Analysis Of As We Are Now By May Sarton

Gerontology 530
Sarton Paper Analysis
The purpose of this paper is to analyze Caro Spencer’s life in the book titled “As we are now”, by May Sarton using the life course perspective on aging approach. In order to analyze her life, the meaning of the life course perspective should be defined. According to moody text, the life course perspective is understanding part of the entire course of human life and the result of influences that came earlier than old age (Moody & Sasser, 2012, p. 1). This approach links individual lives and the histories which shapes individuals. The history is essential to this approach because there are critical periods in a person’s development, adolescence, parenthood, retirement, social, economic and demographic factors that influence change across the lifespan (Shannon, 2015). In Caro’s case, most of these factors influenced change in her life

except parenthood. This paper will explore some of Caro’s experiences leading up to her final rebellion using theories and concepts from the life course approach and suggest how she may have aged successfully.
In this book, Caro Spencer is a 76 year old, retired high school math teacher who was having a difficult adjusting to her living arrangement in a nursing home. Caro resides in the nursing home as a result of a heart attack in her home and her inability to get along with her Brother John’s wife named Ginny. As defined by the stages of life, Caro is a member of the old-old age group (75-84) (Moody & Sasser, 2012, p. 5).Therefore, Caro has entered this age group, of which most members have entered retirement hood and she shares many of the same commonalities as others in this group. She also is an older individual who is living with secondary aging. As a result of a heart attack, she now lives with physical limitations that prevents her from living on her own.
There are other aging concepts and controversies that would apply to Caro and her situation. The continuity theories of aging is one an example. As defined, the Continuity theory states that aging individuals have the desire to maintain the same habits, personality and style of life that they developed in the earlier years of their lives (Moody & Sasser, 2012, p. 11). In the book, Caro, strives to maintain the same habits, she developed earlier in her life as well. Some examples are reading, listening to records and learning poetry by heart (Sarton, 1973, p. 20). Through the social relationships she established, she maintained those habits when she received a radio and various types of reading materials.
As a result of Caro being forced to live in a nursing home of which she describes as a “concentration camp for the old”, Caro adopted some of the negative patterns of old age. One example is a diminished locus of control. A diminished locus of control is when a person loses the ability to control such basic matters as bedtime and meal choices (Moody, 2012). In the book, Caro eventually started to feel controlled by her caregivers Rose and Harriet. As a result of this feeling, Caro gradually became withdrawn, fatalistic and deeply depressed.
In the text, Caro often refers the terms such age identification and age differentiation. Age identification is the acknowledgement of chronological age or years since birth, which is a powerful social and psychological dimension (Moody & Sasser, 2012, p. 2). In Caro’s case, she identifies herself as an old woman who is 76 years old early in the book and continues to refer to that age throughout the book. Age differentiation is when individuals learn that different roles or behaviors are appropriate as a toddler, teenager, and adult or an older person (Moody & Sasser, 2012, p. 2).Caro mentions in the book that a woman her age should not be throwing tantrums and crying publicly because it is a childlike behavior. She states that “since her outbreak she feels so unlovable beyond the pale. And this is childhood again. How many times was she sent to bed without supper because she had a tantrum?” (Sarton, 1973, p. 43). Clearly, she has identified behaviors that she feels are inappropriate for a person of her age.
The earlier life events pertaining to her social class had a huge impact on her beliefs, attitudes and behaviors. In the book, Caro describes herself as a snob because she went to college, gained position a meaningful career path of her choice and access to available resources during that time in her life (Sarton, 1973, p. 17). By obtaining the required education to gain a position in her field of choice, she entered a social class where she earned increased wealth and the opportunity to become a homeowner. As a result, she was able to pay for the type of environment she had to live in and the luxury of having her own room. On the other hand, Caro has suffered negative consequences of the choices she made in her life. For example, choosing to not bear children and to remain unmarried. These two examples could have significantly impacted the size of her family support and level of loneliness and depression that she felt.
Caro’s situation has impacted the way views herself (self-concept). The term self-concept has multiple dimensions that include personality, self-esteem, body image, and social roles (Moody & Sasser, 2012, p. 21). In the book Caro give a full description of herself. She describes her eyes used to be blue, but they have faded, her mouth used to be stern, however, now look thin-lipped and deep lines pull downward. Her neck is in pretty good shape, however, she has wrinkles. She then stated that by looking at oneself in the mirror, one will become depressed. Therefore, turning the mirror away from oneself would provide relief (Sarton, 1973, p. 29). Clearly, Caro is unsatisfied with the physical changes that comes with aging. Therefore, she feels unattractive depressed and is suffering from low self-esteem. Caro’s description of herself is an example of age related changes that occur physically.
Cognitive functioning is another area that Caro struggles with. As stated in the Moody text, among all those over the age 65, there are a significant number, perhaps one in five who have mild or moderate mental impairment (Moody & Sasser, 2012, p. 23). In the book, Caro is an individual who has mild or moderate mental impairment. She has difficulties remembering, solving mathematical problems and paying attention. Caro states, “Time gets muddled up and what I lack, I fear, is the capacity to stick with a routine, to discipline myself-my mind goes wandering off (Sarton, 1973, p. 15). This is an example of Caro experiencing mental defects that are age related changes in the brain. She also mentions the importance of reading to avoid losing her mind and writing as a way to document her experiences. Caro also mentions the condition senility. This is interesting because it appears that she associates senility with old age. Caro stated that aging means rapid decline into frailty and senility (Sarton, 1973, p. 23). Harriet, Caro’s caregiver, also perceives Caro as an old senile woman. This perception led Caro to question whether she was becoming senile.
The social relationships that Caro established in her earlier life helps her cope with her new living situation.

Caro appears to have an extroverted personality which is why she longs for interaction from others around her. Earlier in her life to has maintained valuable relationships with people that were valuable to her. However, as she aged her social network diminished significantly. Smaller social networks are a result of older people who have exited the workforce and who are not active in their communities (Moody & Sasser, 2012, p. 22).Throughout the book Rose and Harriet prevented Caro from maintaining healthy relationships by telling lies to her visitors and by suggesting that they should not visit her. The tragic death of standfill impacted Caro severely as well. Caro and Standish was different in Caro’s opinion however, they understood each other. Caro depended on Standish because she provided comfort to her. The relationship that Caro had with replacement nurse Mrs. Close, also impacted Caro. Mrs. Close was different because she showed Caro love that she desperately strived to

receive.
Caro’s final rebellion was the result of severe depression. Caro’s caregiver also play a significant role in her unhappiness. Through the experiences mentioned and others described in the book, Caro eventually rebelled. However, I feel that if the outcomes of the experiences described in the book Caro could have aged successfully. For example, effectively planning for long term care. If Caro would have planned better financially for her future, she could been placed in a facility that promotes self-autonomous behaviors, group activities, better social involvement and other types of roles that she could participate in. I feel that if she would have taken better care of her health she could have avoided experiencing a heart attack, she would have still mobile enough to enjoy leisure activities such as going to museums viewing artwork other activities that she previously enjoyed.