The media often reinforces two extreme stereotypes of older adults. One extreme stereotype shows the negative aspects by highlighting that old age is plagued by illness and a high dependence on others. The other extreme stereotype highlights the seniors that are doing exceptionally well by showing that they are completely independent, finally stable, and maintained a youthful look and persona. These portrayals do not represent the life challenges and successes of the mass majority of aging adults. Older adults are rarely represented in the media, so how they are represented truly matters to their overall image and approach to aging.
The result shows that 46 or 92% of the elderlies wished that they had more respect to themselves. Forty or 80% of them said that they sometimes pity themselves while 34 or 68% of them perceived that they have little or sometimes nothing to help their family and friends. In addition, 33 or 66% of elderlies said that they are not happy with their accomplishments in life while 32 or 64% of them perceived that they do not have capabilities and good qualities that they can be proud of and shared that they find it difficult to accept the changes happening in themselves at the present moment. Moreover, 28 or 56% of the elderlies shared that they often think and wish that they are in other people’s condition while half of them (50%) think and feel that they are useless. Further, despite of the adversities experienced in later life, 32 or 64% of elderlies didn’t think that they
Although one might assume that mental health problems are easy to fix, it is quite the opposite, as mental health is a very complex level of well-being that has challenged doctors for years in terms of treatment. Mary Jo Thomas, author of the article “Mental Health” in 2018, defines the topic as a “state of successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to adapt to change and cope with adversity” (Thomas). In essence, Thomas describes how the role of mental health and stability supports daily life. Yet, mental health problems affect one in five adults, thus totaling to nearly 40,000,000 Americans (“State of Mental”). These problems include social anxiety,
All Americans should have a concern with living well in our old age and living a long purposeful life. Due to the myths, falsifications, and the vagueness about what life will be like for the aging, elderly, middle-aged and younger generations of Americans, we are distressingly unprepared to tackle the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities that stand before us. As a country we should have a common goal to recognize the modifications that need to be made in numerous parts of the American lifestyle that will facilitate us to deal with the trials and improve the opportunities presented by the maturing of our society. What will be one’s quality of life as they advance through life? Aging may bring despair through diseases, vitality by healthy choices, and meaning through a transcendent self.
From the study Dr Rachiotis and his team conducted, it was determined that each 1 percentage point rise of unemployment rates in men aged 20 to 59 was associated with a 0.19/100,000 population rise in suicide. What was particularly interesting in the study, is that Dr. Rachiotis found an increase in suicide rates in the over 65 years of age demographic. A few reasons for this can be because pensions
It is especially dangerous that nursing homes are lacking in treatment for PTSD because the older population is more prone to depression, and suicide ideations. Without proper treatment and
For my interview, the aging individual is a person I have known my whole life. Though she is not blood related, she is considered family, and an important person in my life. I chose her because I have seen her go through the aging process in a positive, and inspirational way. She has defied the norm that a woman needs a man in her life, yet she has lived her life without being in a single relationship. I have structured this interview to make it more like she is telling me her story.
Addressing this issue will not only improve the quality of life for many aging Americans, but it may alleviate the collective fear of growing old in the United
Life depression at later age is an important public health issue because of its devastating effects. It is integrated with risk of suicide, decreased physical, morbidity, social and cognitive functioning all of which are in turn associated with increased loss of life (Abas et al, 2003). Depression appears to be less frequent among older adults than earlier in the lifetime. Risk, protective factors, presentation, etiology, and outcomes all represent aspects of the older adult's condition in the lifespan. . The impact of depression on older people is entirely different from younger people.
Later life is a period that is associated with multiple losses along with changes in health status, autonomy, roles and relations. It is this change and sense of loss that may lead to a person to develop late life depression and eventually commit suicide.67 Expression of suicidal ideations is a risk factor for death by suicide68and is an important clinical risk indicator of suicide in both the elderly as well as young. However, the elderly seem to be less prone to communicate their suicidal intentions69. Identifying predictors of suicidal ideation in older adults hence leads to an improved understanding of suicide risk in this age group70. Findings show that during initial assessment
Ageism is discrimination or prejudice based solely on a person’s age, an extreme issue in many elderly clients that reside in sheltered housing communities, as well as quality of life. Bodner, Cohen- Friedel, and Yaretzky conducted a study involving awareness and beliefs about ageism and quality of life in sheltered housing versus those feelings in seniors who live outside such an environment. It was anticipated that that seniors within sheltered housing would have elevated agist attitudes. To test this hypothesis, they took a sample of one hundred twenty six volunteers between the ages of sixty four and ninety four. The contributors completed a survey called the Fraboni scale of ageism, and a Quality of Life (QoL) Inventory.
For far too long the elderly have been exposed to ill treatment caused by physical abuse, mental abuse, and neglect. Many of Newark’s nursing homes are understaffed, which contributes to the neglect the elders face that leads to depression and later drug addiction. By realizing the importance of the inclusion of elders in society one will come to understand that the elders are a source of wisdom and provide the gateway to gaining knowledge of the past. In Jorunn Drageset’s article, he discusses the factors that contribute to the social isolation of the elders within nursing homes. The article by authors Claudia Cooper, Amber Selwood, and Gill Livingston, discuss the types of abuse elders are exposed to in nursing homes along with the need
According to Wissow, Rutkow, Kass, Rabins, Vernick and Hodges, (2012). It is difficult for elderly patients to get proper one reason for this lack of ethical principal is that many older adults with severe mental illness lives are covered by above average unemployment, unstable financial woes, and social inaccessibility. Moreover, mental health is still branded in our society, so deprecated that many older adults suffering with mental health problems are handled with little respect or sympathy than people the same severe physical illness. Wissow et al, (2012) admits, in the United States the mental health care organization has been subjected to restructurings treatment of mental illness. Except, this change is often subjected to a lower, or unfair, criterion of care when compared to a bodily illness.
Late Adulthood is the stage of the human life cycle where an individual nears the end of their life. The life expectancy in the United States has slowly increased over the years therefore allowed many to further analyze the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development during late adulthood. The stage of late adulthood has been emphasized by ageism and the stereotypical "old" person but, will be further educated by the normative development of the life cycle of late adulthood. For the “old” experience dramatic changes in their development as they face loss, death, and illness.
Social work interventions play an important role to prevent the suicidal thoughts of the senior citizens. This study deals with geriatric depression among the senior citizens.
