Aging Essays (Examples)

Aging
Public Health Issues

Everything in the world changes and does not remain the same forever. Human development is also full of different phases. The three major phases of human life is birth, adulthood and death. Among these three major phases, aging is the process that a person encounters after he crosses the boundaries of adulthood.

One very important thing about aging is that it is very subjective is nature. It is contingent to various external as well as internal features. For example, the culture a person is part of, the physical health of a person, the climate in which a person resides in, the kind of environment he or she lives in etc., play a vital part in accelerating or slowing down this process.

The actual definition of aging varies in different contexts. A generalized definition of aging can be as:

Aging, the process of growing old, is defined…

Aging, particularly the discrimination against the elderly, is inextricably linked with the field of sociology because it affects the way in which humans behave. Moreover, it is an important social issue because societal attitudes toward aging inform the construction of social institutions. The plight of the elderly is often overlooked in favor of other underrepresented groups, but an analysis of media, politics, and other social constructs reveals that there the elderly are segregated at an analogous level to other marginalized groups. This paper explores aging as it pertains to sociology, exploring the myriad ways in which the elderly are discriminated against and why the study of aging is an integral component to sociology.
As a field of inquiry, sociology is concerned with the construction of society and the analysis of the ways in which human behavior is shaped by society. On first glance, aging may not appear to constitute a…

Aging
The social issue in which I am interested is how the aging of society will affect the way that we view the elderly. The idea here is that population growth via the baby boom created a generation that had the economic means -- by virtue of the ratio of working age people to elderly -- to remain at a distance from the elderly. The textbook describes how this generation (and later ones) have traditionally viewed getting older negatively. This generation pursued wealth, and because of the wealth generated it was able to either pay for caregivers for their parents as they become elderly, or that they had this covered through taxes. For example, many parents of baby boomers were in the war, so had coverage for much of their old age care as veterans. High tax receipts have also paid for generous entitlements for the elderly, as things like…

Aging and Retirement Reference Brochure
Baernholdt, M., Hinton, I., Yan, G., Rose, K., & Mattos, M. (2012). Factors associated with quality of life in older adults in the United States. Quality of Life Research, 21(3), 527-534. doi: 10.2307/41445078

Black, B.S., Johnston, D., Morrison, A., Rabins, P.V., Lyketsos, C.G., & Samus, Q.M. (2012). Quality of life of community-residing persons with dementia based on self-rated and caregiver-rated measures. Quality of Life Research, 21(8), 1379-1389. doi: 10.2307/41684673

Brett, C.E., Gow, A.J., Corley, J., Alison, P., Starr, J.M., & Deary, I.J. (2012). Psychosocial factors and health as determinants of quality of life in community-dwelling older adults. Quality of Life Research, 21(3), 505-516. doi: 10.2307/41445076

Cheung, C.-k., & Leung, K. (2010). Ways that Social Change Predicts Personal Quality of Life. Social Indicators Research, 96(3), 459-477. doi: 10.2307/40649330

Coverdill, J.E., Lopez, C.A., & Petrie, M.A. (2011). Race, Ethnicity and the Quality of Life in America, 1972-2008.…

As she points out, researcher Leonard Hayflick realizes the difference, and notes that ending aging and curing signs of aging are two very different issues. According to Hayflick, even if all causes of disease and signs of aging were cured, the human being could only extend life by 15 years or less. This is because, while signs of aging may be reduced by such products as elastin Skin evitalizer™, the aging process itself is not actually altered (McCarthy, 547). Hayflick states, "Aging is an inexorable process that begins at about the age of 30 in humans and continues indefinitely" (McCarthy, 547). Clearly, then, a reduction to wrinkles and an improvement in skin does not actually alter the aging process.
So, what is the selling point of products such as elastin Skin evitalizer™, which promise only a youthful appearance? McCarthy believes the issue is related to the drive not for long…

Unfortunately, this largely casts those who have passed retirement age as having little economic relevance and, by consequence, as having little cultural or social relevance.
Impact of Individual Differences:

This suggests that the United States has a permeating cultural ageism. Ageism is a prejudicial mode of thinking that presumes the elderly have little value to offer those around them. This is a disposition that leads to the abhorrent conditions in which many of our aging citizens must live out their final days. Indeed, there are few factors in one's individual aging experience that are more determinant than one's economic status. For those with fewer financial resources to address growing medical needs, for those who lack the funds to secure comfortable living conditions or for those who live in remote, rural or impoverished areas with little access to healthcare facilities, the decline of aging is almost certain to be intensified in…

Aging and Periodontium
The aging process takes a toll on everybody's body eventually, whether it's from loss of memory or thinning of the hair, or reduced mobility and hearing. However, one particular occurrence as time progress onward is one's dental records, in particular, the periodontium. The periodontium affects an individual's dental and overall well being by undergoing physical, functional, nutritional, and medical modifications.

Such changes take place either in the regions of the periodontium or the byproduct of such altercations due to aging.

