Reflection and Journal Article Review - Essay Example

Although one could appreciate the wonders and benefits these technological gadgets could accord the aged, the applicability of these technology solutions are mostly availed only in developed countries. These unique products are not globally accessed due to the prohibitive costs and the diversity in health care provided to the elderly according to cultural orientations. I was made aware of the crucial importance relegated by the older population in terms of maintaining independence despite their age.

The statement that reveals that “seniors fear moving into a nursing home and losing their independence more than death” is astounding. The various products thought to provide the aged with independence is perceived as a way to replace a loved one or a family member who is supposed to provide the needed care. In eastern culture, older people are not sent to nursing homes but are retained in the nuclear household with a family member to attend to their holistic needs. The reason, apart from economic, is the cultural value for extended family ties and filial piety.

The practice stems from Confucianism and has been defined as including “the responsibility of each person to respect their parents, obey them, take care of them as they age, advise parents, and of course to love them. Loving one’s parents and offering them respect is the spring from which other forms of filial piety flows. A relationship with parents must be centered on love and respect” (Conjecture, 2011, par. 2). Therefore, technology is not openly embraced to replace the love and care that would be accorded by family members in times of need of the elderly family member.

Further, the issues that were presented as a consequence of greater reliance to technology, particularly the fact the seniors are always apprehensive to use or try out new products and systems, should be addressed. Otherwise, these unique products would be deemed useless if the target market, for which they are supposed to protect, secure and maintain in safe and in good health condition, would be compromised by inefficient and unsupportively erroneous application. The essence is the use of technology should not replace the delivery of health care services that only committed people could provide.

Article Review from Peer Reviewed Journal Summary The article entitled written by Dr. Ronald Klatz and published in the Generations, Journal of the American Society on Aging in 2002 presented issues of discovering anti-aging medicine in response to the projected continued increase of the aging population. The author presented the official definition of anti-aging medicine as “a medical specialty founded on the application of advanced scientific and medical technologies for the early detection, prevention, treatment, and reversal of age-related dysfunction, disorders, and diseases” (Klatz, 2002, 1).

The continued research on this field of endeavor was revealed to encompass five key areas, to wit: genetic engineering, cloning, nanotechnology, artificial organs, and nerve impulse continuity (Klatz, 2002, 2). The benefits are revealed to be pronounced and consistent with modern health care issues.\ Critique The article presents another technological breakthrough aimed to focus not only on according longevity in life span, but also in improving the quality of the elders’ lives. There were initial apprehensions on supporting this kind of medical and technological breakthrough in terms of determining the repercussions to health care in general.

But as trends in the aging populat