Ageing Theories, Its Concepts and Controversies - Essay Example

? Ageing Theories Introduction Mike is an 81 year old male who has been living within my neighborhood for the last fifty years. He isan individual in his late adulthood stage of his life. He was with a slight limp gotten from an injury he sustained three years ago on his foot in the process of doing his frequent exercises. Apart from his slight limping, Mike appears healthy and active. He has never smoked in his life, takes a couple beers once in a while, and his diet mainly consists of fresh vegetables from his garden. I have known him since I was little as he occasionally call in our home and take me for a walk. Therefore, he is a dear friend to me. He has a 73 years old wife and three children, and six grand children and one great grandchild. I invited Mike over and we walked to a community park fifteen minutes away from our neighborhood. As I conducted the interview and asked him personal questions and other information necessary for this interview, we watched as children played all over the park. Families frequent this park to relax especially during the weekends for its cool nature brought about by the many trees around the park. This interview was not distracted by anything; Mike seemed calm regardless of the activities within the park. Interview Questions 1. What do you like best about being your age? Being 81 years old is not an easy thing as it seems. There are some good things in life for being my age though. The fact that I am active at this age makes me happy. Many individuals my age are incapable of doing the things and work I do each and every day. For instance, I have to tend for my garden so I can have an unending supply of fresh vegetables. I like being active. Furthermore, I was employed for very many years in my life. I was able to save a substantial amount of money. This makes me happy as I am able to support myself and my wife without having to depend on our children. All these, coupled with the fact that I have a loving wife, children, and grandchildren, and a great grandchild are what makes me happy for being age. There is nothing a good as having a loving and caring family. 2. What do you like least about being your age? I miss those days I would go to the office every morning as I had a chance to socialize with a lot of people. Many of my age mates have already left this world. People at my age experience a lot of loneliness regardless of whether you wife is still around or not. Though I can socialize with people younger than me, I find it difficult relating with them. To elaborate this, you are aware of the fact that a teenager like you can only relate well with another teenager as you are going through the same stages in your life. You are able to relate well based on your similar needs and challenges in life. Likewise, being 81 years old means that I am at the final stages of my life. Therefore, I would like it if I could have more friends my age. 3. What changes do you foresee in your life in the next few years? At 81, I cannot predict what will happen tomorrow. Tomorrow I might be gone! However, given a chance I will still be alive couple of years from now, there is a possibility I will not be able to be active as I would want. Age comes with a lot of physical and mental difficulties. 4. What do you think are the three most important things in your life at this time? The three most important things in my life at this time are my family, my walking stick, and my vegetable garden. My family gives me a reason to live and they will always be there for me for better or for worse. Walking would be next to impossible without my walking stick. I credit it for the things I accomplish each and every day as it enables me to move around. My vegetable garden makes it certain that I have a balanced meal every day. My wife ensures that she includes fresh vegetables in every meal she prepares. Analysis Theory 1 To analyze issues associated with late adulthood, it is important to relate it to disengagement and activity theories. Old age has been explained through a number of theories in the past. Disengagement theory views old age as a point in time that individuals are disconnected or detached from other people as well as the social order, for instance retirement. This is considered a typical and common occurrence in human life. It is naturally designed to benefit people and the social order in general (Moody, 2006). In the interview, Mike elucidated the fact that “I miss those days I would go to the office every morning as I had a chance to socialize with a lot of people. Many of my age mates have already left this world. People at my age experience a lot of loneliness regardless of whether you wife is still around or not. Though I can socialize with people younger than me, I find it difficult relating with them” (p. 3). This shows that, Mike has undergone through the normal process of retirement that has detached him from the social order. When he was younger and working in an office, he was able to relate well with his age mates at the workplace. Mike’s responses in the interview were typical for late adulthood. Theory 2 Another theory of old age is the activity theory. Activity theory of getting old asserts that a great percentage of individuals are more contented, happy, and fulfilled in their lives based on their level of activity. Individual feelings largely depend on the responsibilities or duties of an individual. This theory posits that individuals in later adulthood carry on with certain responsibilities in their lives as they maintain similar requirements and desires they had earlier in their lives (Moody, 2006). Mike points out that “I have to tend for my garden so I can have an unending supply of fresh vegetables. I like being active as I was employed for very many years” (p. 2). Since he has worker in an office for a very long time, working on his garden helps him maintain the requirement of being active. He also says that “The fact that I am active at this age makes me happy” (p. 2). Being active avails a felling of contentedness to him. Mike’s responses were typical of his stage in age. In conclusion, old age is a natural process in human beings whereby individuals are disconnected from the social order. The degree in which individuals are involved in daily activities is a determining factor of the level of happiness or contentedness of an individual with life. References Moody, H. R. (2006). Aging: Concepts and Controversies. California, USA: Sage Publication. Read More