Physically, the periodontium is made up of various parts, which include the alveolar bone, cementum, gingiva, and the periodontal ligament. As time progresses, negative changes are seen in the aforementioned parts, which affect the individual him or herself. The features of aging found in tissues are desiccation, diminished reparative ability, reduced elasticity, and altered cell permeability. The alveolar bone may undergo osteoporosis, decreased vascularity, reduction in metabolic…

These grants were to provide community planning and services and for training through research, development or training projects. Its 10 objectives were aligned with the major areas of federal programming. These were an adequate income in retirement according to the American standards of living; the best physical and mental health; suitable housing; full restorative care for those who would require institutional care; employment opportunities without discrimination; health, honor and dignity in retirement; pursuit of meaningful activity at the widest range; efficient community services; immediate benefit from reliable research knowledge; and freedom, independence and the free exercise of individual initiative. Title III of this Act provided grants for community planning, services and training. Amendments made in 1971 and 1974 provided the basis for establishing and operating a nationwide network, the Administration on Aging or AoA. The first implementation strategy of the AoA was to sponsor many small direct service programs nationwide.…

Aging Process: Gains and Losses
The adult senior population in the United States is growing at an unprecedented rate. In fact, the general population in the country is aging and both public and private elderly care providers need to make adjustments in order to be able to serve this growing population. Furthermore, many government and private industries are affected by this growing population, due to their prevalence in virtually all markets, as they purchase a wider variety of goods and services than ever before. But before the government or private companies can implement concrete policy changes, they first need to understand what the needs of this aging population will be. To determine that, it is important to understand both the gains and losses associated with aging.

Aging Gains

There are numerous advantages to aging for both the aging person and society as a whole. These benefits take many forms and…

To remedy this and other similar situations, ountain suggests open and honest communication, during which the adult child should be both firm, honest, and compassionate. It is important to understand the need of an elderly parent to remain an important part of the family, while also creating boundaries within which these feelings can be accommodated. Not doing this effectively can create bitterness, conflict, and an ultimate scar on the parent-child relationship. ountain (2013), however, maintains that effective communication will prevent such scarring.
The relationship between parents and adult children can also be affected by divorce or widowhood. The above-mentioned conflict, for example, can result when a woman who has taken care of her dying husband is left alone after his death. She may experience feelings not only of intense loneliness, but also a continued need to provide care. The most effective solution in such a case is to provide boundaries…

Neither is any proper information available on the cost of treatment and care giving. In the absence of old age homes and nursing centers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, there is lack of information on how to properly take care and handle those old aged people who are suffering from the Alzheimer's disease. Such patients who live with their families and relatives are unable to receive proper treatment and care because of the nature of the Alzheimer's disease. It becomes very difficult to understand the symptoms and the condition of a patient if one is not aware or does not have any prior knowledge about the Alzheimer's disease. This has been a common problem prevalent in the Saudi society for the patients suffering from the Alzheimer's.
Although, it has been quite late when it comes to a disease like the Alzheimer's, the Saudi government has taken notice and initiative…

Aging
Because of the aging baby boomer generation, a lower current birth rate, and advances in health care and medical technologies by 2020 as many as one-fourth of all Americans will be aged 60 or older. This astounding figure has huge implications for American social, political, and economic spheres. For example, the general population will be forced to confront it prejudices and biases against seniors. Currently, American culture glorifies youth to the extent that elderly people are treated poorly, neglected, and taken for granted. In many other cultures, older persons are deemed wiser due to their having accumulated life experience. In the United States, on the other hand, the senior population is often viewed with scorn, as symbols of lost beauty and impending death and decay. However, if twenty-five percent of all Americans are in the senior age bracket then it will be harder to practice biased behaviors. Similarly, an…

(Toro, 2008) Toro states that policy makers have only recently begun to recognize the needs of these youth after aging. Statistics show that in the area of employment: (1) most respondents had worked since leaving foster care; (2) on average respondents were unemployed only 48% of the time since leaving foster care; (3) the average monthly income when working equaled approximately $598. (Toro,
Education statistics show that: (1) 41% graduated high school; (2) 16% received a GED; and (3) 25% took at least one class beyond high school. (Toro, 2008) in terms of psychopathology findings show: (1) high levels on rief Symptom Inventory, even when compared to a low income sample; and (2) especially high means on Psychoticism and Paranoid Ideation (scores approximately double as compared to normal scores). (Toro, 2008)

SUMMARY & CONCLUSION

This work has clearly demonstrated that while there are many provisions for assisting youth aging out…

How is this achieved? By focusing on what one has accomplished in life and taking pleasure in it: the knowledge that one has raised strong, smart children; that the life one has lived as been one full of meaningful relationships; that one has given something to society; and, that their life has had meaning because of all of these things. This is what Erikson called "generativity," (2009) though Peck focuses more on the things that one has achieved rather than focusing on things that one is achieving on an ongoing basis (2009).
Growing older means that while we must accept our own mortality, we must also accept others' mortality as well. As we grow older, people die around us. While it is a natural process of life, it is not an easy one to deal with. Not only does it cause us to grieve for the people we have lost,…

Aging & Later Life Issues
As people age, life brings issues of economic, health, and functional concerns. Retirement for some may mean a life of freedom, but for most people, it presents a series of issues as social security payments are not enough to make ends meet. Medicare and Medicaid do not always pay all the costs that are needed for services, especially in home and community-based needs. And, living on social security, there are usually not enough funds to pay for a lot of insurance to help meet those needs. Functionality can become a problem, especially with illness, as the activities for daily living slowly deteriorate. There can also be problems of boredom and low self-worth learning to adjust from a work world to a retirement world. Many older people are forced to work as long as they are physical and mentally capable to meet basic needs.

