Critical Reflection on Ageing and Older People in Australia - Case Study Example

Critical Reflection on Ageing and Older People in Australia Introduction   This is a critical reflection of my understanding of the ageing process and older people in Australia. It is divided into three sections. In section one, the reflection is based on the factors that have shaped my understanding of ageing in general. The factors that are reflected upon range from my personal experiences and culture to the knowledge gained from the coursework. In the second section, the reflection is based on my hopes and fears about the ageing process. In the third section, the reflection is based on how the factors that shape my perception towards ageing influence my approach towards social work. Throughout the work, reference is made to various theories of ageing, models of social work and approaches towards helping the elderly in the society. Factors influencing my perception of older age The values and principles I have developed over the course of time are of great influence to my perceptions of the ageing process. According to Crawford and Walker (2008, p. 3), values are beliefs that are unique to particular individuals and are developed from two sources: personal experiences and moral, religious or philosophical ideology. My personal beliefs and ideas about old age conform to this definition. My experiences with the elderly people throughout my life have played a key role in shaping my perceptions towards ageing. Since my childhood, I have been brought up to believe that the old are wise and highly resourceful individuals. It is this mindset that has informed my values of respect for old age since I consider it a symbol of wisdom. Furthermore, this positive attitude towards the aged in the society has been determined by my interactions with the elderly. Largely, such interactions have been positive. This has shaped my opinion towards older individuals in the society. With regard to ideologies, my values and attitudes towards old age have largely been influenced by religious and moral ideologies. These have been accumulated over a long period of time and have persisted regardless of the stereotypical portrayal of the elderly that abounds in the media and the society in general. Another factor that has shaped my perception towards old age is knowledge about the process that I have gained in the course of my studies. I have been exposed to different theories about the ageing process and what it means not only to the individuals involved but also to the entire society. Of great importance has been knowledge about the ageing process itself and how different issues are of concern to individuals during different stages in their lives. Hughes and Heycox (2010, p. 32) identify three important stages that individuals go through in the course of ageing: the mid life stage, the ‘young old’ stage and the ‘old old’ stage. During the mid life stage, many individuals get greatly concerned with what they have achieved so far in their lives and what they can do in the remaining time to achieve their goals in life. The issues of concern shift to financial stability and physical wellbeing during the second stage of ageing which occurs when individuals are between the ages of 60 and 74 years (Hughes & Heycox 2010, p. 33). It is at this stage that retirement and the possibility of being alone as a result of the death of a significant other occurs to many individuals. After individuals get to 75 years of age, their main concern shifts to how well they are in terms of their physical and mental age. Gaining this knowledge during my study has shaped my understanding of ageing in several ways. I have appreciated the fact that ageing is a natural and inevitable part of life. Consequently, I have learnt that it is necessary to treat the elderly as part and parcel of the society. Furthermore, my understanding of the ageing process has been heavily influenced by what the theory of spirituality says about the process. According to Pelling, Bowers and Armstrong (2006, p. 386), ageing, when interpreted in metaphysical terms, is understood as a process that links one stage of life to the rest. Although it appears to be made up of a process of degeneration, it gives way to a new and fresh form of life and existence. Therefore, this knowledge has strengthened my understanding that ageing is a necessary process in the course of human life. My understanding of different ageing stereotypes, how they develop and influence the lives of individuals is an important factor that has also shaped my perceptions towards old age. According to Levy (2003, p. 203) stereotypes about ageing are defined by three important characteristics: being formed during the childhood stage, being strengthened during individuals’ adult life and becoming apparent when the individuals age. I have learnt that many individuals in the society hold one form of stereotypical view or the other towards old people. The views range from considering the elderly as being weak and vulnerable, to viewing the ageing process as an unpleasant process of life that should be avoided, if possible. Understanding existing stereotypes about ageing has helped me to examine my own stereotypes. Through this, I have managed to re-evaluate my own views about the process and this has shaped my perceptions of ageing. While recognising my own stereotypes about ageing and how this