What Is a Successful Aging - Term Paper Example

SUCCESSFUL AGING June 28, Successful aging can be defined as the ability to keep in place three key goals, in life. Moreover, these goals include low risk of disease and all disabilities resulting from disease, high, mental capabilities, functioning and active engagement in everyday life (Galligan 1). For one to be considered aging successfully, the above features in the aging guidelines must be met. Aging has often been associated with long-term care services for old adults and relocation to homes where they can receive this care. It is also associated with chronic health conditions, depression and anxiety. However, there is a positive side to growing old, or aging. As people age, particularly adults, they decline in mobility, cognition and senses at paces that vary from person to person, thus, to ensure that people age successfully, there is a need to reduce the rate of decline or even curb it completely. This is to ensure that they do not become functionless and maintain their independence from second and third party caretakers (Tyrer et al, 2). Mobility issues are common in aging people because they lose balance and suffer reduced functionality in basic of tasks such as locking and unlocking doors. As a result, they become more prone to risks of falling and common mobility accidents. These falls often lead to death as they rank high among the most common causes of death for elderly people (Tyrer et al, 2). In addition, cognitive processes suffer impairment in regard to recalling instructions and following complex ideas, as well as solving problems. However, to overcome all these challenges, various measures exist to ensure that people grow old gracefully. Successful aging is known to be associated with one’s religious beliefs, social relationships, perceived health, self-efficacy, socio-economic status and coping skills (Galligan 1). Having religious beliefs and participating actively in religious activities is one of the ways to age successfully. This is because religiosity in the aging process allows the elderly to cope better as compared to nonreligious ones. In the process, it aids in overcoming emotional and physical problems through which the elderly may be experiencing (Galligan 1). Moreover, active participation in religious issues prevents most manners of depression as it puts people of similar interests in a position to share ideas and problems. As a result, it eradicates feelings of hopelessness due to the reality of age dawning on them. Moreover, this religiosity promotes the development of positive emotions, which, in turn, stimulate the immune system for improved health (Galligan 3). In addition, joining religious organizations provides social networks, which support the aged. This is in the form of encouragement and enhancement of their ability to adapt to the new way of living and the stress likely to result from it. The use of religious groupings promotes successful aging by providing health benefits. These are such as reduced mortality, heart disease, cancer and degradation in regard to functionality. The reason why these groups are vital is that they serve as a replacement for social groups that the aged had in their youth. Additionally, religion and its ritualistic nature counter most of the effects that arise from the random nature of life. This is in the form of creating a sense of mastery, in handling life issues, as well as allowing for predictability in the same life. Therefore, religion counters most of the challenges that the elderly are likely to face from the chaos, distress and ambiguity of life (Koopman 1). Moreover, socioeconomic factors affect successful aging in regard to the level of education and how much material wealth one has. Good health is associated with higher levels of education and a sense of satisfaction with achievements in life (Galligan 3). Satisfaction is as a result of knowledge that one stands for - a chance to enjoy opportunities rising from their education levels. A higher education level improves successful aging in that it provides superior methods with which educated aged persons can solve problems and overcome challenges resulting from change (Galligan 3). In addition, a substantial socioeconomic status helps in the transitional process and acceptance of the reality of age. This is because the end of their working life has come to an end. Therefore, with knowledge that the future is secure, due to the presence of savings, one does not suffer anxiety, as there are adequate funds. These funds cater for opportunistic health needs and replace their income. Therefore, for one to age successfully there is a need to have a decent socioeconomic background. Strong social relations and interactions are also known to contribute to successful aging. This is because strong relationships create social support systems against challenges. Having social contact is crucial to successful aging as it improves one’s quality of life, as solitude poses a threat to the healthy wellbeing of an individual. In addition, elderly people with disabilities have a need to make more friendships and develop support networks. This and successful aging have a relationship in that they are able to complete tasks they cannot conventionally impletement (Galligan 5). As a result, they end up aging successfully as their “normal” counterparts due to contact with other members of society. Social interactions and groupings have numerous benefits to those who join them. These are in the form of providing encouragement and the will to live, enhancing self-esteem and promoting healthy practices among themselves (Galligan 6). In these social networks, it is also easier to provide support and other forms of assistance to members, as they may lack the ability to handle some tasks on their own. Technology can also be used to bring down the