When I…

Aging and Decline in Cognitive Abilities
The video Successful Cognitive and Emotional Aging (2009) examines some of the behaviors that individuals can practice in order to facilitate mental well-being as one advances in age. Neuroplasticity is the capacity of the brain's ability to change in response to behavior and environment. The video suggests ten strategies for to promote successful cognitive and emotional aging. 1) Physical activity, regular aerobic exercise and strength building. 2) Nutrition, the intake of colorful fruits and vegetables as well as multivitamins combined with staying hydrated caloric restriction. 3) No smoking and the moderate consumption of alcohol. 4) Sleep well and treat sleep apnea. 5) Maintain a healthy skepticism concerning anti-aging supplements, products and procedures. 6) Keep cognitively active through work, lifelong learning, volunteering and novel and challenging leisure activities. 7) emain socially active by spending some time with people every day by joining a club, a…

The demographic tide of Canada is becoming a nagging problem with a dwindling number of active workforce having to bear the increasing burden of quality universal healthcare. However, the problem is that the prospect of a slow growth in the labor market would only imply a slower growth of the general taxpayers and hence raising the tax is not a simple solution to managing the fiscal pressures. As the article indicates, in the absence of a Tax hike in this year's budget, the federal burden will continue to accrue and if no counter measures are undertaken by 2050, Canada's debts and deficits would equal the nation's GDP. The article suggests that a combination of increasing the GST, reducing government expenditure, and more importantly, other 'structural reforms' would be necessary to prevent the impending fiscal disaster. This is not a difficult prospect given the fact that Canada stands much better for…

Aging Women and the Media
As the fabric of American culture has continued along the often ponderous path of progress during the last century, women have experienced perhaps the most significant changes to both their daily lives and their position within modern society. While females in this country, and aging women in particular, have traditionally been relegated to peripheral roles involving familial concerns, a succession of societal advancements since the 1960's has moved their status towards the eventual goal of gender equality. Professional positions once reserved only for men have increasingly been opened for ambitious women to attain, salaries have been balanced to shatter the proverbial glass ceiling, and women currently control many of the most powerful political offices in the nation. Although the significance of the strides made by women in modern American society cannot be understated, a fundamental component of this country has failed in its duty to…

However, despite the great motivation I have to personally develop myself, I am also considering the fact that in the years to come, I will change and probably become more field dependent that I am right now. But I believe that I will still remain to be internally-oriented, primarily because this is how I grew up and developed to be through the years. In addition, I do not believe in chances or luck as the ultimate determinants of one's life; rather, it is through the individual's perseverance and hard work that s/he gets what s/he wants or needs. However, I allow for the potential that I will be field-dependent, for I have always considered interacting with others as a healthy 'exercise' for self-development especially when one approaches old age. Moreover, I believe that as an aging individual, I would need more interaction in order to bring more meaning to my…

Such a life journey is not generally one that will encourage a great deal of compassion for younger women.
While there is a great deal of popular psychology and culture that argues that suffering makes us compassionate, this is very often not the case. A woman who has been subject to emotional, psychological, and often physical abuse throughout her earlier decades would have to be saintly indeed not to feel the urge to retaliate on the next generation. And so young brides in many cultures that value the importance of the elderly are often abused in many different ways by the older female members of their husband's families. A new bride may find herself beaten by a mother-in-law despite many hours a day of hard domestic work even as the bride struggles with the challenges of pregnancy and early motherhood.

The combination of tending to both older and younger generations…

Aging orkforce
The month of May was initiated by President John F. Kennedy as the month to honor the contributions of older Americans (Older pp). At that time roughly seventeen million living Americans had reached their 65th birthdays, today, approximately thirty-five million Americans, or one in eight, are 65 years old or older (Older pp). According to the United States Census Bureau, nineteen percent of men and ten percent of women over 65 years old are still working, and moreover, seventy-five percent of men and sixty-three percent of women over 55 years old are still employed (Older pp). Because so much has changed demographically since it originated, Older Americans Month has evolved into an opportunity to focus on the needs and concerns of the aging population (Older pp). Experts say that the coming decades will require companies to be knowledgeable concerning the needs of older workers (Older pp). Due to…

Aging and Driving
Anstey, K.J. & Wood, J. (2011). Chronological age and age-related cognitive deficits are associated with an increase in multiple types of driving errors in late life. Neuropsychology 25(5): 613-621.

In "Chronological age and age-related cognitive deficits…" Anstey & Wood (2011) outline the purpose of the research as being to foster greater understanding of the factors involved in driving skills that diminish with age. In particular, the authors are concerned with the cognitive factors that impact driving ability. The authors warn against blanket generalizations about seniors, many of whom retain their ability to drive safely well into old age. The gap in research the authors are filling is related to the specific cognitive changes that take place as a matter of the aging process, and how those changes impact seniors who regularly drive. According to the authors, their research has direct real-world application for the ergonomics of driving…

Introduction This paper explores concerns about aging in the modern-day. It also examines the psychological problems that older people face. The paper sheds light on the social networks and the families within which the aging people operate. There is a spirited effort to explore the therapies and programs that can effectively handle the psychological challenges that relate to aging. Finally, the current paper delves into finding out any other necessary research that should be done to provide a clear direction on handling the problems related to aging more easily.
There is no doubt that the elderly, especially those at the age of 60and above, make significant contributions to society. They work as volunteers and even as active workforce teams. Although most elderly people possess steady faculties, others suffer from mental health disorders such as substance abuse issues and neurological complications. They are also widely prone to health conditions such as…

