The Culmination of the Human Life Span - Research Paper Example

Late Adulthood and Death Late Adulthood and Death Late adulthood and death is the culmination of the human life span. Late adulthood is the period after the age of 65 while death is the end of life (NASW, 2007). Consequently, it is necessary to highlight ageism and other stereotypes associated with adulthood and how wellness techniques can be effectively used during late adulthood. It is also necessary to address the challenges that individuals face at this stage. During this stage, there are changes in the elderly people’s social views and how they perceive and interact with those around them. As the end of life approaches, people develop cultural and personal attitudes about life that are often influenced by their personal experiences. Characteristics of Late Adulthood Late adulthood is characterized by bodily decline,frequent deaths and chronic illnesses (Austrian,2008). It involves changes in the way the person interacts with society, living in nursing homes and a reduction in heavy responsibilities (Austrian, 2008). As the individual progresses in this stage, they come to terms with the inevitable end of life and become self involved (Austrian, 2008). The stage is associated with wisdom (Corey and Corey, 2014). Challenges in Late Adulthood During this stage a person may be mentally and physically incapacitated (NASW, 2007). Individuals have to deal with retirement, a lower income, a lower social status and the loss of many close friends (NASW, 2007). Relying on staff may lead to depression (NASW, 2007). They are confronted with a body they cannot recognize anymore, fragility, dependence and loss of strength and coherence (Hall, Longhurst and Higginson, 2009). Individuals suffering from depression may commit suicide (Conwell, 2013). In 2010, there were nearly 6,000 deaths as a result of suicide among those over 65 years of age (Conwell, 2013). This is going to be a huge public health problem due to the increasing population of Americans in this stage (Conwell, 2013). Dealing with this issue is difficult because injury to oneself at the later ages of life is lethal and happens without prior warning unlike in the earlier stages of life (Conwell, 2013). Loneliness, pain, and grief are the primary causes of depression among older people. In order to avoid the loss of life, there is a need for close monitoring of elderly people who are in pain and grief and an aggressive clinical intervention for those who show signs of doing so (Conwell, 2013). Ageism and Stereotypes associated with Late adulthood Ageism is the discrimination of people based on their age (Corey and Corey, 2008). Although stereotypes can be negative or positive, stereotypes about late adulthood are overly negative (Corey and Corey,2014). Some of the common stereotypes include; old people eventually become senile, its improper for them to remarry, they are not creative and are incapable of providing valuable contributions (Corey and Corey, 2014). Several people believe that they are incapable of having sex or experiencing intimacy, they suffer from a lot of emotional and physical problems and are stuck in rigid ways of thinking which makes them incapable of adopting new ways of doing things (Corey and Corey, 2014). Other common stereotypes suggest that old people die soon after their mate does and that they are often depressed due to a preoccupation with death. These stereotypes prevent other people from understanding them (Corey and Corey, 2014). Human beings can be easily influencedby what others think about them. This is especially true for adolescents and older people (Corey and Corey, 2014). Some older people may believe them and think of themselves as being useless which may render them helpless(Corey and Corey, 2014). Old people have gone through a lot of experiences and learned how to handle different situations. If approached with genuine interest they can be an invaluable source wisdom. Many elderly people can make valuable contributions if they are given an opportunity Some are happy and leading very productive and fulfilling lives .However,there are others who face resentment because of being neglected and receiving indifferent treatment (Corey and Corey, 2014). Promoting Health and wellness into Late adulthood There is a need to take deliberate measures to mitigate the negative effects of aging. Senior citizens should observe a healthy lifestyle that involves eating the right type of foods and creating time for exercise (Kazer, 2008). It is important to ensure they do not do vigorous exercises to avoid damaging their hearts. Maintaining the wellness of the elderly requires that they abstain from the use of cigarettes and alcohol (Kazer, 2008). The older people have a problem detoxifying and excreting alcohol as compared to young people (Kazer, 2008). They should receive good nutrition, adequate sleep and updated immunizations . People above65years are at the greatest risk getting viral infections. They should also screen for cancer, so as to detect it at the early stage (Kazer, 2008). Due to the pressures of modern life, many families are forced to place the elderly in nursing homes. Having to rely on staff for their care, erodes the elderlys’ dignity (Hall, Longhurst and Higginson, 2009). The dignity of the elders can be maintained by treating them with respect. Dignity psychotherapy can be used to address the loss of dignity arising from inevitable losses (Hall, Longhurst and Higginson, 2009). Views on Death and Dying During Late Adulthood According to Erik Erikson, fear of death will arise if someone is not satisfied with the life they have lived (Austrian,2008). He further identified this psychosocial crisis as ego integrity versus despair. Ego strength is wisdom gained after successfully dealing with the challenges of life and building healthy relationships (Austrian, 2008).It is noteworthy that persons who are dissatisfied with the state of their lives experience despair. This despair is known as sapientism, a distortion of wisdom (Austrian,2008).These people may fear death because it denies them an opportunity to achieve this satisfaction. Satisfaction with the life one has led gives them courage to accept the inevitable end of life. Cultural Attitudes toward death and dying Religion plays an important role when a person is facing death (NASW, 2007). Advance directive planning enables the person to put their desired treatment in writing so that it can be used should they become incapacitated (NASW, 2007). While death at an earlier stage in life is considered tragic, when it happens at this stage it is celebrated as a culmination of the life span development cycle. Although all living things die, human beings are the only ones capable of reflecting on this life process (Roberts and Dyer, 2007). However,people try to avoid having conversations about the topic. Advances in health care systems and modern technology has made it possible to have some level of control over the death process in limited casesThis has ignited a lot of debate in society and legislatures about the morality of controlling the end of a human beings life (Roberts and Dyer, 2007). Healthcare providers and workers in nursing homes have an important role to play in preparing individuals at the later stages of death, safeguarding dying persons and comforting those who grief (Roberts and Dyer, 2007). Conclusion The Golden years should be a time of contentment and happiness.Young people should reach out to the elders for guidance. However,this is the time that someone is least understood and dismissed as out of touch and incompetent. In the coming decades, people in late adulthood stage will form a huge part of the American population (Conwell, 2013). Everyone has a responsibility to protect and enhance the dignity of the elderly. Everyone will experience death at some point in time. While the rights and wrongs of practices such as assisted death are debatable, it is appropriate for the society to finally have a conversation about death. References Austrian, S. G. (2008). Developmental theories through the life cycle. New York: Columbia University Press. Conwell, Y. (2013) Suicide and Suicide Prevention in later life. FOCUS Journal, 11,39-47 doi: 10.1176/appi. focus.11.1.39 Corey, G., & Corey, M. S. (2014). I never knew I had a choice: Explorations in personal growth. Australia: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning. Hall, S., Longhurst, S&Higginson, I. (2009) Living and Dying with dignity: a qualitative study of the views of older people in nursing homes . Journal of Age and Ageing, 38,411-416. doi:10.1093/ageing/afp069 Kazer, M. W. (2008). Essentials of gerontological nursing. New York: Springer. National Association of Social Workers (NASW). (2007, October 10) End of life Decisions and Late Adulthood Retrieved from http://www.helpstartshere.org/seniors-and-aging/advanced-care-planning/end-of-life-decisions-and-late-adulthood.html Roberts, W, L. & Dyer A, R. (2007). Caring for People at the end of the Life. Focus Journal, 5,472-475 Retrieved from http://focus.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleID=52482&resultClick=3 Read More