Introduction As we humans start to become old, our social engagement and interaction with other’s start to decrease. More work, social responsibilities, and even the interest of talking to others start to simmer down. More of this includes the population of the older adults. Studies from the Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) have proven to show that 40% of the social interaction that older adults tend to distress upon is outside of their homes (Andrea L. Rosso, 2013). Older Adults who are more socially engaged with other people tend to gain more benefits than those who are not. This report is based on the social engagement that the older adults engage themselves into and showcases the various benefits they can achieve. Starting from the benefits of health, to benefits achieved from technological innovations, and also improved mental capabilities. Social Engagement Benefits Social Engagement provides many Health Benefits To begin with, being socially engaged encounters many health benefits towards the older seniors. There are many health problems that many older adult’s face, but that is another topic that has to be addressed upon. Knowing these health problems, the most common types of health problems that many older adults do come across are Hypertension and Cardiovascular diseases. Older adults who are not as involved in being socially active can encounter one of these health problems that can lead to a higher chance of mortality. Hypertension Hypertension is a very common symptom that many people face as they age. Hypertension is the anther name for high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a common condition in which the force of the blood against your artery walls is high enough that it may eventually caus... ... middle of paper ... ...quicker in a broad society (Brainy Quote, 2013).” In conclusion, based upon this research report on the social engagement and the older adults, the more social engagement that seniors are involved in, the more benefits they will receive and feel. Older Adults who are more socially engaged with other people gain more benefits than those who are not. From this report, we looked at the key benefits that come towards the older adults. Benefits, which consisted of improving many health diseases such as hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, technological innovation that help social engagement that include the on-line and telephone interference, and lastly the various benefits that come towards mental benefits. In the end, older adults who tend to get involved in social engagement, encounter many benefits compared to those who are less prominent to social interaction.
There are many environmental influences as well as human behaviors that contribute to one’s expected life span. Health and lifestyle are two major factors that play a role in determining what life would be like during the senior years of life. There are many advantages to having a strong social support network that consists of caregivers paid and unpaid. Seniors with this tend to live longer, remain independent and stay active in their later years. Citizens in today’s society are living longer due to technology, medications and an overall healthier lifestyle. Many reach the age of 100 but the maximum human life span is 120 years old. One’s personal data, career choices, environmental influences and amount of active interactions will determine how those of the older population will experience the aging process.
Blood pressure is a measurement of the force against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood through your body. Hypertension is another term used to describe high blood pressure. This common condition increases the risk for heart disease and stroke, two leading causes of death for Americans. High blood pressure contributed to more than 362,895 deaths in the United States during 2010. Approximately 67 million persons in the United States have high blood pressure, and only half of those have their condition under control. An estimated 46,000 deaths could be avoided annually if 70% of patients with high blood pressure were treated according to published guidelines (Patel, Datu, Roman, Barton, Ritchey, Wall, Loustalot; 2014).
Hypertension can be defined as a force exerted against the wall of blood vessels. However, high blood pressure occurs when there is high pressure at the time of ventricle contraction during the systolic phase against decrease contract during diastolic phase as the ventricles relax and refill. This can be recorded as systolic over diastolic in millimeters of mercury. (Wallymahmed, M. 2008).
Social integration and participation of seniors in society are important indicators of healthy aging. However, seniors are always at risk of being socially isolated. Many factors can cause social isolation and among them population aging that resulted more seniors to live longer is one of the most important factors.
Healthy ageing impacts on the health system as more and more aged people are more likely to be active and healthy nowadays with an improved quality of life through various attributes such as physical and mental stimulation, along with the adoption of good behaviours, such as a healthy/balanced diet, exercise, regular health checks and having hobbies, which each help to improve their quality of life. Ultimately, healthy ageing impacts on the health-care system through adopted behaviours and values chosen – As more aged people are interacting regularly within social groups, sporting groups and many others, they are able to freely interact with others, along with participating within certain activities, which help to physically and mentally stimulate them. Through these actions, it reduces the risk of illness and disease, working to improve the physical and mental health of the aged as they move through the ageing process. It is impacting on the health system due to the fact that, as the aged become more competent, they are less likely to access certain services and facilities due to their physical and mental state. There will be fewer cases of certain illnesses and diseases amongst the aged population if individuals are more productive in their lives. If the aged are more independent,
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure is a medical condition where the arteries are constantly experiencing high blood pressure due to the force exerted on the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood throughout the body.