For this assignment, I visited the St. Alban’s memory care center. This organization’s mission is to provide cutting-edge memory care for seniors at different stages of cognitive impairment, from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease. Prior to visiting, I prepared for the interview by learning about the services available, as well as the mission, vision, and values of the organization. The values included the principles of compassionate care, respect for patient, dignity, progress, and valuing the community. Although the St. Alban’s memory care center is a day care center for adults, the parent organization also operates three senior living facilities in the area. I scheduled a meeting with the programming director, who was able to illustrate several aspects about how memory care works, how the organization receives funding, how clients can arrange for financial assistance, and how their programs change in accordance with new technologies and advancements in aging research.…

Can Aging be Reversed or Delayed? Aging is a fact of nature. Everything ages and eventually dies. For people living today this is often a source of fear and anxiety because death, as Shakespeare pointed out, is the “undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveler returns”—in other words, the final point of life that so little is actually known about (Easwaran, 1996). People with faith in an afterlife tend to have less anxiety about death, but faith is not enjoyed by everyone (Alvarado, Templer, Bresler & Thomas-Dobson, 1995). Those who want to put off death as long as possible turn to de-aging techniques and strategies, hoping to delay the inevitable. This paper will discuss the reality of aging and address the assumptions that 1) Aging cannot be reversed; and 2) Aging can be delayed; however, the average person could not afford the cost of treatments to delay aging because one…

Future Directions for Positive Aging 1: To Do List
My to-do list for joining community of Serenbe starts with writing a big thank you to the world and to God for giving me this opportunity. I want to express my gratitude and joy, and doing so is a health way to get in touch with the positive energy that will be of so much use in Serenbe. I will post this message on social media so that all my friends and loved ones can see where I am and can communicate their own love and support back to me. It will also be a good way for me to introduce myself to my new friends in the community of Serenbe.
Second on my list is to start eating right! Diet is one of the most important aspects of positive aging because a healthy and nutritious diet can keep you going…

Q1. Some of the demographic data that could come in handy in the assessment of the need for hearing services in this case could comprise of occupation, age, and gender. With regard to gender, it should be noted that hearing loss happens to be less common in women – in comparison to men (Hull, 2013). On the other hand, age-related hearing loss is rather common. Thus, as an individual grows older, the more likely they are to have hearing impairment (Hull, 2013). Lastly, occupational noises also play a role in hearing loss. A good example in this case would be nightclub work.
Q2.
In an attempt to evaluate the need for hearing services in the community, various approaches could be used in the analysis of data in this scenario. The approach recommended on this front is named-entity recognition (NER). This approach would be most valid because, as would be expected,…

They wanted to have single rooms and would prefer not to share the bathrooms basically for hygienic reasons. They would also prefer having enough space for their personal items and personalizing their own space. Most of them felt that the facilities were secure and safe. Findings of this research revealed that older people, despite poorer physical health, did better than younger adults psychologically about their well-being. The participants seemed to adjust satisfactorily to their changed environment and circumstances (Edwards).
As to the economic and financial aspects of aged care, further studies showed that the bundling of services would be the best, except for older people with dementia, specifically the ambulant and aggressive ones (Hogan 2005). Findings hinted at separating services for other aged care provisions. These findings confirmed that costs incurred by institutions varied widely, with smaller-scale operations with 30 beds or less as incurring the highest costs. Other studies…

At some point, the burden on those still working to support those who have retired will become untenable. Solutions will have to be found, and those solutions will involve deciding who gets what, when, and how. This fiscal problem will require a forced distribution of wealth, something likely to upset most affected by it. Retirees will be outraged if they get less from Social Security than the generation before them did. Those still working won't be willing to contribute more to Social Security only to get less when they retire. The cost of health care has been spiraling upward for some years, and new and economical solutions will have to be found to meet the medical needs of the elderly.
Solutions may require raising the retirement age, encouraging the elderly to continue working, providing less in retirement benefits, or raising taxes. These fundamental political changes will be necessary and may…

The gradual decrease in income, eventual dependency on other people and the government for financial resource, lack of activities to do, and the onset of physical and/or physical limitations as a result of aging are known causes of frustration, stress, and even depression among elderly people who have retired (Blekesaune and Solem, 2005, p. 80). In the case of Mrs. a, she has not experienced these negative feelings or emotions as she had been flexibly and intermittently engaging herself in house-, family- and community-related pursuits. However, she did admit that her husband's death had been a pivotal point in her life, when she felt that she, too, must be with her husband because, as far as she is concerned, she has already accomplished what she was supposed to do as a "wife, mother, and woman."
Interestingly, with Mrs. a, work and retirement is not the conventional kind of retirement one…

Aging
I interviewed Kay Shehorn, a 67-year-old woman who has been employed at the Hillside ehabilitation Care center for 42 years. Shehorn started working at Hillside ehab as a housekeeping supervisor. She worked her way up in the company to become an Administrative Assistant. My interview questions focused on Shehorn's plans for retirement. We discussed the financial aspects of aging, and the politics of aging as well. Because Shehorn is a "young" senior, her perspectives were instrumental in illuminating a possible path for me when I approach retirement age. I asked Shehorn if anyone had impacted her views on aging, such as an elder relative or role model. Shehorn said that she had always admired strong seniors who refused to be defined by their age. She mentioned being inspired by a woman who worked in an art gallery until her mid-90s, and also spoke of her grandmother who had literally…

New Theories -- Current theories relating to the study of environment and behavior are inadequate to answer the major questions of the study. One cannot separate the environment from humanity -- ecological and systems theories are holistic.

ystems theory - This theory is an interdisciplinary practice that describes systems that have numerous spokes, or interacting components. The basic laws of thermodynamics (i.e. temperature, energy and entropy) work better for closed systems. Open systems, like living things, show different patterns and tendencies.

