Final Reflection

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Initial Reflection Essay on Aging

Unisha Jadhari

HS 3443.50

Health Aspect of Aging

Dr. T Douglas Coyle

June 6th, 2021

Initial Reflection Essay on Aging

Aging is a step-by-step, constant process of natural development that kicks off in early adulthood. During this period, many bodily functions start to decline gradually. An individual does not become elderly or old at a particular age. Traditionally, people believe age 65 to be the beginning of old age. It is not precisely clear what constitutes aging. As I reflect through my personal experience, I can clearly understand what aging includes. Through the course, I have gained enough knowledge about the human cycle and how to prepare for old age. This reflection explains some of the beliefs associated with aging, the relationship between aging and health, and the challenges older adults face in their daily activities.

Many people have various beliefs about old age. The elderly are believed to experience depression and loneliness. As this group grows old, some may feel isolated and lonely, resulting in depression, sadness, and anxiety. Another belief is that, as people age, their sleep needs decline. These people experience hard times falling and staying asleep, affecting their mental well-being and overall health.

Moreover, people continue to believe that older adults can't learn new ideas. This misconception is not true as more senior people still can create new memories, learn new ideas and improve their performance on various activities. It is a common belief that older adults are forgetful. In most cases, older people tend to forget some of the things with ease and cannot account for some of the items in their lifetime (Bryant, 2010). I have come to understand some of these beliefs through my grandparents, who experience some of these problems. Some of the health challenges associated with aging include hearing loss, back and neck pain, depression, diabetes, and dementia, to name a few. These health conditions are prevalent at old age.

It is essential to take care of the elderly in the community. Understanding the elderly needs is of utmost importance to better establish initiatives geared towards taking care of their welfare. The elderly is vulnerable in society, thus developing health promotion to ensure they continue and enjoy life in the community. Aging comes with various challenges. Some of these challenges include loss of independence, diminished physical ability, age discrimination, disease prevalence, mistreatment and abuse, and poverty (Liddle et al., 2016). My biggest concerns about aging include declining health, old age, financial difficulties, and having to depend on others for daily upkeep. Moreover, I am worried about losing my mental capacity and decline in physical activity. These concerns cut across all ages, including older adults in my community.

In this course, I expect to learn more about the biological causes of aging and how one can avoid some of the challenges that come with aging. These strategies include how to manage issues of depression and associated health issues such as dementia, diabetes, back pains, and loss of memory. I want to learn the best ways society can take care of the elderly without discriminating against them. Issues of discrimination and isolation are the leading causes of depression, sadness, and anxiety among the elderly. The most challenging aspect of aging is how people can manage some of the health issues with aging. Addressing these challenges proves to be difficult because as people age, their immune systems tend to decline, making them prevalent to opportunistic diseases.

References

Bryant, C. (2010). Anxiety and depression in old age: challenges in recognition and diagnosis. International psychogeriatrics, 22(4), 511-513. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1041610209991785

Liddle, J., Tan, A., Liang, P., Bennett, S., Allen, S., Lie, D. C., & Pachana, N. A. (2016). " The biggest problem we've ever had to face": how families manage driving cessation with people with dementia. International Psychogeriatrics, 28(1), 109. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1041610215001441