This review explores the impact of aging on our perception, considering its cognitive, physical, and social aspects. It also examines how older adults are treated in the United States and questions if this treatment truly appreciates their value. Furthermore, it investigates the potential positive and negative effects of societal messages on older individuals.
The physical manifestations of aging, including hair color, hair quantity, and wrinkles, play a role in defining old age. Nonetheless, there are additional less apparent physical transformations. Four categories of biological theories elucidate the physical aspects of aging. According to the wear-and-tear theory, the body gradually declines akin to a machine that eventually breaks down. This theory may also account for age-related ailments.
Next is the Cellular theory, which explains aging by focusing on processes that can lead to the buildup of harmful substances or the deterioration of cells over a lifetime. The third theory is the Metabolic theory, which focuses on aspects of the body’s metabolism to explain why people age. Caloric intake and stress are important factors for this theory. The fourth and final theory is the Programmed cell death, which suggests that aging is genetically programmed. Now that we have covered the fundamental physical attributes of being old, let’s explore the cognitive factors.
As people get older, their cognitive abilities, including reaction time, memory, and wisdom, decline. Research suggests that older adults generally experience a decrease in attention and reaction time, except for tasks involving a simple search and sufficient practice. Additionally, older adults perform worse than younger adults on tests measuring episodic memory – the ability to consciously recall information from a specific time or event.
Researchers have found that wisdom is not linked to age, despite the common belief in the intelligence of older people (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2007). In addition to examining physical and cognitive aspects of aging, we will now explore how social influences shape our perception of old age. The intriguing aspect about social factors related to “being old” is their connection to values such as importance, reverence, and ensuring the well-being of senior citizens.
Societies acknowledge the significance of investing in senior health care benefits, social security, and senior citizen facilities to support older individuals. Nevertheless, upon closer examination, it becomes evident that there are notable deficiencies in society’s treatment of the elderly. Well-planned, well-managed nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities with adequate staffing and knowledgeable professionals can provide considerable advantages for older adults and their families. Unfortunately, this is frequently not the scenario as nursing homes often turn into storage places for older adults who need more time and attention than their caregivers can deliver.
This is a critical situation for elderly adults as it worsens in these facilities. Without regular monitoring and reporting by local officials and loved ones, the elderly are vulnerable to neglect and different types of abuse – physical, sexual, and emotional. To illustrate this, my own experience with my grandfather comes to mind. He had been admitted to a rehabilitation facility after suffering from a stroke. During his stay, he lost his ability to communicate verbally; however, after a few weeks, my family observed that he would exhibit aggression towards the staff whenever they entered his room.
Through research and unexpected visits, it was discovered that my grandfather had been neglected and left in his bodily fluids all day, leading to the formation of sores. The staff’s excuse for this neglect was that they hadn’t gotten around to addressing it. This discovery sparked a thorough investigation, which uncovered additional individuals who were also enduring similar mistreatment. This incident highlights the fact that even those who live independently can be susceptible to financial exploitation. An example of this occurred in San Francisco, California when six gang members confined an 84-year old woman in her apartment and utilized it as a location for drug trafficking.
According to the district attorney, elderly abuse is a highly significant concern for law enforcement nowadays (Doyle, 2005). These examples merely reflect society’s general sentiments towards older individuals. Upon evaluation, it is evident that these actions do not align with a society that appreciates, honors, and prioritizes the well-being of the elderly. Such mistreatment can only result in adverse consequences and convey negative messages to older individuals. Consequently, people strive excessively to maintain their youthfulness and vitality using any means necessary.
People are engaging in various methods, ranging from exercise and vitamin intake to resorting to surgery and receiving Botox injections, in order to retain their youthful appearance. Our society has conveyed a notion that youthfulness holds the key to happiness, while implying that as one ages, they become frail and vulnerable. Within this analysis, I have delved into the cognitive, physical, and social aspects that collectively form our society’s conception of “old age”. Additionally, I have examined the treatment of older adults and explored whether this treatment reflects a societal worth placed upon them in the United States. Lastly, I have evaluated how these messages, whether positive or negative, influence older individuals.
I can honestly say that the notion of “you can show me better than you can tell me” applies to both how older people are treated and the thoughts and feelings of society towards them. The only question that remains is how one wants to be treated when they become old, as getting old is inevitable.
Work Cited:
Kail, Robert V. & Cavanaugh, John C. Human Development: A Life Spain View, Fourth Edison. California, 2007
Doyle, Jim. “Golden years tarnished by abuse: Society begins to pay more attention to mistreatment of elderly.” SFGate.com, 31 May 2005