rates of isolation and increase interaction and formation of support groups and social networks (Community and Family Health Division 4). This connects the elderly in an efficient way and allows for interactions over long distances. Therefore, to age successfully, there is a need to apply resources that are capable of protecting one from the harmful effects of a difficult life (Cerrato and Fernandez, 32). These resources could be financial, personal or even social. With these, individuals are able to cope with the challenges of old age and become more productive members of society living a full life just like anyone else. Socially, the aged can participate in cultural shows in order to be active society members and keep up with their exercises (Johnson County Consortium on Successful Aging 11). For example, engaging in physical activity affects the mind and body in that it reduces the possibilities of falling ill (Stanford Prevention Research Center 1). Life satisfaction comes along as one gets old. Therefore, this is a positive thing in regard to aging. As a result, life only improves with age, as one tends to have more time on their hands to perform their activities. One also has the freedom to do what they wish without answering anyone, and with the experience and knowledge they have accumulated over the course of life. Satisfaction with life comes in the form of relationships with one’s spouse, family and friends (Healy 9). In addition, the pressures of life, such as raising children, ease with age. This is because one has most likely reached a phase where they cannot do much except watch their lives in retrospect. In addition, one’s children leave home to have an independent life, meaning that there is no much to worry about. Additionally, Careers come to a decline as one ages because; the career peaks just before old age commences (Healy 10). As a result, there is no pressure to outdo oneself anymore. Instead, aging creates an opportunity to review life and the accompanying decline in financial pressures. In addition, as one ages, the level of expectation usually decreases allowing one to be satisfied easily as they are calm. In addition, another positive aspect of aging is the benefit it offers to the aged individuals as an opportunity to give back to society, either for a fee or for free. This is due to the level of experience and knowledge that the aged have, and can, therefore, use in offering training and education to the market (Healy 11). Moreover, aging creates a chance for people to increase their knowledge base and further their personal development. Therefore, by participating in learning activities, they can maintain their cognitive functionality without room for its decline. Therefore, with age, the brain improves in regard to conceptual, creative and innovative abilities. Thus, the elderly tend to do better at mental tests than individuals at early adulthood (Strauch, Para. 11). Despite the time it takes to acquire information for an elderly person, they tend to make connections faster. This is based on the experiences they have and the level of concentration that they are able to apply in the learning process. It is also because of this experience that they can effectively analyze a given situation, dependent on previous situations based on the same event. Therefore, they can come up with swifter solutions to problems (Strauch, Para. 19). Aging portrays an image of healthy living, which is a positive thing to both the individual and society. It creates an image of a society that is healthy and brings down the expenditure for health related problems of the aged. Moreover, aging, in some cases, is known to bring out the creative artist in an individual. This is because there are more elderly people taking classes in creative arts such as painting, poetry and choral singing. Therefore, it is a phase in which one can achieve self-actualization for a lifetime’s worth of work and effort. These creative activities also have a positive impact on the immune system due to a connection between the mind and body. In conclusion, successful aging is not a preserve of a given few as it can be achieved by almost anyone. This is by observing the various measures created to foster aging gracefully. Therefore, it should not be viewed as a negative thing, as old age brings with it numerous benefits. References Galligan, Doug. (n.d). Psychosocial Factors that Promote Successful Aging. Retrieved on 28 Jun. 2012 from http://www.schrinkpersonaltraining.com/pdf/Psychosocial%20Factors%20that%20Promote%20Successful%20Aging.pdf Tyrer, Harry et al. (2006). Technology for Successful Aging. Retrieved on 28 Jun. 2012 from http://eldertech.missouri.edu/files/Technology_for_Successful_Aging.pdf Community and Family Health Division. (2006). Creating Healthy Communities for an Aging population. Retrieved on 28 Jun. 2012 from http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/orhpc/pubs/healthyaging/hareportnofs.pdf Koopman, Peggy. ( 2010). The Continuum; Connections Between Religion and Successful Aging, 4(2). Retrieved on 28 Jun. 2012 from http://www.lourdesseniorcommunity.org/documents/newsletters/The%20Continuum%20-%20Fall%202010.pdf Stanford Prevention Research Center. ( n.d). Successful Aging: Exercise for Life. Retrieved on 28 Jun. 2012 from http://prevention.stanford.edu/word-pdf/aging.pdf Strauch, Barbara. (2010). How the Brain Benefits with Aging. Retrieved on 28 Jun 2012 from http://www.rd.com/health/how-the-brain-benefits-with-aging/ Healy, Judith (2004). The Benefits of an Aging Population. Retrieved on 28 Jun 2012 from http://www.tai.org.au/documents/dp_fulltext/DP63.pdf Cerrato, Ignacio and Fernandez, Maria. (1998). Successful Aging. But Why Don’t The Elderly Get More Depressed? 2(1), 27-42. 28. Retrieved on 28 Jun 2012 from http://www.psychologyinspain.com/content/reprints/1998/4.pdf Read More