Diffusion of innovation theory - . The theory holds that diffusion is a process in which innovation is communicated through certain levels or channels over time and mitigated by whether the decision is made freely and who makes the decision.

Human impact on the environment then -- changes the system -- it is an artifact and thus in design and technology operates on a different set of laws than…

3. Growth factors can induce apoptosis by binding to their respective receptors (TKs). When activated, TKs in turn activate the as, af, MEK, MAPK, MKK, EK, Fos, JNKs, and Jun pathway, which can lead to the induction of AF via gene upregulation. AF in turn suppresses mdm2, a suppressor of p53 activity. The resulting increase in p53 activity can induce Bax, Mt, and thus apoptosis.

4. Adenomatous familial polyposis is caused by a truncated APC protein, which results from inherited mutations in the APC gene (Segditsas and Tomlinson, 2006). However, the activity of the wild-type or normal APC allele is usually sufficient to maintain tumor suppressor activity. For this reason, and because the wild-type allele is often found to have acquired somatic mutations, it is assumed that both alleles must be mutated before tumors can form. The vast majority of mutations found in colorectal tumors have retained 0 to 3…

The result will be empirical based on relative individual factors. If both senior and junior workers have to be retrained every year, the senior worker may be the better investment after all. One depressing outcome of this competitive push to reduce retirement-benefit cost by offering short-term, part-time and outsourced employment rather than the traditional career, is an implied peak after which workers become less employable the more expertise they have, such that the slide to senility is marked by lower and lower status jobs, because they earn too much at what they're trained for. Competitive incentive to reduce payroll by getting rid of the highest earners complicates and is driven by the demographic anomoly of the Baby Boomers outnumbering GenX. Electricians and biologists would call this a feedback loop.
The difference may result in a new construct based on why or for whom one works. If work is something we…

The service provider should then be able to assess the specific needs of the elderly person and give advice about the best option for living facilities.
Becoming older and more frail often also means being the victim of not only increasing financial constraints, but also of various types of abuse. Elderly abuse is a concern that has increasingly come to the attention of authorities as an unfortunate by-product of an increasingly aging society. Abuse might be perpetrated by family members or professionals and could be the result of financial or emotional strain, work stress, or more severe conditions such as mental illness. The aging service provider has some particular duties and responsibilities when it comes to elder abuse.

One of these duties is reporting suspected cases of elder abuse. The Elder Abuse and Neglect Act (Illinois Department on Aging, 2012), for example, provides for the ability of any person to…

In society today, social norms and values mean that we must care for those who can no longer care for themselves, whether as a result of old age or as a result of some other condition or disability. This means that health care systems need to be set up in such a way that people can receive the care they need while also maintaining as much as possible of their dignity and autonomy. This has been one of the most important evolving viewpoints in eldercare. Concomitantly with an increasingly healthy and active older generation, however, new views have emerged, including remaining in the home environment for as long as possible before being committed into care. This ideal has been influenced not only because of the new dynamic, where older people are generally healthier for longer, but also by economic and technological factors.
Increasingly, assisted living has come to mean the…

It often means interventions opening the doors of our lives to strangers, healthcare providers, whose job it is to assist the elderly in achieving and maintaining the highest quality of life possible until the individual crosses from this existence into the mystery of the next one.
Some of the physical conditions that are associated with aging are Alzheimers disease, which while associated with aging can manifest onset well before what many people might view as 'elderly." It is perhaps because it afflicts people at earlier ages that Alzheimers is one of the physical problems associated with aging that receives a lot of attention, and, therefore, more funding than some others areas of health problems associated with aging. Alzheimers is often diagnosed as dementia, an irreversible or reversible condition depending on the specific cause. It is, however, difficult to diagnose and treat because it has numerous potential causes, all of which…

Aging and the family-work link: A comparative analysis of two generations of Mexican women (1936-1938 and 1951-1953)" by Blanco and Pacheco can best be described as serviceable. The first sentence is not particularly 'catchy' and is somewhat awkward. "The implications of aging of the population in Mexico are complicated and in some respects, serious" (Blanco & Pacheco 2009: 143). However, the introduction does go on to explain specifically why dealing with Mexico's aging population is such a serious concern. The developing nation's pension system is in a crisis and covers only 30% of the nation's senior citizens; other forms of government support are inadequate and under-funded. The primary burden of eldercare falls upon women: women are considered to be the primary domestic caretakers of children and husbands; women must work to support their families working outside the home and now they increasingly have this additional burden of attending to the…

Typically a Japanese funeral follows the sequence: when someone dies, they are placed to rest in their homes. The corpse was placed with the head pointing the North, copying the deathbed of Gautama, and the head of the bed is well decorated. Then the previously mentioned encoffinment process. The first night after one's death is called the Tsuya; and it is for close family and friends to remember their beloved. In the morning, a cleansing meal is served called Okiyome. The funeral is thereafter carried out where the Jukai rite also known as receipt of commandments gives the dead an opportunity to receive the Buddhist commandments, automatically making the dead a disciple of the Buddha, and the dead person is accepted into Buddha hood.

