Social Impact of Ageing and the Older Person
Social Impact of Ageing on the Older Person
Life Span Changes
Our purpose in life changes as we grow older. Infancy, childhood and adolescence all revolve around preparation for adult life and responsibilities. We are living at home, with the support of our parents and families to guide us through.
Adulthood bring with them increasing involvement in work, marriage and family life. We are now independent and living life according to our own perceptions.
Persons in old age are in a period of slow down as opposed to the speed and pace of the previous life stages. They will have experienced retirement, death of loved ones and increasing dependency, which may occur due to health limitations.
From a psychosocial viewpoint, the movement from child to adult involves an increasing attachment to one’s social groups through meaningful and productive means (work, social interactions, and friendships). Age old sees these relationships being given up and lessened.
This may help account for the reports that the very old are isolated, a burden to society and have feelings of unworthiness. Clinical depression a common problem among older people and can be exacerbated by these perceptions.
Social Issues
Social problems which effect older people include: * Isolation: Social isolation occurs where people are living without contact from our people. It can lead to feelings of loneliness and depression. It can be caused by the following things: * Role loss * Living alone * Loss of a spouse * Health problems * Decreased Mobility: Physical mobility, the capability of movement, is necessary for the health and well-being of all persons, but is especially important in older adults because a variety of factors impinge upon mobility with aging. Hogue (1984) identified mobility as the most important functional ability that determines the degree of independence and health care needs among older persons population.
* Attitudes: Older people are generally not
Life Span Changes
Our purpose in life changes as we grow older. Infancy, childhood and adolescence all revolve around preparation for adult life and responsibilities. We are living at home, with the support of our parents and families to guide us through.
Adulthood bring with them increasing involvement in work, marriage and family life. We are now independent and living life according to our own perceptions.
Persons in old age are in a period of slow down as opposed to the speed and pace of the previous life stages. They will have experienced retirement, death of loved ones and increasing dependency, which may occur due to health limitations.
From a psychosocial viewpoint, the movement from child to adult involves an increasing attachment to one’s social groups through meaningful and productive means (work, social interactions, and friendships). Age old sees these relationships being given up and lessened.
This may help account for the reports that the very old are isolated, a burden to society and have feelings of unworthiness. Clinical depression a common problem among older people and can be exacerbated by these perceptions.
Social Issues
Social problems which effect older people include: * Isolation: Social isolation occurs where people are living without contact from our people. It can lead to feelings of loneliness and depression. It can be caused by the following things: * Role loss * Living alone * Loss of a spouse * Health problems * Decreased Mobility: Physical mobility, the capability of movement, is necessary for the health and well-being of all persons, but is especially important in older adults because a variety of factors impinge upon mobility with aging. Hogue (1984) identified mobility as the most important functional ability that determines the degree of independence and health care needs among older persons population.
* Attitudes: Older people are generally not