Gerontology provides different perspectives of the aging process and the evidence base from which health and social care practice with the older population is founded. Older people are affected differently by the ageing process. The disengagement theory provides a greater insight into why some older people withdraw from the society. According to the disengagement theory perspective, successful ageing is best achieved through abandoning social roles and relationships and by the individual reducing both activities and involvement. Disengaging from social activities and involvement put the older person at risk of being socially excluded. Social exclusion affects older people, although the risk increases with
The study population was from the Later Life Study of Social Exchanges which was a five-wave, 2 year longitudinal study being non-institutionalized with English-speaking older adults who resided in the United States. The sampling frame came from the Medicare Beneficiary Eligibility List of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services consisting of information on nearly all older adults in the United States. Interviews began in 2000; wave 1 data collected 916 sample of older adults ranging from 65 to 91 years of age (M=74.13, SD=6.63). Of the total participants, 62 percent represented females; 83 percent were Caucasian; 54 percent were married or in marriage-like relationship, 34 percent were widowed, and the rest were separated or divorced being 8 percent and 4 percent were never married. All study participants closely resembled the older American population bas...
Disengagement theory is useful and relevant in understanding the social world of older people. However, the theory is contradicted by empirical evidence that revealed high levels of activity and engagement amongst many older people. (Johnson & Barer, 1992) suggest that the idea that older people consider withdrawing from social roles and interactions from the society a positive step is preposterous. They carried a study to determine social adaptation among 150 individuals, 85 years and older. The sample was selected from municipal voting rolls on the US using a snowball technique. Data were collected through in-depth open ended structured interviews in the respondents’ homes. Health and functioning were evaluated by the OARS measures of perceived
Older adults are a very knowledgeable population and have had a lot of life experiences. As people age, things start to change physically, mentally, and socially. It’s important to understand the process of aging, so that older adults can be taken care of properly. I interviewed P.R. who is a 71-year-old male that lives alone in his home. P.R. is a retired coal miner, and is currently living off his social security and savings. He lives close to both his daughter and son, who frequently help him out with things that are needed. P.R. was able to give me a lot of insight about specific challenges that he has experienced in his life that is associated with aging. I will be discussing challenges that P.R experienced physically, mentally,
Also known as the implicit theory of aging, the activity theory states that staying active and maintaining social interactions results in successful aging. Essentially, aging can be delayed and the quality of life improved if people maintain active social lives. In other words, there is a positive correlation between keeping active and aging well. Supporters of this theory believe that isolating oneself from society creates a barrier between the “real” world and suppresses one’s energy and former youth. First developed by Robert J. Havighurst in 1961, this theory reflects the functionalist perspective that the equilibrium that an individual develops in middle age should be maintained in later years. The theory predicts that older adults that face role loss will substitute former roles with other alternatives.
The lives of people never remain in stasis; instead, as a human develops, his or her life path changes accordingly with his or her gains and losses in cognitive and physical ability. This essay will discuss how these changes in life path affect people in middle adulthood (40 – 60) with reference to Erikson’s developmental theory and give examples of how these changes impact social function. It will use peer-reviewed journal articles and books as references to form a reliable information base when discussing the theories and scientific outcomes of aging. It will begin by explaining and critiquing Erikson’s developmental theory and then continue to discuss the kinds of changes being made in middle adulthood and the impact of these
How does leisure participation affect aging? Leisure can have many benefits for people who are aging. Staying engaged in activities and keeping strong relationships throughout life is related to life satisfaction and longevity. Russell (2013) discussed how leisure helps shape us as human beings. She states that “one’s age greatly affects leisure behavior” and this subject is researched often. According to Chungsup’s (2015) research, “older adults have broad choices of leisure activities to experience successful aging” (p.1). There are a variety of activities that older adults can participate in that will benefit them. Leisure can provide social satisfaction and rewarding relationship with others for ageing adults. According to Dube
People in their seventies and beyond have lived through many life experiences younger adults such as myself, could only imagine. While working closely with my partner, I believe I will strengthen my ability to communicate to others. I want to be able to openly express my thoughts on any given situation. Elderly people have so much wisdom and I am curious to view the world of the new generation through the lens of older people. This experience will gradually allow me to be more comfortable with story-telling about myself and how I am truly feeling without feeling the need to shield my emotions. In the same token, my partner may have some great life lesson to share or similar experiences when they were younger. Senior citizens are the people
Theory was developed by Tornstam (1989), and encapsulated ageing as a developmental process of one becoming aware of themselves, having the ability confront themselves and being able to rise above and beyond boundaries or restraints that one comes across in life. The theory further implies that the ageing goes beyond the dichotomy of disengagement theory and the activity theory and instead it is a concept of a positive developmental shape of one’s life. According to the theory, older adults tend to lose interest in materialistic elements of life and instead shift focus on future and by doing so, withdrawal do not affect older adults’ gratification with life in a negative way. The theory also advocates that older adults become selective about their approach to the type of company they keep. Theory’s notion of withdrawal (‘positive solitude’ as Tornnstam describes it) in older adult at later life in fact works well for older adults who are introverts and find enjoyment in having time for themselves to reflect. An older adult who has always likes spending time on their own would find it distressing to suddenly find a lot of crowd around them at all time at later life. The theory of gerotranscendence however, is flawed in its implications. The theory does not give a definitely meaning of the term gerotranscendence but rather describes the characteristics of it. Theory’s impression on withdrawal in older adults in later life is hardly different from disengagement