After all this, the deceased embarks on the journey to the other world as the coffin is carried out of the house and burnt in a…

Suicide ates Among Geriatric Persons
The causes of death among the elderly are traditionally associated with the normal aging process or what would be called natural process, diseases associated with age and the debilitations it can cause. Yet, other factors also contribute to the cause of death an individual might succumb to, widowhood, retirement, forced relocation, and/or loneliness especially around the holidays. (Huyck Hoyer 1982) Still other studies are making it clear that murder and suicide rates are increasing dramatically among the elderly. (cf., Birren, Schaie, 1977) (Nussbaum, Pecchioni, obinson & Thompson, 2000, p. 294) Suicide was the eleventh leading cause of death among persons over the age of 65 in 1982. (iley, 1983, p. 144) Some strides have been made and between the years 1983 and 1998 suicide averaged as the fourteenth leading cause of death for persons over the age of 65, lower than the average for all…

It is an unfortunate fact that Alice's self-perception and its reinforcement by social and media images of age and aging is hardly unique. Older people, and especially those in retirement and care communities, tend to be perceived as old, frail, and unable to continue any sort of contribution to society. This tends to hasten the aging process and, in cases like Alice's, perpetuates a vicious cycle in which aging becomes a curse rather than the blessing that she was first to those around her and then to her husband.

According to Holstein, Parks, and Waymack (2011, p. 11), one important component of care giving and retirement communities is respecting the autonomy of older individuals by providing them with meaningful choice. This means that older people in such communities should be provided with choices that match their remaining cognitive and physical abilities.

When applied to Alice's case, her residence in the…

Aging is an inevitable process, but responses to the aging process vary from generation to generation, culture to culture, and person to person. Factors like gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic class have an impact on attitudes toward aging. Beliefs and attitudes toward aging and towards older people also vary. The status of elder adults in the family, community, and society also varies. It is important to understand the evolution of age-based social roles and attitudes towards aging because all people encounter seniors, care for seniors, and most likely become old too. Because the Baby Boomer generation is reaching senior age status, issues related to gerontology are becoming especially salient for the health care professional.
Unfortunately, there are several disturbing trends in how old people and aging are viewed. The status of elders is generally low, leading to problems in senior physical and mental health. Treatment of seniors varies widely, with some…

Aging can be defined as the buildup of damage in molecules, tissues, and cells throughout an individual's lifetime. As a result of this accumulation, the capacity of an organism to sustain homeostasis in stress situations is decreased and enhanced risk for many diseases emerges (Rodriguez-Rodero et al., 2011). The process of aging, which is commonly known as senescence, affects people in different ways because of its varying impact on different parts of the body and at varying rates (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2016). Given these differences, the aging process is different between individuals as some seemingly age faster than others.
There are several factors that affect the aging process and contribute to the differences through which some people seem to age faster than others. One of the major factors that affect the aging process is cell aging, which entails DNA damage and telomeres. In this case, aging is a by-product of…

Aging Workforce
The workforce in America is rapidly aging. This rapidly aging workforce creates challengers for organizations that must manage an aging workforce. The purpose of this discussion is to explore the challenges of managing an aging workforce within any given organization. This topic is of particular interest because many older baby boomers are retiring while other are choosing to work well passed the retirement age and managers must devise ways to manage such a workforce.

Employers must understand the challenges that may arise, as an aging workforce becomes part of the fabric of the organization. If employers do not attempt to understand and implement solutions for managing an aging workforce their organizations will suffer greatly. Let us begin our discussion be explaining why the aging workforce is such an issue in the current workforce.

Description of the organization and problem

The organization that we will focus on during the…

Aging in the Bucket List and Cocoon
Aging and its natural consequence -- death -- are subjects that raise diverse emotions among persons involved in these processes. Some embrace these pivotal moments in life, some attempt to avoid them. The two films The Bucket List and Cocoon give examples of how different people deal with the issue of aging and death. This paper will examine these films from the perspective of the characters' physical and mental health, their family and social issues, their economic status and social service usage, and cultural diversity issues.