affects my perceptions towards old people, I have been largely affected by different theoretical developments. One of them is the lifespan theory which is based on two basic assumptions that (i) individual characteristics become fixed during adulthood, and (ii) adult development is a sequential process that is affected by inner and outer changes (Kanfer & Ackerman 2004, p. 442). It is this theory that has helped me understand that the stereotype that ageing is identifiable with degeneration of the ability of an individual to function properly in the society is completely misplaced. Another theory is the systems theory in which ageing is interpreted as a process that is affected by different systems that are operational in the life of an individual. When applied to social work, this theory is useful in shaping the therapy approach that is focused on addressing the different factors or systems that contribute to the situation of an elderly person (Greene 2011, p. 189). Knowledge about this theory changes my understanding of the best ways of approaching the process of ageing. I now believe that the needs of the elderly can be best approached in a holistic manner rather than a fragmented one that is based on addressing specific issues. Hopes and fears as I grow older My first fear is based on the concept of death and dying. I am not only afraid of the inevitability of death, but also of the fact that during old age, the prospect of death becomes real compared to when one is still young. The second issue that forms my fear of the ageing process is the possibility of bereavement. In general, bereavement, which leads to mourning and grieving, is an emotionally draining process. Further, going through the loss of a loved one is a painful process that the bereaved have to bear. As much as this affects everyone in the society, the elderly are affected by it in unique ways. Worden (2002, p. 26) observes that the way people mourn over the death of their beloved ones can be divided into four distinct phases. In the first stage, people tend to disregard the loss that has just occurred. Things however change during the second phase when the reality of the loss occurs to them and they experience feelings of anger and yearning. In the third stage, people tend to be completely disorganised to the point of failing to function properly as a result of the loss. However, in the last phase, individuals do accept the loss and slowly adjust to the reality. Old people tend to be highly affected by the death of their loved one. Raveis (1999, p. 14) points out that several studies that have been conducted on the elderly members of the society indicate that the majority tend to experience depression over an extended period of time following the death of their beloved ones. This effect is usually witnessed immediately after the death of a spouse and extends for over two years. Therefore, my fear is what is likely to happen to me in the event that I become bereaved later in my life. I am worried about the distressing effect that bereavement may cause to me if it occurs. There is also the issue of loneliness which, in many cases, arises from the death of a spouse. According to the cognitive theory, loneliness is largely determined by the social factors and the prevailing feelings of individuals (Nalungwe 2009, p. 8). For the elderly, it has been widely recognised that the feelings of loneliness that arise from such a loss are some of the most distressing factors in their lives (p. 11). Therefore, my fear is how I will be able to cope with loneliness in case I get bereaved in my old age. Furthermore, old people are usually faced with a number of socio-emotional and cognitive problems. Although there are many forms of therapies that are used to handle such conditions, it is noted that the effectiveness of any therapy depends on how well the physical, cultural and attitudinal barriers are dealt with (McInnis-Dittrich 2005, p. 154). It is my expectation that I will be subjected the best therapy process in the event that I develop any problem. Apart from fears, I have a number of hopes and aspirations with regard to my old age. One of them is that I will not be a victim of stereotypes and perceptions that many individuals in the society hold about old people. Usually, stereotypes about the elderly are due to ageism, a situation in which the elderly are systematically discriminated against (Corr, Nabe & Corr 2009, p. 428). However, my thinking is that with the current knowledge about old age, the impact of myths and stereotypes will be completely minimised. Therefore, I hope that in my old age, I will be appreciated as a valuable member of the society rather than being discriminated against. How the factors limit or facilitate my work with older people The factors that have shaped my perceptions towards ageing will largely facilitate my work with older people. Basically, my understanding of the issues that affect the elderly that has been gained from learning and observation will benefit the way I treat the elderly in my work. My understanding of the things that happen to the elderly, particularly death, bereavement and the need for care, will inform the approach that I will take when handling old people. Since it is my hope that I will be able to overcome the effects of such unpleasant occurrences during my old age, I will endeavour to help the old overcome such effects in their lives. What