Analysis of Ageing based on Psychology Interview

Interview for the Analysis of Ageing

Mae was a first generation American aged 90. Mae was born on June 1927 in Bethlehem, PA. When Mae was a young girl, she moved to Queens. Married at the age of 18, Mae well-being and general health issues are normal with no major health problems despite the usual high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and stents that come along with old age.

The objective of this essay is to explore the experience of late adulthood and ageing using the case study of Mae. This study analyzes the interview questions to identify the health and social issues associated with old age.

Analysis of Interview Question

One of the problems associated with old age is health issues. However, findings from the interview with Mae reveal that Mae is still in a good health despite her age, and she does not have any major health issue. However, she confirms that she sometimes forgets things. Berger (2014) argues that as people grows older, they are subjected to different diseases. Essentially, the CVD (cardiovascular disease) is the top risk factor as people increase in age. Moreover, diabetes, high blood pressure, abdominal fat, and cholesterol are common among aged people. The aged people are also prone to disease that involves the circulatory and heart system. It is undeniable that CVD is a secondary aging, nevertheless, people aged 90 years and above are 1000 times risk of developing CVD than 30-year-old individual even if both individuals have identical genes and health habits.

While individuals aged 65 and above experience these type health problems, however, it is revealed Mae does not develop major health complicated issues. The major reason is that Mae confirms doing a bit of exercise. For example, she indulges in going out at least once in a day to get launch, play card or watch movies at the local theater. Mae also confirms doing things on her own, although, it may not be as fast as she used to do when she was young. However, Mae points out that the most difficult part of ageing is having to ask for help.

Berger (2014) point out that about 70% of people between 60 and 75 years of age in the United States are still vigorous, healthy, and financially secured. Moreover, most of these aged group integrate their lives in the communities and families. However, 20% of aged people between 75 and 85 years of age suffer from mental, physical, and social defects. Moreover, elderly adults over the age of 85 years depend on others on almost everything and require supportive services such as hospitals and nursing home care. Additionally, the author distinguishes between primary and secondary aging. The primary aging refers to irreversible or universal physical changes that occur to all human beings as they grow older. However, secondary aging refers to the aging that occurs because of specific illness that is common to older people because of genetic vulnerability, and poor health habit.

Berger (2014) also believes that one of the major challenges that old people face is the problems associated with ageism and elderspeak. The concept ageism is defined as the discrimination or prejudice that occurs to aged people, although ageism can occur to people of all ages, however, it is more frequent with older people than younger generation and the issue may lead to a retirement. Berger (2014) defines the concept elderspeak as a condescending strategy of speaking to the older person, which resembles the baby talks with simple, short and slower rate using the higher pitch than normal speech. The author further identifies ageism as a prejudice by which people are judged based on their chronological age. In the old age, ageism can lead to stereotype, which affects the aged people than other categories of people.

Despite the discrimination experienced by older people, Mae claims that she does not experience discrimination of any sort. She claimed to have two children, nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Every few weeks, at least one member of the family visits her home in Florida. Moreover, she receives phone calls from members of the family. However, Mae describes her intellectual functioning as being active although sometimes she forgets things however, she is able to keep intellect active all times by reading few books a week and playing Bridge at all times. Moreover, Mae claims that she can still function intellectually however not the same capacity when she was young.

Berger (2014) discusses the cognitive development of aged people. The author argues that the brain of aged people reduces the production of senescence, which allows the nerve to jump quickly resulting in slowing down of the brain, and this is reflected in their reaction time to thinking and talking. The brain slowdown is also correlated with physical disabilities and slower walking. While brain senescence can vary from one individual to the other, the suggested reason for the variation in the brain senescence includes education, gender, and experiences. Moreover, the prefrontal cortex and hypothalamus (memory) shrink faster than another area in the brain. Thus, a complicated relationship such as mental exercise, past education, intellectual functioning may slow down the brain shrinkage. However, good health has the ability to protect brain more than education. While education strengthens the inhibition, nevertheless, good health is critical for effective brain functioning. Berger (2014) also believes that older adults may decide to solve problems using more of their brains. However, their brain regions are inadequate to carry out the complex thinking making them use more part of their brains. Typically, the intellectual output of older people may be impaired because their process of thinking has changed and their brain reserves have changed. Thus, the insufficient reserve may make the challenging tasks to be too hard for them because of the wandering mind. Additionally, brain stop focusing leading to attention wanders, inhibition fails, and thinking becomes diffuse.

However, Mae is able to address the problems associated with brain functioning during old age by doing many things at the same time. For example, Mae claims that she use to play tennis every day. She also walks out of the house one in a day. Although, she does not drive much, however, she still requires assistance doing hard things such as preparing a meal or bringing in heavy groceries.

Berger (2014) believes that multitasking involves using the brain to carry out the multiple tasks at the same time. However, older people who can carry out the multi-tasking tasks normally use their prefrontal cortex. However, the ability to carry out the multi-tasking job slow as people aged. Thus, it is recommended for older people to focus one task at a time. Berger (2014) discusses the information processing in older adults and their information may be distorted because of increase in age. Older people may also lose efficient information because less information may capture their attention and interference may impede their thoughts. Analysis of the working memory of older people reveals that their brain slows down are their working memory reduces. More importantly, it takes longer time for older people to process and perceive sensations thereby inhibiting multitasking process. Additionally, information processing becomes less effective as people increase in age. There is also a gradual decline in mental abilities as people aged. For example, inductive reasoning, verbal meaning, number ability, and word fluency reduce as people reach the age of 65 and above.

Reflection

The outcome of the interview reveals that Mae intellectual and physical health and well-being is still normal despite the health problems associated with people with people of old age. Berger (2014) argues that out of 100 people who can reach 65 years of age, 87 people will survive another decade caring for their basic needs. Moreover, 35 people will be involved in the instrumental activity and deal with household chores such as shopping, and eating, dressing. However, 56 aged people will be impaired and end in the nursing home. Thus, it is revealed that Mae is in the category of the group of 35 people who will be capable of doing instrumental activity and deal with household chores such as dressing, shopping, and eating.