The Bucket List is a 2007 comedy-drama about two strangers who meet in a hospital: Carter is an African-American blue-collar worker, a family man and an amateur historian but a mechanic by trade; Edward is a white, billionaire health care tycoon, who is estranged from his daughter. Forced to share a room in the hospital, the two…

Mechanisms of Aging
Mechanism of Aging

Aging is a syndrome that occurs as a result of changes that are progressive, deleterious, universal and therefore, irreversible. This aging damage occurs to the cells, molecules that forms the cells, and to the entire organ. The aging process is most commonly associated with old age diseases such as osteoporosis, arthritis, cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's disease among others; this is because such diseases are associated with degenerative effects experienced by the cells. Scientist have over the years substituted the word "aging" with "senescence" since aging means that when time elapses so does deterioration takes place which is false especially during the early developmental stage Mackenzie, Bussiere and Tinsley ( 21)

Various researches are being conducted to establish the mechanisms of aging, and as part of these research, experiments have been carried out on various living organism so as to shade more light on…

Social Construction of Aging in Nursing Homes
Aging is socially constructed. Using the perspective of symbolic-interactionism, it is possible to show the precise processes whereby the social construction of aging takes place inside specific institutional contexts, like the American nursing home. The American nursing home offers insight into the culturally constrained concept of aging, for attitudes towards aging bodies and aging as a philosophical concept are informed by cultural milieu, worldview, and value construction. Biological aging is not social aging. The positive aging movement and the harmonious aging movement offer counterpoints to traditionally antagonistic and negative views of aging. Especially as the population of the United States and other industrialized nations shifts towards the older end of the age spectrum, it becomes important to reconsider the biological, psychological, and social processes and functions of aging.

The nursing home offers the opportunity to examine aging from a multidisciplinary perspective, while using…

Furthermore, as Baltes makes clear, there are some events that are generally going to impact people at various stages in their lives. For example, an East European Jew who survived World War II would probably have a historical influence that changed other age-expectations, which could impact other longevity factors. Time in a concentration camp, which would be normative for the Jewish cohort in that place and time period, would also likely impact the age of marriage, parenthood, and other culturally normative behaviors that might impact health and longevity in one's old age. While that might seem to be a dramatic example, the reality is that most generations are going to have cohorts impacted by at least one event of similar magnitude. For the practitioner working with geriatric clients, knowing the historical events that are most likely to have impacted the client and how those are likely to interact with the…

Efforts to Achieve Healthy Aging
Ping-Chung Leung

Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, HKSA.

Abstract: Longevity is a blessing as long as good health is not lost. However, the tendency to have a decline on normal physiological activities is inevitable because of the natural processes of degeneration at all levels: molecular, cellular and organic. Hence, the elderly people frequently suffer from cardiovascular problems and skeletal deteriorations that gradually develop to disabilities. Awareness of factors leading to unhealthy aging has led to the formation of different professional groups that aim at the maintenance of health of aging community. The approach tends to be target orientated for the European and US groups, aiming at hormonal replacements and detoxification. In contrast, the oriental groups have been keeping their traditional belief of prevention and internal balance, using nutritional arrangements and non-strenuous exercise as means of maintaining health.

Keywords: chinese medicine,…

Cellular Function and Aging
Tumor Suppression Protein 53 and Effects on Cellular Function and Aging

The concept of aging has many intrinsic and extrinsic factors that act as markers on an individual organism. Ignoring mortality associated with external environmental factors, very few organisms can be said to have cellular immortality with no decrease in cellular function or repeat division in normal diploid cells. Cellular senescence is a normal process that halts cellular division after a set of cycles of replication. Senescent cells can remain completely functional but lose the programmed process of replication. The normal pathway for senescent cells is either aging with metabolic pathways continuing for the cell or programmed cell death which is known as apoptosis that occurs when cellular function changes, a specific lifetime is reached for the cell or the cell is damaged. The multicellular cnidarians known as a Hydra has been shown to have a…

Anti-Aging Medicine? Include Abstract eferences scholarly
This is a review of the article titled "Is There an Antiaging Medicine?" which was written by obert N. Butler, Michael Fossel, S. Mitchell Harman, Christopher B. Heward, S. Jay Olshansky, Thomas T. Perls, David J. othman, Sheila M. othman, Huber . Warner, Michael D. West, and Woodring E. Wright. The article was published in the volume 57A, issue no. 9 of the Journal of Gerontology: Biological Sciences in the year 2002 from pages B333-B338. The journal is published by the Gerontological Society of America.

Anti-aging medicine refers to any form of intervention that is given to delay the development of pathology that depends on the person's age and any other changes that are related to age that are not necessarily diseases. All what are there is false claims and bogus remedies which are not known to work. Slowing down the process of aging…

aging gracefully. There are eight references used for this paper.
Introduction number of people are obsessed with fighting the affects of aging on the skin and finding ways to age gracefully. It is important to look at methods such as antioxidants, wrinkle fighters and nutritional supplements, as well as aging and tissue/muscle loss and interventions for slowing the aging process in order to gain a better understanding of treatments available.

Free Radicals

Free radicals are "highly reactive molecules with an unsatisfied electron valence pair. Free radicals are produced in normal and pathological processes, and are proven or suspected agents of tissue damage in a wide variety of circumstances including radiation, damage from environment chemicals, and aging (http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/cgi-bin/omd?query=free+radicals)."

One of the main defenses against free radicals is the proper use of antioxidants.

