lag behind, and end up looking a bit simple, at least that's what the modernization theory describes. It's a problem because then people start to take pity on others who don't really need it.
"There was no respect for youth when I was young, and now that I'm old, there is no respect for age - I missed it coming and going." - J.B. Priestly (English novelist)
This quote sums up the ways that the views of aging have transformed in just a short time, within this man's life-time even. It's a bummer that the change has provoked a lack of respect in Western society.
The chapter in our textbook about aging in other cultures in particularly of interest to me because I'm a sociology major and as such I study the United States a lot but I relish in the opportunities I get to broaden my horizons with info or comparisons of other cultures. So much that we learn about in sociology is the things in our society that gets taken for granted by the majority of people but when we get to look at the same things, such as respect for elders (or lack thereof), in other cultures it resonates so much more because people will inevitably relate the concepts to their own frames of reference. I find it very important to understand the aspects of ones' life in context of humanity and not their specific circumstances.
There some more perspectives and more information about aging cross-culturally at these addresses :
http://www.novelguide.com/a/discover/eoa_04/eoa_04_00387.html a summary of the study of modernization theory and critiques of the study.
http://www.catherine-b-silver.com/docs/Cross-Cultural%20Perspective.pdf a look at the attitudes towards old people in the US and Japan.
As the world progresses, technologically, morally, etc., it seems like the older people in our society lag behind, and end up looking a bit simple, at least that's what the modernization theory describes. It's a problem because then people start to take pity on others who don't really need it.
"There was no respect for youth when I was young, and now that I'm old, there is no respect for age - I missed it coming and going." - J.B. Priestly (English novelist)
This quote sums up the ways that the views of aging have transformed in just a short time, within this man's life-time even. It's a bummer that the change has provoked a lack of respect in Western society.
The chapter in our textbook about aging in other cultures in particularly of interest to me because I'm a sociology major and as such I study the United States a lot but I relish in the opportunities I get to broaden my horizons with info or comparisons of other cultures. So much that we learn about in sociology is the things in our society that gets taken for granted by the majority of people but when we get to look at the same things, such as respect for elders (or lack thereof), in other cultures it resonates so much more because people will inevitably relate the concepts to their own frames of reference. I find it very important to understand the aspects of ones' life in context of humanity and not their specific circumstances.
There some more perspectives and more information about aging cross-culturally at these addresses :
http://www.novelguide.com/a/discover/eoa_04/eoa_04_00387.html a summary of the study of modernization theory and critiques of the study.
http://www.catherine-b-silver.com/docs/Cross-Cultural%20Perspective.pdf a look at the attitudes towards old people in the US and Japan.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
To Age . . .
My name is Emma Clements. I've been studying sociology for the past four years or so but this is the first semester that I've ever studied the way the largest group of people functions within humanity. Yes, when I think of it that way it also seems crazy to me - to have gone so far with my studies and to have only chipped at the tip of the gerontology iceberg.
My mother turned 50 a few weeks ago and I sent her a fantastic card that I made and included some quip or other about her not looking a day over 25. My mother has never been terrified of aging or against growing old (she has been against becoming a Grandmother, but I'm pretty sure that has more to do with me growing up than her) but it's a well-known stereotype that women are embarrassed about their aging processes. There are claims that 50 is the "new" 40 and blurbs about celebrities "looking great for their age" which I find to be quite inane. Aging is an important issue because it's inevitable and just like people get information when they're quite small about what will happen to them later on and how to handle it, people need that when they're full-grown about what will happen to them later on and how to handle it.
My mother turned 50 a few weeks ago and I sent her a fantastic card that I made and included some quip or other about her not looking a day over 25. My mother has never been terrified of aging or against growing old (she has been against becoming a Grandmother, but I'm pretty sure that has more to do with me growing up than her) but it's a well-known stereotype that women are embarrassed about their aging processes. There are claims that 50 is the "new" 40 and blurbs about celebrities "looking great for their age" which I find to be quite inane. Aging is an important issue because it's inevitable and just like people get information when they're quite small about what will happen to them later on and how to handle it, people need that when they're full-grown about what will happen to them later on and how to handle it.
 |
| (photo credit: unknown but definitely not me) |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)