this means is that I will embrace the approach to social work which, according to Hughes and Heycox (2010, p. 18), takes into consideration specific strengths that the elderly exhibit as well as the weaknesses that they easily succumb to. This approach will help me to respond to the immediate and practical needs of the old as a way of helping them successfully cope with the challenges that they face while utilising their unique capabilities. My values and attitudes will also influence my approach to social work. According to Crawford and Walker (2008, p. 6), social work is defined by seven key principles which include the following: an attitude that is not judgemental, individualisation of activities, and a sense of confidentiality, acceptance and a high degree of emotional control. In my case, the values and attitudes towards ageing that I have formed as a result of exposure to cultural elements will have a positive influence on my social work because they will motivate me to embrace the practice of helping the elderly without prejudice. Furthermore, the fear of death and illness on one hand and the hope for acceptance and appreciation on the other will embolden my approach toward social work. This will help me to be more considerate, open minded, confidential and more concerned with the needs of the elderly who are under my care. Also, my hopes of being appreciated as a valuable member of the society and not necessarily a frail individual who is in constant need for care when I grow old will shape my understanding of social work. Since I hope that my old age will not be interpreted as a form of a problem, I will approach my social work with the elderly with an open mind. Specifically, I will view old age as part of the process of life. I will actually use the life course perspective, in which ageing is viewed as an inevitable part of the life of an individual. Furthermore, since this approach is based on the idea that the experience that old people have is largely shaped by social, biological and environmental factors (Hughes & Heycox 2010, p. 7), I will endeavour to create the right environment for older people so that they can experience the best aspects of that stage of their lives. This will call for adoption of a person-centred approach in dealing with the practical needs of elderly persons. Von Humboldt and Leal (2012, p. 25) observe that a person-centred approach is an effective means of addressing the emotional, psychological and physical needs of elderly persons. As well, McDonald (2010, p. 40) observes that social workers counsel, assess risks, advocate for specific causes and manage the care of the elderly. The factors that have shaped my perception towards old age will facilitate my social work since they will help me improve how I carry out these roles. Conclusion My perceptions towards the ageing process are influenced by values that I have developed from cultural and childhood experiences. Furthermore, the knowledge that I have gained about the ageing process has shaped my perceptions towards the elderly in the society. Apart from this, stereotypes about the elderly that abound in the media and the society in general have also shaped my perceptions towards ageing. With regard to fears and hopes, I anticipate not to be a victim of discrimination against the elderly in the society. On the other hand, I hope that I will receive the most effective care during my old age. Lastly, the factors that have shaped my perceptions towards old age will facilitate my work with the elderly since they will enlighten my understanding of the practical issues and needs of such individuals. References Crawford, K & Walker, J 2008, Social work with older people, Learning Matters, Exeter. Corr, CA, Nabe, CM & Corr, DM 2009, Death, dying, life and living, Wadsworth/Cengage, Belmont. Greene, RR. 2011, ‘General systems theory’, in RR Greene (ed.), Human behavior theory and social work practice, Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick, pp. 170-193. Hughes, M & Heycox, K 2010, Older people, ageing and social work – knowledge for practice, 1st edn, Allen & Unwin, Sydney. Kanfer, R & Ackerman, PI 2004, ‘Ageing, adult development and work motivation’, Academy of Management Review, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 440-458. Levy, BR 2003, ‘Mind matters: cognitive and physical effects of aging self-stereotypes’, Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, vol. 58B, no. 4, pp. 203-211. McDonald, A 2010, Social work with elderly people, Polity, Cambridge. McInnis-Dittrich, K 2005, Social work with elders: biopsychosocial approach to assessment and intervention, Pearson, Boston. Nalungwe, P 2009, Loneliness among elderly widows and its effect on their mental wellbeing: literature review, viewed 26 February 2015, Pelling, N, Bowers, N & Armstrong, P 2006, The practice of counselling, Thomson, South Melbourne. Raveis, VH 1999, ‘Facilitating older spouses' adjustment to widowhood: a preventive intervention program’, Social Work in Health Care, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 13-32, viewed 26 February 2015, Von Humboldt, S & Leal, I 2012, ‘Building bridges: person-centered therapy with older adults’, European Journal of Business and Social Sciences, vol. 1, no. 8, pp. 23-32. Worden, WJ 2002, Grief counselling and grief therapy: a handbook for the mental health professional, 3rd edn, Springer, New York. Read More