Antioxidants

Researchers theorize that an "increase in some antioxidants - especially those applied to the skin - helps protect…

Older Americans Act (OAA) was first passed in 1965, alongside Medicare and Medicaid. Whereas Medicare and Medicaid offered extended insurance benefits through the federal government, the OAA established "the foundation for a system of services and supports that enables millions of older adults in this country to continue to live independently as they age," ("The Older Americans Act: Aging Well Since 1965," (The Older Americans Act: Aging Well Since 1965," n.d.). Along with its federal provisions, the OAA freed up grant money for the states to develop " community planning and social services, research and development projects, and training personnel in the field of aging," (The Older Americans Act: Aging Well Since 1965," n.d.). Basically, the OAA created an actual infrastructure to support America's aging population.
The OAA is currently comprised of seven titles:

• Title I: Declaration of Objectives

• Title II: Administration on Aging (Aoa)

• Title III:…

Sociocultural Differences in Perspectives on Aging
The Hindu Indian cultural perspective on aging is that life is part of a great cycle in which life, death and rebirth are norms. The Hindu culture believes that if a person is good in his or her life, he or she will be reborn as something better in the next life and that if he or she is not so good, the outcome will be the opposite -- the next life will be something worse (Metcalfe, Metcalfe, 2012). This is the idea of reincarnation that is a major belief in the Hindu culture. Because believers want a better life after they die, they are mindful to be respectful to others in this life -- and this applies to the way in which the treat their elders. Aging is not really viewed as a lamentable process, but rather as a natural step towards the…

Significantly, the authors promote an accepting and acknowledging attitude towards the negative aspects of aging, as well as an understanding that it does not have to be a solely negative experience. It provides practical principles for the ability to successfully cope with the negative processes by means of a positive focus and attitude.
What I like most about the book is its positive consideration of what it could mean to become older. At the same time, it also provides a balanced view. The authors do not claim to have found a fountain of eternal youth, nor do they attempt to whitewash the misery that age could bring. Instead, they acknowledge these realities while also providing very sound advice on what to do to be able to cope with such factors.

The book is written on a very intellectual level, approaching the topic by means of a theoretical framework before its…

The theory describes stages as patterns of behavior which are typical for a certain development period and it leads to a different pattern that is more advanced and more unusual Olson & Byron, 1942()
The organismic meta-theory is represented by Erikson's theory of personality which illustrates an important feature of the development in an organismic viewpoint. At each stage of development, there is the resolution of a particular crisis which is a turning point and which serves as a healthy balance between the opposing traits of the particular stage of development. The resolution of this crisis leads to the development of a virtue which is a good thing. If the crisis goes unresolved, the person struggles with the crisis and this impedes the healthy development of the individual Hoogendyk & ichardson, 1980()

The organismic view is associated with the structural or qualitative changes. It states that a person is different…

Keys to Successful Ageing
The concept of ageing has undergone considerable change in the past decade or so (Garnett, 2004, p. 3). The literature reviewed on successful ageing focused on three key components: (1) avoiding disease; (2) remaining engaged with life through meaningful work, activities, and relationships, and (3) maintaining high cognitive and physical function (Tsao Foundation (2004); Garnett; Balandin (Sep. 2004); Keys to vital ageing (2004)). As more and more people are beginning to realize, as the general population ages, ageing also has many positive factors, such as learned resilience and survival in the face of adversity, which may serve one well during the ageing process itself (Garnett, p. 3). ecommendations from the Institution on Ageing include: eating a balanced diet; exercising regularly; getting regular check-ups; not smoking; maintaining personal contacts, and maintaining a positive attitude about oneself and about life by doing what makes one feel happy, satisfied,…

Physiological Changes Associated With Aging
Aging is the complex and inevitable process of tissue and organ system degeneration. Though largely influenced by genetics, aging is also dependent upon a number of environmental factors including exercise, diet, childhood personality, and exposure to ionizing radiation, pollutants, or microorganisms. The physiological changes that occur as an individual's age advances can be grouped into three, with the first category encompassing changes in such homeostatic mechanisms as extracellular fluid volumes, blood, and temperature; the second encompassing changes related to decreasing organ mass; and the third, changes in the body's functional reserve systems. Promoting the health of an aging population is crucial not only because it ensures the well-being of ageing individuals, but also because it significantly reduces the burden imposed upon a country's medical system. It is with this in mind that this text collates knowledge and research to examine, in a deeper sense, the…

3. Comfortable Shelter and Dignified Accommodations. Although everyone would like to remain in their own homes as long as possible and live an independent lifestyle, age-related diseases and infirmities frequently require placement of the elderly in long-term care facilities that vary drastically in their quality of care. Some progressive facilities employ evidence-based interventions such as pet therapy, art therapy and music therapy that have been shown to be effective in promoting quality of life among the elderly, while others simply allow their residents to wither away, neglected, unnoticed and uncared for by family or friends.

4. Reasonable Assurances of Safety (freedom from crime, terrorist attacks, etc.). In the culture of fear that has emerged in the United States and elsewhere following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, older people, like anyone else, want to be assured of their physical safety as they go about their day-to-day lives.

5. Social…

Mechanisms of Interspecies Senescence
Senescence

The nature of human experience has impelled us throughout time to ponder mortality and immortality. Today, biologists are actually beginning to provide answers to what were formally purely philosophical and religious questions. hat follows is a discussion of the mechanisms underlying biological mortality and immortality, otherwise known as senescence.

In terms of biological immortality, the cnidarian Hydra stands out. Some hydra species have been shown to survive indefinitely under laboratory conditions, by relying on asexual reproduction (Bosch, 2009, p. 484). Bosch suggests that asexual budding confers an evolutionary advantage to Hydra, because it provides a mechanism for generating enough offspring to survive competition and predation pressures from other species. Rapid asexual budding, in turn, requires cells to proliferate continuously. In other words, the stem cell populations in Hydra, which give rise to the various cell types required to make a complete organism, appear to be…